Sep 17, 2009 by Jenny
USA Today short-sighted on lower divorce rate
Oliver Thomas uses just a couple of examples to claim that "secular" practices are responsible for a lower divorce rate in a USA Today article.
First, the things that are true. Yes–couples are marrying later in life and the divorce rate is lower. And yes, more couples are now willing to seek counseling. But it’s problematic to say that that professional marriage counseling, and later marital ages are "secular" solutions responsible for lower divorce rate.
Thirty is not a magical age at which more anniversaries become possible. According to the National Marriage Project, marrying after age 20 and a few semesters in college are key. In fact, the happiest marriages are formed between the ages of 23-27 according to University of Texas research.
Thomas also neglects the growing number of couples cohabiting with no commitment greater than a rental agreement. This is a "secular" factor contributing to the lower divorce rate because fewer people are marrying.
And a little faith-based "coercion"–to use Thomas’ term—significantly affects a person’s choice to marry (rather than cohabit), and their marital longevity. Singles who attend church are less likely to cohabit, and married couples who attend church together are more likely to stick with their wedding vows. Cohabiting has no positive results that have been measured.
Both faith and society are needed to create a marriage culture. And Americans could use a bit more cultural "coercion" to marry and stay married—from the faith community, family and the neighbors who don’t attend church.
See other factors that lower your chances of divorce.
