Nearly half of Americans say marriage is unnecessary in Zogby poll; Fundies freak out....

[marmar]

from the American Family Association's :crazy: One News Now:



44 percent find marriage 'unnecessary'
Jeff Johnson
OneNewsNow.com
January 7, 2008


Half of Americans 20 to 69 years of age believe marriage is not necessary -- according to a new study.

Zogby International and AOL surveyed more than 7,000 Americans in that age bracket and found 44 percent who said marriage is not necessary in order to have a committed, fulfilling, life-long relationship. Mike McManus, president of Marriage Savers -- a group that works to help churches reduce divorce rates, finds that number shocking.

"People who are married live longer, they're healthier, they're happier; they're wealthier," he points out. "A man who's single, for whatever reason, will live ten years less than a married man; a woman, about four years less."

Most of the survey respondents also said that they would prefer living together before getting married. "Unfortunately, the marriage message just doesn't seem to be getting out to the public," continues McManus. "And what we have is a reflection of Hollywood morals ... in the culture."

Fear may be the motivating factor in this study, says McManus. "Since 1970 there's been one divorce for every two marriages, every year. And that means there's a whole generation of young adults whose parents divorced and who are, therefore, fearful of marriage commitments," he maintains. "And they're fearful that if they marry they'll end up being divorced -- and their antidote is to cohabit."

But research by Rutgers University's National Marriage Project indicates that couples who live together before marriage are 46 percent more likely to divorce and significantly more likely to experience domestic violence within their relationships.

McManus believes the church shares some of the blame for this trend. "Churches really aren't very 'marriage-minded' -- they're 'wedding-minded.' They are equipped to be able to help couples have weddings, but they really don't know how to build marriages," he argues. "The problem is the pastors are picking safe subjects, and they're avoiding the subjects that could help us learn how to build relationships that can go the distance."

The pro-marriage advocate expects similar survey results in the future if churches do not do a better job promoting the benefits of marriage and exposing the pitfalls of cohabitation.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/2008/01/44_percent_find_marriage_unnec.php

[msongs]

1. and exactly what is the fundie divorce rate? nt

[originalpckelly]

2. That would explain why 50% of marriages end within like two years.

[TahitiNut]

3. Marriage is the #1 cause of divorce.

:shrug:

[Breeze54]

4. There's no real tax benefit to marriage anymore...it isn't necessary.

;)

[proud patriot]

5. wheeeeeeeeeeeee ! I'm pro fundie Freakouts

:woohoo:

[LostInAnomie]

6. "People who are married live longer, they're healthier, they're happier; they're wealthier,"

Sounds like someone has their causation confused.

Personally, I am for anything that makes the fundies cry.

[Duer 157099]

8. No kidding. I especially would link the "healthier" with "wealthier"

Seems those are two fundamental issues that are linked, and could easily influence the "happier" variable, and all those together influence longevity. So, in order it should be wealth (due to marriage, tax breaks, cheaper cost of living, insurance, etc) leads to health leads to happy leads to long life.

Huh, well, I guess you could parse it to mean marriage caused all that, but the wealth part could just as easily have done it I bet.

[silverweb]

7. Absolutely agreed.

Been there, done that. Twice. Never again.

My kids were raised poorer than some of their friends, but in a much more sane and peaceful environment -- and they're both doing exceptionally well, thankyouverymuch.

I'm healthier and happier, and I don't give a shit about "wealth."

Marriage is not necessary, McManus, or even necessarily desirable.

Enjoy your old age and mind your own damn business.

[Binka]

9. Oh God Do I So Understand

Never again. Marriage doesn't work for me I am too independent. All the men I've tried just don't get that, they keep trying to attach that yoke. Go put that fucking thing on an ox and then take her to bed you fools.

[silverweb]

12. Couldn't have said it better myself!

Like you, I'm very independent and like living my life on my own terms.

..."they keep trying to attach that yoke. Go put that fucking thing on an ox and then take her to bed you fools.

What an image! :rofl:

[Duer 157099]

10. "Unfortunately, the marriage message just doesn't seem to be getting out to the public"

Clearly the message is too new, it just takes time for these unorthodox concepts to seep in.

[jmm]

11. Anybody that thinks marriage is "necessary" shouldn't

get married. Getting married because it's expected of you is one of the worst reasons.