Sociologists made the news this week. Mostly we just do our research and our teaching, wondering if anybody notices. Then word comes out that a study will appear in this month's American Journal of Sociology that raises questions about the connections between religious affiliation and divorce. The article, "Red States, Blue States, and Divorce: Understanding the Impact of Conservative Protestantism on Regional Variation in Divorce Rates" by Jennifer Glass and Philip Levchak, examines patterns in county divorce rates as they were correlated with other factors.

Religion news outlets got on the story. The Religion News Service story by Sarah Pulliam Bailey did a very good job. The Huffington Post summarized the story, while seeming to gloat a little on red-state problems or support of abstinence programs. One of the clearest summaries is in a press release from the Council on Contemporary Families (operated by Stephanie Coontz, one of the best marriage experts in the country).

There was some spirited dialogue about the study on Facebook and Twitter and I shared what I could. But I realized that it was hard to evaluate the argument without seeing the actual article, which isn't out yet. But the intrepid Director of the White Library at Spring Arbor, Robbie Bolton, found me a copy of a conference paper Glass and Levchak had done three years ago that looks to be a similar argument and is likely the initial version of what became the AJS paper.

It's a very interesting paper (if you like ordinary least squares regression). It does a very nice review of the literature, looking at the dynamics impacting divorce decisions, conservative protestantism, early marriage, attitudes toward cohabitation, and so on.

Bob Jones University has resolved its differences with GRACE and will allow the Christian abuse investigator to complete an independent review of BJU's past response to abuse incidents and how the school can improve.

CT reported how BJU fired GRACE late last month as the review neared completion. Last week, the two groups met to "discuss any issues that might stand in the way of GRACE's completion of thorough, transparent and objective review," BJU announced today.

"GRACE satisfactorily addressed the University's concerns and Bob Jones University is confident the review can be completed in a timely and professional manner," said BJU. "To be clear, GRACE and BJU are united in their commitment to a review that is thorough, transparent and objective."

GRACE announced the news on its Facebook page, noting the review will be "under the terms of the original agreement. No changes." Its official news release later noted, "GRACE remains prayerful that this difficult but necessary process may be able to bring a new dawn of hope and healing for hurting souls, along with positive institutional changes. God is undoubtedly at work."

BJU expressed its appreciation for former students who "demonstrated great courage to share their stories in an effort to help us improve," and apologized "for the added anxiety caused by the temporary suspension of the review."