Does Religion Improve Marriage?

As we understand it, marriage is a cultural and symbolic union between two people who love each other and would like to spend their lives together. But how important is religion when it comes to marriage? Could religion play a crucial role in the stability of a marriage? Andrew J. Weaver of the American Journal of Family Therapy (2002) reports:

"Numerous sociological studies have shown that valuing religion and regularly practicing it are associated with greater marital stability, higher levels of marital satisfaction, and an increased inclination to marry. Religious attendance is the most important predictor of marital stability, confirming even studies conducted over 50 years ago. Furthermore, couples who acknowledged a divine purpose in their marriage were more likely to collaborate, to have greater marital adjustment, and to perceive more benefits from marriage." ¹

Given the claim that religiosity is linked to marital commitment and stability, what are some examples to support or reject the claims made? Do you believe that religiousness translates into marital stability and long-term happiness in marriage?

Reference

[1] Andrew J. Weaver, Judith A. Samford, Virginia J. Morgan, David B. Larson, Harold G. Koenig, and Kevin J. Flannelly, “A Systematic Review of Research on Religion in Six Primary Marriage and Family Journals: 1995-1999,” American Journal of Family Therapy 30, no. 4 (July 2002): 293-309.