Today Gospelbound returns with a timely interview just ahead of Valentine’s Day. Brad Wilcox at the University of Virginia is the leading sociologist of the family, and he’s just published the new book Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization.

No matter what you might see in candy aisles, Valentine’s Day has become more muted in recent years. For the first time in American history, less than half of adults are married. The birth rate has never been lower, resulting in 7 million fewer babies since the Great Recession of 2007-2008.

According to Wilcox, one of the biggest problems is the message cultural elites spread through TV talk shows, popular movies, and best-selling self-help books. We’re told that marriage doesn’t matter much, even though these elites tend to marry and stay married, compared to lower economics classes. In fact, these messages contradict reality that we find in surveys of family life.

Here’s the truth: Marriage, followed by childbearing, is the path most likely to lead to a happy, meaningful life for most of us. Compared to Americans who don’t attend church, the religiously observant say they’re happier, they’re less lonely, and they find more satisfaction and meaning in life. Shared faith matters more to a quality marriage than education, income, or political ideology. The major increase in divorce can be traced back to the 1970s with the introduction of the soulmate model of marriage. But religious attendance can reduce your risk of divorce by up to 50 percent. Women in particular report greater happiness with family responsibilities compared to freedom to prioritize work and travel over marriage and children.

Nevertheless, as Wilcox reports, we’re seeing “a shift away from marriage and all the fruits that follow from this most fundamental social institution: children, kin, financial stability, and innumerable opportunities to love and be loved by another.” He argues, “Nothing less than the future of our civilization depends on more Americans succeeding in this most fundamental social institution.”

Wilcox kicks off a dynamic new season of Gospelbound featuring guests such as Jonathan Haidt, Melissa Kruger, Yascha Mounk, Jonathan Leeman, Jeremy Treat, Irwyn Ince, and more. I also have a few surprises in the works as I finish my reading. Listen, watch, and share some wisdom with your friends and family as we learn together from these insightful guests.