Barna study reports Christians more likely to experience divorce than others

(RNS)     A new study by the

in Ventura, Calif. says that born-again Christians are more likely to go through a marital split than are non-Christians.

Using statistics drawn from a nationwide survey of nearly 4,000 adults, the Barna data show that 11 percent of the adult population is currently divorced but that 25 percent of all adults have experienced at least one divorce during their lifetime.

Among born-again Christians, 27 percent are currently or have previously been divorced, compared with 24 percent among adults who are not born again.

Surprisingly, the Barna report said, the Christian group whose 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.