Dispatches from the everything-you-know-is-wrong Department.

NYT WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 — President Bush condemned the Massachusetts court ruling on gay marriage on Wednesday, and conservative groups said the White House had informed them that the president would soon endorse efforts to pass an amendment to the United States Constitution defining marriage to be between a man and a woman. . . .

"Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman," he said.

He just didn't say for how long. Don't have a record you're proud of or can win on? Change the conversation, not your self. Bang the table. This is first taste of what this Fall's campaign is going to be about--at least, from the Republican standpoint. Yes, God, guns and gays. Cubed.

So, who exactly, are we going to be defending Marriage from? Time for some Sunshine: The Barna Research Group:

*Born again Christians are just as likely to get divorced as are non-born again adults. Overall, 33% of all born again individuals who have been married have gone through a divorce, which is statistically identical to the 34% incidence among non-born again adults.

* While college graduates are typically more liberal in their political views and lifestyle than adults who lack such a degree, adults who have a college degree and have been married are comparatively less likely to get divorced. Thirty-one percent of college grads that have been married have been divorced versus 36% of adults who did not earn a college degree and have been married.

* Residents of the Northeast and West are commonly noted for their more liberal leanings in politics and lifestyle. However, the region of the nation in which divorce was least likely was the Northeast. In that area, 28% of adults who had been married had also been divorced, compared to 32% in the Midwest, 35% in the South, and 38% in the West.

Barna is a reseach firm located in Ventura, CA. They've been surveying attitudes of people of faith compared with seculars since 1984 and, as they put it: "tracking the social, religious and political state of the nation." There are many more links on studies:

Tithing: Only 8% of Christians do this, 16% give nothing at all.

Voting: Most Christian's votes are predicated on economic self-interest, not interpretation of faith or moral judgement.

Life goals: "living a comfortable lifestyle" ranks higher than a personal relationship with God.

And, of course, marriage: "Born again adults are more likely to experience a divorce than are non-born again adults (27% vs. 24%)"

Now, we at Fouroboros hold all things spiirtual in very high regard--it is vital, powerful and sustaining stuff. The reasoning for posting the above information is not to cast stones, but to leaven the coming conversation about faith and its place in America, and in politics, with a little reality and--I know this is a stretch, humility: Let he who is without... well, you know.

Okay then. Now go in peace. And be nice.