Divorce Vs. Religion: New Study Reveals How Family Stability Affects A Child’s Religious Identity

It is already a given fact that divorce can be a traumatic experience to families and children. But just recently, a new study revealed children raised by divorced parents could be non-religious as an adult. So, is divorce the culprit for raising atheist adults?

In a collaborative study conducted by The Public Religion Research Institute and Religion News Service, researchers found that divorce could affect a child's religious identity as an adult. As a matter of fact, the findings suggested that 35 percent of people raised in a divorced household considered themselves non-religious compared to those who grew up in a non-broken family setting, Daily Mail noted.

Since everything gets divided in divorce, it's not surprising to learn that religion takes side, with children of divorced parents ended up having no religion when they're adults. As the divorce rates increase, Americans are also rapidly becoming unconcerned about religion or their religious identity.

With that said, Luther Seminary professor Andrew Root explained that when religion takes sides and church gets divided following a divorce, the negotiation about both worlds becomes quite challenging. Root also stressed that the findings are really not a surprise, citing the reality that churches are also not doing enough to directly discuss the concerns of the children placed on those kinds of situations.

In a Washington Post report, Root also pointed out another reason why people ended up being non-religious, saying some do not believe the church could help them with their problems. Aside from faith and religion, the findings also revealed the tragic repercussions of living in a broken family to adult life of a child.

Catholic Online, on the other hand, cited three main reasons why children from divorced families have departed from their faith or religion. These were due to clergy abuse scandals, church's teaching on homosexuality and the majority simply didn't believe in religion anymore.

Meanwhile, the latest research about divorce and religion also found that religious diversity at home could also lead to higher rates of disaffiliation. According to Breitbart, researchers Dr. Betsy Cooper, Dr. Daniel Cox, Rachel Lienesch and Dr. Robert Jones conducted the study based on the context of the "rise of religiously unaffiliated Americans."

Do you think divorce should be blamed for the burgeoning numbers of Americans who have grown up to be atheist adults? Share your thoughts below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.