My former landlord had much the same experience in a Catholic singles' group in San Francisco, the difference being that the couples meet about once a decade rather than once a month, so they are not as sure of their success as the liberal Protestants from Berkeley.

I have spoken to representatives of other Catholic singles' groups which have been operating more recently and they confirm that couples who meet in religious singles' groups have an exceptionally good record of avoiding divorce.

I did get a message through my guest book from someone who spoke of three marriages which may have been formed through church singles groups that broke up. As hundreds of people have read these pages, it is not surprising that we would find such cases, and even a collection of cases.

My point is not that all church singles groups have a perfect record. There is some controversy over how perfect the records of even my parent's singles' groups is, but it is clear that couples that meet in religious singles' groups from a wide range of traditions have a far better record of avoiding divorce than American marriages of the last few decades. Therefore, why would a rational person want to search for a marriage partner in the typical American manner?

Some people will object that church should not be used as a singles' club, so let me emphasize that these couples my parents and probably my landlord met in church singles' groups that were specifically intended to facilitate marriage. This was not a matter of flirting in the pews or even misusing a young adult group set up for spiritual purposes.

To some it might not seem romantic, many believe they should not attempt to find their marriage partner, God will provide. But God seems to honor the purposeful search for a marriage partner, especially when the young people put him first by searching among others with the same metaphysical commitments.

If you are helping to lead a singles group it might help if your singles read this story. If you think so, perhaps you will consider linking to this page.

I have written several other web pages on religious singles' groups. They include pages on the church singles' group as an alternative to office romance, and arranged marriage. Furthermore their are leadership tips on keeping the groups balanced between women and men, and encouraging the clergy to support the group.

You can leave a message in my Guest book.

Geocities will e-mail me to inform me of your message, only I will be able to read it, so this is like e-mail.