Marriage is an institution that has always been considered sacrosanct in societies around the world; however, recent trends and statistics indicate that the importance of having a strong and lasting marriage has diminished in recent years. The divorce rate in the United States currently represents 50% of all marriages; this means that for every two married couples, one of those couples will eventually separate. (QUOTE) The current state of marriage, illustrated in Didion's essay "Marrying Absurd" and evident in modern society, is a direct result of cultural values ​​toward marriage, religious beliefs regarding marriage, and ideas that Today's society has regard to marriage. (QUOTE) Such problems, along with financial problems and infidelity, are the cause of such high divorce rates in America. Money is one of the main causes of divorce. A significant percentage of marital stress comes from financial difficulties; Couples in financial difficulty are more likely to argue regularly about money, which significantly increases the risk of divorce. (QUOTE) On the other side of the spectrum, a couple with financial stability and an abundance of money is just as likely to divorce as a couple struggling financially. When there is enough money to be shared equally between couples, divorce becomes a financially viable option for marriages already on the verge of failure. (QUOTE) Although finances play a role in the overall happiness of married people, divorce statistics over time show that divorce rates are independent of the economy. So what causes irreconcilable differences in marriages? Infidelity is another concern for couples today, as affairs have become increasingly common in recent times, with 50 to 70 percent of divorces ending due to infidelity. paper ......ti V. . Buscemi and Charlotte Smith. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2007. 60-63. Print.Divorce Online is Quick and Easy | CompleteCase.com. Internet. November 28, 2011."Divorce Statistics in the United States | Divorce Information." How to Get Divorced - The Essential Guide to Divorce, Divorce Laws, Divorce Rates, Free Divorce, Divorce Lawyers and More. Internet. November 28, 2011..Dowd, Casey. “Why so many baby boomers are getting divorced.” Foxbusiness.com.FOXBusiness, June 23, 2011. Web. November 28, 2011.boomers-are-getting-divorced/>. “Quick Facts About American Religion.” Hartford Institute for Research in Religion. Internet. November 28. 2011.