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Divorce and Remarriage

the children of intact families. Children of
divorce tend to have more positive
attitudes toward divorce, less favorable
attitudes toward marriage, and are less
likely to pursue marriage as a lifelong
commitment (Kapinus, 2004; Wallerstein,
Lewis, & Blakeslee, 2000).
The way grown children view their
parents’ divorces differs substantially from
the way their parents view divorce.
Wallerstein and colleagues found that 15
years after the divorce, 80% of mothers
and 50% of fathers felt the divorce was
good for them, while only 10% of the
children felt positive about the divorce
(Wallerstein, Lewis, & Blakeslee, 2000).
This is in contrast to Ahrons’ (2004b)
findings that 80% of adult children of
divorce felt their parents’ decision to
divorce was good and they have either
benefited or not been affected by it.

The Effects of Divorce on Religious Practice

When families break apart, the
foundation of their life together is shaken,
even shattered. Divorce often disrupts the
family’s religious practice, which can have
negative consequences. It is fairly common
to see a drop-off in church attendance
following a divorce. Children are more
likely to stop practicing their faith after a
divorce. In fact, adult children of divorce
are between 2 and 3 times more likely to
abandon religious practice than adults

from intact families (Steakley, 2003). In a

study of 1,500 people, half from divorced

families and half from intact families,

Marquardt (2005) found less than half

from divorced families were members of a

church compared to 63% from intact

families. This creates potentially serious

consequences, not only for the family, but

for society as well. Religious involvement

tends to improve people’s physical and

emotional health, and marital stability. It

lessens adolescent sexual activity, crime,

and the use of alcohol and drugs. A long-

term decrease in religious worship after a

divorce results in weakened families and

weakened individuals.

The Church’s Response to Divorce

By offering grace and forgiveness,

churches can be supportive to divorced or

divorcing families, which aids in the healing

process. However, the church can also be

instrumental in causing shame and guilt in

individuals who divorce. Some conservative

churches require divorced ministers to leave

their positions. They may ask a divorced

church member to leave a leadership

position and permanently prohibit divorced

individuals from certain church positions.

More than any other social organization,

the church continues to perpetrate the

stigma attached to divorce.While the

church teaches grace and forgiveness of sin,

many divorced individuals are made to feel