Even among Christians, the most vocal against marital breakup, it appears that the rate of divorce may be higher than in society at large. God's design for marriage seems clear. During Jesus' ministry, when religious leaders attempt to entrap him with questions about marriage and divorce, he avoids the argument, referring back to the Genesis passage. When Paul discusses the marriage relationship in his letter to the Ephesians, he also refers back to the Genesis passage, God's design for marriage. Most Americans marry.
Most adults believe marriage is a permanent institution.
Even non-believers tend to view marriage as a permanent relationship. In America, the divorce rate increased rapidly in the 1960s and 70s, but leveled off in the next two decades. Each year since 1980, there have been around 2.4 million marriages and 1.2 million divorces in the United States. Half of all divorces occur within seven years of marriage. Statistics from second and third marriages are even less encouraging.