Christians more likely to divorce, study says

VENTURA, Calif. – A new study by the Barna Research Group in Ventura, Calif., says born-again Christians are more likely to go through a marital split than non-Christians.

Using statistics drawn from a national survey of nearly 4,000 adults, the Barna data show that 11 percent of the adult population is currently divorced percent of all adults have experienced at least one divorce during their lifetime.

Among born-again Christians, 27 percent are currently divorced or have previously been divorced, compared with 24 percent among adults who are not born again. Surprisingly, the Barna report said, the Christian groups adherents have the highest likelihood of getting divorced are Baptists. It did not specify any particular denomination. It said the only group to surpass Baptists were Christians associated with non-denominational Protestant churches.

Of the nation’s major Christian groups, Catholics and Lutherans have the lowest percentage of divorced individuals – 21 percent. People who attend mainline Protestant churches, overall, experience divorce at the national average of 25 percent.