Websites that reunite old flames are being highlighted by counselling firms in the UK as a factor in the rise of divorce rates in England and Wales.
The number of divorces in England and Wales continued to rise in 2003 to reach a total of 153,490, marking the third consecutive year of rising divorce rates according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). For the first time, the internet, and more specifically dating sites and sites that reunite old friends, are being mooted as factors behind the increase in marriage breakdowns.
“There are of course a number of reasons behind the rise in divorce rates,” said Christine Northam, a spokesperson with Relate, a counselling firm, “but chat rooms and sites which reunite friends make it easier for unhappy husbands or wives to meet other people and possibly go on to have an affair.”
Relate, which counsels couples facing divorce or separation, has noted that one in ten of the cases it deals with are indicating that the internet has played a role in the situation. “We have noticed in cases where a partner is having an affair, one out of ten couples have said that the affair began online, either on a chat site or reuniting site,” Northam explained to ElectricNews.Net.
ElectricNews.net
Wednesday, September 01 2004 by Deirdre McArdle
Analysis:
This news item indicates another possible danger which accompanies internet access. However, the danger is less in the internet access itself, and more in the desire of the one who involves him or herself in the situation.
As stated later in the article, “‘A lot of people have a rosy impression of the first relationship they had at school or college. If they are feeling unhappy with their partner, they begin wondering what it would have been like if they’d stayed with the old flame,’ Northam commented.”
In other words, there first has to be a desire to cultivate such an illicit relationship for the internet access to facilitate the affair. It is as the writer James said, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15).
It is easy to blame the wrong thing when sin occurs. Ultimately, the blame goes not to the enticement, but rather to the lust of the tempted. In other words, God will hold us accountable for our desires. The cure is righteousness!
