A new study and book is challenging long-held myths that half of all marriages end in divorce and that the divorce rate in the church is the same or higher than outside the church.

The book outlines an eight-year study that shows despite summations and claims of media outlets, the divorce rate in America have never actually topped 50%.  The study shows that according to 2009 U.S. Census Data, the percentage of women still married to their first spouse on average is 71 percent across all age groups.  The number of those married to a second husband is 65 percent on average.

Researcher Shaunti Feldhahn says the total percentage of American women who have been divorced, including all marriages, is just 30.8%.

Feldhahn also notes that according to statistics, there are many women not married to their first spouse who lost a spouse to death and not divorce.  Many reports do not make the distinction between a re-married woman being divorced versus widowed.

The study also showed the highest rates of divorce were in the age groups over 35, contradicting a societal myth that young couples are quickly marrying and divorcing.  The largest percentage of divorces was in the 50 to 59 age group.

In the case of Christians, the study showed that couples who attend church on a regular basis have a significantly lower divorce rate than Christians who rarely attend church or non-Christians.  A joint study between Feldhahn and Barna showed the divorce rate of people who attended church the previous week was 27% and as much as 50% lower than people who do not attend church.