Well, Duh.
Divorce is higher among religiously conservative Protestants – and even drives up divorce rates for other people living around them, a new study finds.
The study, slated to be published in the American Journal of Sociology, tackles the “puzzling paradox” of why divorce is more common in religiously conservative “red” states.
Puzzling? No, not for anyone who lives here. The study suggests that lack of birth control information causes people to have to get married earlier.
That might be true, but as a human being who lives around these people, I have discovered that hypocrisy in one part of your life tends to invade other parts of your life. You find me a man who is a Bible Toting used car salesman and I will show you a crook who is messing around on his wife. It just works like that.
The thing you have to remember about southern red state super deluxe brand Christians: they have very high standards – for you.
Thanks to Brian for the heads up.
interesting data.
1Well, shucks! If I had been convinced by preachers all my life that my sins were already forgiven me even before I sinned . . . YAHOOOO!!!
2Amen! Those judgmental hypocrites are the most profligate sinners, in more ways than one.
3Amen to that, Juanita Jean!
4Kristians (unlike Christians) are always very eager to pass laws making it illegal for other people to have a few specks in their eyes. If someone then points out that the Kristians are ignoring the beams in their own eyes, the Kristians tearfully claim to be the real victim.
As Republican Jesus said: “Judge not, unless you’re Rush Limbaugh.”
5Nicely put.
6Frederick Douglass said that the worst slaveowners were the most religious ones, because they assumed that their god approved everything they did.
7Happy Belated New Year to you, JJ, and everyone else!! I’ve been away since Christmas for all kinds of excuses, but I couldn’t wait to visit the Salon again! Thanks again for feeding my Proud Texan Liberal Soul!!! Just let out a sigh of relief….. 🙂
8This is absolutely fascinating. I would like to see a map correlating poverty rates with Kristian evangelical rates. Overlap much?
9Most of the folks we know who are approaching their fiftieth anniversaries have the gift of laughing at themselves. They also accept each others foibles with smiles.
10My theory for keeping my marriage intact is the “new double standard.” For years women have been dressing for men, that finally changed, so it’s our turn to dress for the women. Want some magic guys? Stop off at the supermarket and cook a really nice dinner. Bless my Mama for making me take dance lessons with my sisters. It made me a pretty decent middle weight boxer and reasonably successful with the ladies.
If or when we are blessed with children, if we have sons, hope they don’t have to box to fight their way home from dance class. If we have beautiful daughters like my wife, I want them to have every opportunity we had and then some.
The buffet Christians just never understand Christ. Me? I don’t really grasp religion that doesn’t embrace everyone and certainly not a USA that can not appreciate family values, everyone’s family values.
TexasEllen, give me a helping hand here. As most of you can tell, I’m evolved, but still a man. Name that movie where the figure skater melded with a hockey player. Chick Flick that made me hang up my hockey skates, buy a pair of figure skate and do some skate dancing with my wife. Guys, if you skate, try it.
11I could be wrong, but perhaps in marriages that have a greater degree of equality between the partners, the need to bail may be less. That and having a try before you buy period (implying proper contraception).
12PKM, looks like The Cutting Edge, 1992:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104040
I did a GoodSearch (don’t use google) on “movie”, “ice skater”, and “hockey player” and it came right up.
Let me give GoodSearch.com a small plug– not only does it give you good links without using Google (“Big Brother”), but you can designate a charity to get a penny or so for every search you make. It adds up.
13It is also possible that people who tend to lack empathy, to have no sense of humor, and who are judgmental and intolerant end up getting themselves divorced.
Oddly, it is also these people who just insist on having guns in the house. They seem to believe in tempting fate.
14I taught school in GA public high schools for over 30 years, all of them in small towns where there was a heavy emphasis placed on Christianity and Family values. Throughout my career, I saw many girls become pregnant while still in high school, and because of their parents, they married their babies’ daddies. After a few years of being married, they would get divorced. By the age of 35, most of them had been married more than once. Many people who live in these Bible-busting little towns are still worried about what their friends, co-workers, neighbors, and church members will say about them having a pregnant unwed daughter, so these this plays a very important role in their push to have their pregnant daughters marry their babies’ daddies. Never mind that getting married at such a young age isn’t always the best solution to their daughters being pregnant and unmarried because many of these folks are more concerned about their public image.
15Being married to someone who is no longer the youth you married because they’ve grown spiritually, emotionally, and politically sure makes it easier.
16#16 Ellen,
Put another way, we are ever changing and, as a couple, if we’re lucky the changes allow us to keep falling in love, over and over and over…
17PKM — you sound remarkably like my dear husband, but much younger. Sometimes I fall in love with him all over again just because he puts up with me. I predict you’ll be happily married for a very long time — congratulations to you both!
18When I married my little bride I wasn’t even housebroke. She has persevered through the years, always waiting for me to grow up. When I finally did, well I hope she beleives it was worth the wait. I’m lucky to have her.
19Unfortunately, I think my marriage is one of those adversely affected by gay marriage. It’s true. My wife was reading an article about gay marriage, and she looked at me and said: “You know, I think I might try something different, and marry a man!”
20