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Study Shows Christianity Makes Men Better Husbands and Fathers (Open)
LifeSiteNews ^ | 6/27/08 | Tim Waggoner

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:

http://center.americanvalues.org/?p=75



TOPICS: Current Events; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: christianity; fatherhood; fathers; fidelity; generalchristianity; marriage; moralabsolutes; religion; uva
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To: HereInTheHeartland
He will be a target for voicing simple truth.

Which is a revolutionary act in this time of universal deceit...
to paraphrase George Orwell.
21 posted on 06/27/2008 4:03:39 PM PDT by VOA
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To: Grunthor

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?


22 posted on 06/27/2008 4:08:15 PM PDT by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: bboop

“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.


23 posted on 06/27/2008 4:19:29 PM PDT by Grunthor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkXPw_lorew)
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To: wagglebee; All; drstevej; Gamecock; Jean Chauvin; OrthodoxPresbyterian; CCWoody; Wrigley; jboot; ...

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!


24 posted on 06/27/2008 4:36:56 PM PDT by alpha-8-25-02 ("SAVED BY GRACE AND GRACE ALONE")
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To: Libertina; lonevoice; Fractal Trader; wolfpat; dragonblustar; steel_resolve; angry elephant; ...
Thanks to wagglebee for the ping.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Say WA? Evergreen State ping

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.

Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

25 posted on 06/27/2008 4:41:43 PM PDT by sionnsar (trad-anglican.faithweb.com |Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: wagglebee

Uhhh, DUH!

Like we needed a study to tell us that????


26 posted on 06/27/2008 4:45:30 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: ThisLittleLightofMine

Wonderful. Now maybe you can tell me why there is no study made of women but only of men.


27 posted on 06/27/2008 4:53:38 PM PDT by kosta50 (Eastern Orthodoxy is pure Christianity)
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To: delacoert
Better lovers.

Damn right.

28 posted on 06/27/2008 5:12:32 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Given such dismal choices, I guess I'll vote for the old guy.)
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To: sevenbak
As a member of the LDS faith

The study was about CHRISTIAN services.

29 posted on 06/27/2008 5:14:37 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Given such dismal choices, I guess I'll vote for the old guy.)
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To: bboop
in Christian marriages, men did a lot less housework than they did in secular/ egalitarian marriages.

Woo hoo!

30 posted on 06/27/2008 5:15:53 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Given such dismal choices, I guess I'll vote for the old guy.)
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To: kosta50
maybe you can tell me why there is no study made of women but only of men.

Scientist are generally prectical people, so they would naturally know that a scientific study of the unfathomable would be a waste of resources.

31 posted on 06/27/2008 5:17:58 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Given such dismal choices, I guess I'll vote for the old guy.)
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To: Jeff Chandler
Christian living and Christian principles. Yes, I know our theology is different. You can call me a non Christian because I don't believe the same as you. It's ok, I'm used to it.

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.

32 posted on 06/27/2008 5:19:29 PM PDT by sevenbak (Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. - Job 21:3)
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To: sevenbak
Thanks for your “Christian” compassion and kindness.

Easy, there. I was just teasing you.

33 posted on 06/27/2008 5:20:58 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Given such dismal choices, I guess I'll vote for the old guy.)
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To: Jeff Chandler

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.


34 posted on 06/27/2008 5:25:03 PM PDT by sevenbak (Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. - Job 21:3)
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To: sevenbak
I apologize if I overreacted.

No need to apologize. Your reaction was natural. I should have put a smiley face emoticon on the post.

35 posted on 06/27/2008 5:28:22 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Given such dismal choices, I guess I'll vote for the old guy.)
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To: Jeff Chandler

Thanks.

;-)


36 posted on 06/27/2008 5:30:56 PM PDT by sevenbak (Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. - Job 21:3)
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To: wagglebee

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!!!


37 posted on 06/27/2008 6:54:20 PM PDT by samiam1972 ("It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."-Mother Teresa)
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To: Jeff Chandler

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.


38 posted on 06/27/2008 8:22:06 PM PDT by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: Grunthor

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?


39 posted on 06/27/2008 8:24:54 PM PDT by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: wagglebee

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...


40 posted on 06/27/2008 9:39:11 PM PDT by Antoninus (Every second spent bashing McCain is time that could be spent helping Conservatives downticket.)
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