Mr. Jack,
That's a very interesting web-site, updating my information from the 70's. Thank you.
As I (dimly) recall the magazine article with the previous study, they made the point that, it was actually praying together that generated the longer "staying together." The Christian group that did the study noted that, denomination wide, divorce rates were as high or higher than "normal." But, that within the denomination, those that prayed together had much lower rates. Sort of like the stats the site presents for pastors.
You may not be aware of my other posts on this matter, but in my own efforts to know who is telling the truth and who is lying, I find the worse hypocrisy in the Christian church. Hence my refusal to call myself a Christian, despite the box that others here want so badly to place me in. This is actually, it turns out, stated in the Bible, where "those who build with straw" have their works burned up, while they themselves are saved. That is, pastors who fill their churches with hypocrites may themselves be saved, even though all their church members "burn up." And what does it mean to be "of straw." The passage is in the midst of a discussion that condemns any believer calling themselves "of Christ" or Christian. (1 Corinth 1:12-4:6)
The survey you sent us to, of course, doesn't distinquish between those who became a believer because of a divorce, those who got divorced because they were married to an evil partner, whom God got rid up when they converted (See Eccl 7:26), and those who married in the church, as two born-again believers. But, I really would predict that anyone calling themselves a Christian, especially fundamentalist Christian, has several strikes against them for a happy, prosperous life. These strikes may be partly overcome by exercising certain religious practises, reading the Bible, prayer, and attending services being the most important.
But it's hypocrisy that ruins our lives, more than anything, in my opinion.
Stephen
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