New information has recently been released that indicate that the divorce race in the United State is at its lowest point since 1970.
That should be cause for celebration, since we have heard for years that the nation faces a problem with divorce. According to the study, 3.6 people for every 1,000 were divorced. That rate reached its highest levels in 1981 when 5.3 per 1,000 were divorced, during a period of time in which no-fault divorce laws were being enacted, making it easier to get a divorce in many states.
But is this really cause for celebration? Yes, divorce is down in the country and as a divorced male that in itself is a cause for celebration. However, as with any statistic you have to look inside the numbers to see what is really going on, to get a better sense of the true landscape of marriage and divorce.
Here is where we see a reason not for celebration, but for concern.
Since the 1960s, the number of unmarried couples living together has increased by substantial amounts. Also, the percentage of marriages in the United States
has dropped by nearly 30 percent in the last 25 years.
I believe you can take two lines or arguments to this.
The first is that the decrease in marriage is a concern because of children. As the Heritage Foundation’s Patrick Fagan points out, instability in a relationship could hurt the child. Of course, a bad marriage also can hurt the child.
The other argument is that marriage is a relationship covenant created by God to join man and woman together. In that regard, marriage is a religious institution and should be left as such.
Ultimately the issue boils down to two people realizing that a marriage is difficult and hard, but full of rewards. But, there is no magic theory on how to have a successful marriage. It’s all about communication, trust, love, honesty, and enjoyment.
Marriage is a religious institution, one I wish the government would not be involved in. I’m concerned about people leaving in cohabitation for long periods of time, because I fear it ruins the sanctity of the marriage, leaving too much room for temptation, and devalues the importance of marriage.
So celebrate the divorce rate being at its lowest point in decades, but be concerned for the entire picture.
