Sacred Sex

This article—and many like it in the mainstream media—gives the public the impression that faith plays a toxic role in the lives of ordinary families. But this portrait is deceptive. The truth is that faith generally appears to be a force for good when it comes to the quality and stability of married life, men’s and women’s satisfaction with their lives, and the welfare of children. The research tells us that American men and women who regularly attend church are significantly happier in their marriages, less likely to end up divorced, and more satisfied with their lives. For instance, the data tell us that regular churchgoers are between about 30 percent and 50 percent less likely to get divorced, compared to Americans who are unchurched. So much for the New Yorker’s insinuation that faith is a destabilizing force in marriage today. But what about one of the most important and contested domains of our culture: Is greater religious faith linked to better or worse sex?