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Posted on 06/27/2008 3:02:34 PM PDT by wagglebee
VIRGINIA, June 27, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a research brief this month, Bradford Wilcox, a sociology professor at the University of Virginia, analyzed three national studies in order to discover if "there is any evidence that religion is playing a role in encouraging a strong family orientation among contemporary American men?" His research led him to conclude that men who regularly attend Christian services are engaged in happier and stronger marriages and are more involved in the lives of their children than men who do not.
"70 percent of husbands who attend church regularly report they are 'very happy' in their marriages, compared to 59 percent of husbands who rarely or never attend church," explained Wilcox, who also said that the studies indicated that wives experienced more marital happiness when their husbands attended regular religious services.
This is likely one significant reason why the studies showed that married couples who attended regular Christian services were approximately 35 percent less likely to divorce then those couples who did not.
Wilcox's research also looked at the effect religion has on the relationships between fathers and their children.
Fathers who attended regular Christian services spent an average of two more hours a week engaged in youth-activities with their children than fathers who did not attend regular services. Christian fathers also spent more one-on-one time with their children and were 65 percent more likely to hug and praise their children.
The studies also found that children born inside of wedlock had much more "involved, affectionate, and consistent relationships" with their fathers. This is an important statistic given Wilcox's findings that church attending men are more likely to have children inside of wedlock then non-church going men.
Wilcox concluded his research brief by strongly advocating the positive effects that religion has on husbands and fathers: "This brief provides an array of evidence indicating that religion is an answer to the male problematic - that is, the tendency of fathers to become detached, emotionally or physically, from their children and the mothers of their children. I find that fathers who are religious, and who have partners who are religious, are - on average - more likely to be happily married, to be engaged and affectionate parents, and to get and stay married to the mothers of their children."
To see the full research brief:
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“Study Shows Christianity Makes Men Better Husbands and Fathers (Open)”
This is not my experience in the church. I think if a man is “man enough” to attend services in the first place, he would likely have been a good husband and father anyway. I say this full in the face of my own experience in that as a non-churchgoer I was married but the marriage was non-traditional, this led to divorce after enough years of it and the divorce wasn’t any better for the kids than the horrible marriage was. NOW as a twice a week church-goer I do not feel that I am a better person than I was before, just that I have the discernment to recognize why my marriage failed, why I should do things differently if God blesses me with another wife, why I was wrong and why I should do everything that I can to be a better father to my (almost) grown children.
I guess those who worship at the High Church of Me have less dedication left over for spouse and children.
Does it make women better wives and mothers too?
Better lovers. Period.
Seriously, I was just at a 40th anniversary reunion of men once in a Catholic seminary. Those that didn't take the final plunge brought their wives and significant others. I'm going over the roster, and all but three have marriages that have lasted over three decades. One of the guys who never married brought his SO of 30 years running.
This percent of the total impressed even a cynic like me.
To the best of my knowledge, all but a handful are still practicing Catholics.
Maybe it shows to go you that Christian lasses are an attraction second to almost none, as well.
This also shows the importance of Fathers in general.
We need to restore a Christian culture. But there will still be divorce.
We need to change the laws so that Fathers get equal custody.
God teaches us what Fatherhood is all about.
Absolutely, I know from my own life experience I am a better wife and mother, based upon my faith in Christ and my fellowship with other believers. Iron sharpens iron.
Uh.. Where’s “Captain Obvious” when ya need him? Sheesh.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.
From: The Family: A Proclamation to the World
http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,161-1-11-1,00.html
“I pray he has tenure. “
He will be a target for voicing simple truth.
Was this a surprise to anyone? Just look around.
I’m sure the secularists will be shocked.
Believe me, the atheists and anti-Christians often trumpet that they have better relationships because they aren't bound by any moral teachings and can do things like watch porn together and swing.
And now that you have that awareness, you don’t think a second marriage would be better?
I saw this researcher on EWTN last week. His presentation was quite interesting. The one my husband liked — that in Christian marriages, men did a lot less housework than they did in secular/ egalitarian marriages.
For me, the Christian message that I am to LOVE my spouse and help him get to heaven vs focus on myself and my own needs — how could that not make me a better wife?
“And now that you have that awareness, you don’t think a second marriage would be better?”
It might be, the right lady has yet to come along.
AMEN AND AMEN!
WHEN WOMEN AND FAMILY ARE EXCLUDED FROM MINISTRY,THE CHURCH IS FRACTURED!
Ac 16:1 ¶ Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.
Ac 17:14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there.
Ac 17:15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
Ac 18:5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
Ac 19:22 So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.
Ac 20:4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
Ro 16:21 ¶ Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.
1Co 4:17 ¶ For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
1Co 16:10 ¶ Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.
2Co 1:1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
2Co 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.
Php 1:1 ¶ Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Php 2:19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.
Col 1:1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
1Th 1:1 ¶ Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 3:2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,
1Th 3:6 ¶ But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you—
2Th 1:1 ¶ Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
1Ti 1:2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Ti 1:18 ¶ This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
1Ti 6:20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
2Ti 1:2 To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Phm 1:1 ¶ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer,
Heb 13:23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.
(NKJV)
SISTERS LEAD PRAYER HERE 95% MORE THEN MEN,GET OFF YOUR BUTTS!
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Uhhh, DUH!
Like we needed a study to tell us that????
Wonderful. Now maybe you can tell me why there is no study made of women but only of men.
Damn right.
The study was about CHRISTIAN services.
Woo hoo!
Scientist are generally prectical people, so they would naturally know that a scientific study of the unfathomable would be a waste of resources.
But I gotta tell ya, I've heard from many non Mormons that if more “Christians” lived Christian principles like Mormons, we would all be better off.
Thanks for your “Christian” compassion and kindness.
Easy, there. I was just teasing you.
I’m not a mind reader. You post looked no different that the myriad of LDS bashing posts that pop up on FR every day.
I apologize if I overreacted.
No need to apologize. Your reaction was natural. I should have put a smiley face emoticon on the post.
Thanks.
;-)
Gee! That was a no-brainer. I wonder what he got paid to do that study. I want half because I could have told him that!!!
Well, I am with you. We share tasks here — my husband works really hard. I work pt and clean and cook and do the laundry. DUH.
Well, you are right to be picky and wait for ‘the right lady to come along.’ From what I hear from my son, 21, feminist thinking is still a big deal with young women. YeGAD, can’t they see the destruction it has wreaked?
Well, if my own life is any indication, I was an absolute champ at picking loser women until I started getting serious about my Faith again in my mid to late 20s. Then, I met one devout Catholic woman and the next thing you know...ten years and five kids later...
“Well, you are right to be picky and wait for ‘the right lady to come along.’ From what I hear from my son, 21, feminist thinking is still a big deal with young women. YeGAD, can’t they see the destruction it has wreaked?”
Well I am not all that young anymore and I still hold out hope for the 20 to 30 year old ladies, a good chunk of them refuse to buy into the feminist hogwash.
LOL! I'm sure my husband would like that too. I don't want my husband to do housework, other than putting his dirty clothes in the basket and his dirty dishes in the sink. I just want him to get himself and the boys out of the way while I do housework. (And not bring them home covered with mud - that's the hard part!)
An example of bad training is what we get from tv.
I would add daily scripture study and family prayer to the list. If men make their families their priorities, the family unit will generally thrive and survive. If selfishness and other priorities get in the way, it’s hello to divorce, infidelity, wayward children, etc.
Well, file THAT under “D” for “Duh”!! I’m sure a lot of people will argue with it, though.
Good luck on that....
Well, yes.
Maybe when the feminist get older they will die younger then the non feminists.
Yes he might get Summers-boated (a reference to Larry Summers who was booted from Harvard after some comments about women and math/science)
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