Ten myths about marriage

During National Marriage Week (7-14 February 2012) Evangelical Alliance is highlighting research which dispels some common myths about marriage. 

Peter Lynas, director of Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland commented: “Marriage is incredibly important to the individuals involved and to society as a whole.  There are a lot of marriage myths out there from those determined to undermine marriage. But the evidence is overwhelming – marriage works and should be supported, not redefined.”

Peter Lynas continued: “Churches and faith groups have always recognised and supported the importance of marriage and the extended family. They are the biggest providers of pre-marriage counselling and a major source of support when people are struggling in their marriages. During National Marriage Week it is great to celebrate marriage and the central role of the church in community life.”

Top 10 myths about marriage:

1. Young people aren’t interested in marriage. Myth - 89% of young people still want to get married (1)
2. Less people are getting married. Myth - Marriage rates are actually rising in NI, whereas the number of civil partnerships is falling. There were 7931 marriages in 2009 rising to 8156 in 2010 – a rise of 3%. During the first three quarters of 2011 marriages rose by 5% from 6097 to 6383. During the same period the number of civil partnerships dropped 25% from 91 to 69. (2)
3. Marriage is the same as cohabitation. Myth - Only 48% of cohabiting couples are still together by their child’s fifth birthday compared to 92% of married couples. (3)
4. Marriage and divorce are private decisions. Myth – Relationship breakdown in the UK costs £44bn – the annual cost per taxpayer is now £1,470. Costs include tax and benefits, housing, health and social care, civil & criminal justice and education. (4)
   
5. Marriage makes no difference to spouses. Myth - Married people live longer, healthier, happier lives. They are far less likely to suffer psychological illness.(5) Married men earn between 10 and 40 percent more than single men with similar education and job histories (6)
6. Marriage makes no difference to children. Myth - Studies consistently indicate that children raised by two happily and continuously married parents have the best chance of developing into competent and successful adults.(7)Children whose parents marry and stay married are more likely to have stable marriages themselves and to wait until marriage to become parents (8)
7. People don’t get married in churches anymore. Myth - 70% of marriages in Northern Ireland are in churches. (9)
8. Cohabitation has replaced marriage. Myth - 75% of those under 35 currently in cohabiting relationships want to get married (10)
9. Most marriages end in divorce. Myth – Two thirds of first marriages survive until one partner dies. (11) The average length of a marriage in Northern Ireland ending in    divorce in 2010 was 18.1 years, significantly longer than the UK average of 11years. (12)
10. There is no support for a marriage tax allowance. Myth - 85% of people support giving some financial incentive to married couples through the tax system as a way of promoting marriage (13)
    

Peter Lynas concludes: “Marriage is under threat on all sides. David Cameron wants to redefine marriage and George Osborne is stalling in implementing the much needed marriage tax allowance. It's time for some clear leadership from both the church and the state supporting marriage.”