Sarah Womack, social affairs correspondent of The Daily Telegraph, stated that "divorce rates [in England and Wales] rose last year for the first time in five years, leaving an additional 147,000 children with a single parent" (Nov. 6, 2002). Selfish adults often don't think of them.

Let's face it. Although there can be many reasons for divorce, the main one is and has always been infidelity—unfaithfulness to a marriage partner. Current Western attitudes toward adultery are not that encouraging.

A major feature article in The Sunday Times revealed that "up to 55% of people have an affair at some time in their lives...One in 10 men admit to an affair in the past five years...For men in London the average number of sexual partners over a lifetime has jumped from 12.2 in 1990 to 15.5 in 2000." Statistics about women showed a similar increase.

Of course, affairs don't always result in divorce. The article stated, "New research suggests people are becoming more tolerant of straying spouses and brief affairs. What matters more they say, is 'emotional infidelity.'" Genuine repentance by the offender followed by true forgiveness on the part of the offended is commendable. But in the long run, so-called tolerance (mutual or otherwise) of adulterous behavior can only lead to more misery and unhappiness.

Perhaps the most disturbing statement in the entire article was: "American studies have shown that religious people disapprove of affairs more strongly than others—but have just as many of them." Talk about shame and embarrassment! The apostle Paul wrote, "Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame" (1 Corinthians 15:34). Please write for our free booklet, The Ten Commandments.

—Sources: The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph.