Promoting sociology in Australia
Facilitating sociology teaching and research
Enhancing the professional development of TASA members
Promoting sociology in Australia
Facilitating sociology teaching and research
Enhancing the professional development of TASA members
Church attendance ends at "I do"
Marriage ceremonies may be the last time men attend church, a new Australian
study has revealed.
Church attendance in Australia has fallen dramatically over the past forty
years, particularly among divorced and separated males.
The study, conducted by Dr John Armstrong of St Christopher’s Cathedral in
Canberra, found that divorced and separated men are 75 per cent less likely
to attend church than their previous generation.
The study also discovered significantly lower levels of church attendance in
almost all relationship groups.
Dr Armstrong believes many churches have ignored the population’s changing
attitudes towards relationships.
Divorce rates have more than quadrupled over the past forty years, yet many
church groups still discourage this behaviour.
Dr Armstrong believes it is time churches re-examine their teachings so as
to ‘not impose a moral code upon others but instead nurture relationships which
are faithful, life-giving and open to the nurture of children’, he said.
Dr Armstrong will be presenting his findings at the XV World Congress of Sociology
to be held in Brisbane in July.
For further details on the Congress visit the website at www.sociology2002.com
