If we look hard enough we will always be able to find some problem that excuses us from belief. We can ask the kinds of questions that will distance us from Jesus rather than the kind that draw us closer. But this week I had the opportunity to read a Cultural Studies Report from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington. In it I discovered information based on different empirical studies that led to the following conclusions. Churchgoers are more likely to be married, less likely to be divorced, and more likely to manifest high levels of satisfaction in marriage.
Church attendance is the most important predictor of marital stability and happiness.
The regular practice of religion helps poor people move out of poverty. Regular religious practice generally inoculates individuals against a host of social problems, including suicide, drug abuse, out of wedlock births, crime and divorce. In repairing damage caused by alcoholism, drug addiction, and marital breakdown, religious belief and practice are a major source of strength and recovery. Now of course it would be more compelling if I had time to report on each study and gave you the hard data and the specific research design. I will offer the document to anyone who is interested to check this out.