Why is the South leading the nation in unwed births???

My guess would be the poverty level in the South versus other regions.

 

That is true Ken, but Al does have point. Where are the churches? The South is still divided in many ways and it extends into the church.

 

I'm in agreement with Ken here. As to the question "Where are the churches", I have a theory. It seems any time a church does outreach, they're branded as a bunch of liberals, ecuminists, and compromisers. Unfortunately, this results in churches that remain closed and oblivious to the outside world that needs them so desperately.

Again, just a theory, which I have unfortunately seen examples of a few times.

 

Lots of information missing such as race and economic status.

For instance, over 85% of black babies born in southern states are born to unwed mothers. lexx than 25% to caucasian mothers.

No real conclusions can be drawn on a geographic basis without taking into account other socio-economic informatiation.

How the church factors into that, I'm not 100% sure, but it's a possibility that abortion plays a part.

 

I don't know if the aboprtion issue plays into it much. I've read statistics in a few places that suggest the number of live births between people who have had a previous abortion and people who have never had an abortion remains about the same. If I can find the data on that, I'll post it.

On other statistics, the number of black unwed mothers who have more than one child while unwed is higher than white unwed mothers (a recent talk show host opined that perhaps the white mothers "learn from their mistake" faster; I don't know how accurate that might be).

Interestingly, the demographic with the least number of unwed births and lowest rate of premarital sex is among Mormons. They also have the lowest divorce rate. The second lowest rate of divorce, premarital sex, and unwed births is among Jewish females. Among Christian females, the rate is about the same as the general population. What are these groups doing right that we're doing wrong?

 

Why did you feel compelled to interject race into the discussion?

BiR

 

John,

Actually, I have quite the opposite theory about the Church as you. Where is the Church? In California trying to learn to be a bunch of liberal, feel good moral relativists who know how to sell God to the lost.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Why is the South leading the nation in unwed births???

SIN?

 

If that's the case (which it ain't, at least not statewide) then how come it's the South (far from California) that is the crux of this issue??

 

Because the South is trying to imitate the west...and it makes for really entertaining Churches...but not real good for Biblical preaching and teaching morality.

Joseph Botwinick

 

I'm still trying to figure out if you're pulling my leg, of if you're serious. I couldn't disagree more about churches here all being a bunch of "feel good moral relativists". Yeah, there's some here, but they're everywhere. I think it's a bit of a generalization to accuse the whole lot of us as being such.

 

"Among Christian females, the rate is about the same as the general population. "-----------------------------------------------------------------

This statement is always made but seldom dug into. Johnv, you are to smart for simplistic stats like this. The fact is if you ask someone if they are a christian and then ask if they have gotten divorced etc. You come up with this pic, because everyone considers themsleves Christians. But when you ask more questions like to you attend regularly, do you read your bible regularly, do you prey regularly, do you share the gospel regulary etc. Then you find that Christians have much better stats when you prob a little deeper.

 

Bunyon, not necessarily. Christianity is for sinners like an emergency room is for the sick.

The Churches were I grew up - in the South, were full of divorcees, single parents, alcholics, drug users, etc. These people asked for and received salvation through Jesus Christ. So are you counting the stats after being saved or lifetime totals?

The Church has always played a big role in just about everybody's life in the South. The influence is deep and wide, even if you do not practice. Those that sin, know that help is there, but do their own thing anyway. And I would wager if I was a gambler, that it is the same in most parts of the country.

 

That's rather expected, since "Christians"-- self-identifying, as any such info is reported-- ARE the general population.

 

"Why did you feel compelled to interject race into the discussion?"

Culture, not race. Before 1964 the Negro culture was probably more moral than the white culture but it operated at a lower economic level. After '64 the educated black people joined the white majority and were replaced in black neighborhoods by hippies and white trash. The visible so-called black culture is an adaptation of white trash/hippy culture.

 

I think we've forgotten Pauls admonition in Rom.6.

 

One obvious reason why there are so many children born to unwed mothers is the breakdown of traditional social mores. As recently as the 40's - 50's, and stretching far back into our history, if a girl found herself pregnant, her daddy, brothers, and cousins would find the father and there would be a shotgun wedding. You can't do that anymore or you'll go to prison.

 

That is one pretty small reason. The morals of today do not require responsiblity in relationships, sexual or otherwise. I remember in High school in about 1963 an upper class girl was pregnant and it was the talk of the school. She was sent away to have her child. A couple years later an EX girl friend of mine quietly went away to a Catholic something or other to have her baby. Only 2 instances of pregnancy I had heard of in all of High School. It was universally viewed as shameful.

Today there are nurseries IN THE SCHOOL for these unwed children. There is nothing but congratulations and handouts galore and absolutely no shame.

 

emeraldctyangel,


The simple fact is that 80 percent of Americans claim to be Christians. There is no way 80 are true Christians, so alot of non-christians are being figured into the stats about Christians.