I read with interest a recent column by Ross Douthat in The New York Times. Apparently practicing Christians have less divorces and out-of-wedlock births than the unaffiliated. Nominal Christians, however, (they call themselves Christians but don’t attend church much) have higher rates of both than non-believers.

Douthat states: “The social goods associated with faith flow almost exclusively from religious participation, not from affiliation or nominal belief. And where practice ceases or diminishes . . . the remaining residue of religion can be socially damaging instead.”

I was taken with his idea that support networks are important for the practicing of faith. Faithfulness to beliefs and corresponding behavior will more likely succeed if one shares it with a support network. That is the reason for groups as diverse as Alcoholics Anonymous and Weight Watchers.

We value the rugged individual, yet a shared journey is more likely to be successful.

Read the column for Douthat’s full treatment of the subject.