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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.
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