A possibly wild claim: women dominating Christianity?

[Dread_Zeppelin]

I was listening to my local Christian radio, and a paster got wildly passionate about the fact that the missions and church attendence are mostly women.

He claimed that women are the gender that care enough about God to show up to church and do missions. He claimed the ratio of women-to-men was asounding. I tried to look online for any such report or statistic but couldn't find it.

He urged the male gender to find their spiritual backbone and follow Christ. He isn't saying men don't do these things at all, just that its so shameful to find that there are vast numbers of men turning against God and women have esencially taken over for their laziness/unbelief.

Are women by nature more spiritual then the average man? Can anyone find evidence of this? I know from experience that women around my area tend to outnumber the men in church by numbers.

As for who this pastor was, it was 8am and I barily function at that hour...I believe it was John McArther but I can't say for sure.

 

[giantone]

I think it is likely that is the case, every church I've been to in the past had more woman than men. but not in the church I go to right now. The men outnumber the women.

Just because some women might be more spiritual doesn't mean they aren't more susceptible to certain things then the men and that is something to be more concerned about.

and it is my opinion that women have more power than men as well as more sustainability to the devil. And thats why we need each other.

 

[Wonderland]

Church for Men – Where are all the men?
Where are all the men? You’re not just imagining it: Christianity is short on men. Here are the facts:

• The typical U.S. Congregation draws an adult crowd that’s 61% female, 39% male. This gender gap shows up in all age categories. [1]

• On any given Sunday there are 13 million more adult women than men in America’s churches. [2]

• This Sunday almost 25 percent of married, churchgoing women will worship without their husbands. [3]

• Midweek activities often draw 70 to 80 percent female participants. [4]

• The majority of church employees are women (except for ordained clergy, who are overwhelmingly male). [5]

• Over 70 percent of the boys who are being raised in church will abandon it during their teens and twenties. Many of these boys will never return. [6]

• More than 90 percent of American men believe in God, and five out of six call themselves Christians. But only two out of six attend church on a given Sunday. The average man accepts the reality of Jesus Christ, but fails to see any value in going to church. [7]

• Churches overseas report gender gaps of up to 9 women for every adult man in attendance. [8] • Christian universities are becoming convents. The typical Christian college in the U.S. enrolls almost 2 women for every 1 man. [9]
• Fewer than 10% of U.S. churches are able to establish or maintain a vibrant men’s ministry. [10]


Church is good for men...
• Churchgoers are more likely to be married and express a higher level of satisfaction with life. Church involvement is the most important predictor of marital stability and happiness. [11]

• Church involvement moves people out of poverty. It’s also correlated with less depression, more self-esteem and greater family and marital happiness. [12]

• Religious participation leads men to become more engaged husbands and fathers. [13]

• Teens with religious fathers are more likely to say they enjoy spending time with dad and that they admire him. [14]

And men are good for the church...​

• A study from Hartford Seminary found that the presence of involved men was statistically correlated with church growth, health, and harmony. Meanwhile, a lack of male participation is strongly associated with congregational decline. [15]

 

[Wonderland]

That was fromt his website:

Church for Men – Where are all the men?

Maybe churches need to do a better job of engaging young men and keeping them involved.

 

[Wonderland]

Why won't the link show up?"

 

[charisenexcelcis]

Why won't the link show up?"

Try putting the http thing in front of it. In any case, great info.

 

[lightbliss]

• More than 90 percent of American men believe in God, and five out of six call themselves Christians. But only two out of six attend church on a given Sunday. The average man accepts the reality of Jesus Christ, but fails to see any value in going to church. [7]

[15]

^
Would have never guessed.

It is apparent in today's churches that there are more female attendants than male.

 

[ChristopherMichael]

He claimed that women are the gender that care enough about God to show up to church and do missions. He claimed the ratio of women-to-men was asounding. I tried to look online for any such report or statistic but couldn't find it.

He urged the male gender to find their spiritual backbone and follow Christ. He isn't saying men don't do these things at all, just that its so shameful to find that there are vast numbers of men turning against God and women have esencially taken over for their laziness/unbelief.

Are women by nature more spiritual then the average man? Can anyone find evidence of this? I know from experience that women around my area tend to outnumber the men in church by numbers.

Gah, so much in here is sickeningly gross that I don't know where to start! I know you're just summarizing this person's argument Dread Zepplin, so I'm not directing this criticism towards you, but towards the person who put this out there.

First off, I've got to deal with this guy, who sort of summs up the crux of the lunacy above.

and it is my opinion that women have more power than men as well as more sustainability to the devil

This doesn't make any sense! God did not create one gender with some advantage over the other when it comes to being a Christian and being saved. That would mean when he's knitting together babies in the womb he's like "an extra X chromosome for you, my little christian fellow" and "ohh, a Y chromosome for you, mr. heathen". Just doesn't pass the common sense test.

That said, I do acknowledge that there's a pronounced difference in attendance in churches between males and females. Rather than coming down to some innate spiritual advantage one gender has over the other, I think it's due to the fact that our church services are geared more towards females than males.

Think about it. All the hand-waving, emotional prayer, hugs, and heart-felt singing is all great and whatnot, but that's stuff for girls, not guys. I mean, talk about uncomfortable. Not to mention that a lot of the guys who are currently in churches are milksops. I mean, could you really imagine Samson or David donning button-down dress shirts and attending a Tuesday night pot-luck and prayer? NO! They'd be occupied with fighting physical battles (which, as a sidenote, is where a bunch of great Christian guys are nowadays). What about Paul? Would he attend the Saturday morning fellowship workshop where he talks about how he's dealing with the stress of his nagging wife or the harrassment from his boss? Nooooppee! He's making pharisees rend their clothing, getting chased of out of towns, and sailing and traveling about the world inspiring Christians under intense persecution.

There are great groups of Christian guys out there, but lots of times they're not in churches. There's also loads of unreached guys chased off from churches cause they don't want to be pansies or be neutered. Maybe if the churches change the way they roll, attendance would improve.

- Topher

 

[Dread_Zeppelin]

Gah, so much in here is sickeningly gross that I don't know where to start! I know you're just summarizing this person's argument Dread Zepplin, so I'm not directing this criticism towards you, but towards the person who put this out there.

First off, I've got to deal with this guy, who sort of summs up the crux of the lunacy above.



This doesn't make any sense! God did not create one gender with some advantage over the other when it comes to being a Christian and being saved. That would mean when he's knitting together babies in the womb he's like "an extra X chromosome for you, my little christian fellow" and "ohh, a Y chromosome for you, mr. heathen". Just doesn't pass the common sense test.

That said, I do acknowledge that there's a pronounced difference in attendance in churches between males and females. Rather than coming down to some innate spiritual advantage one gender has over the other, I think it's due to the fact that our church services are geared more towards females than males.

Think about it. All the hand-waving, emotional prayer, hugs, and heart-felt singing is all great and whatnot, but that's stuff for girls, not guys. I mean, talk about uncomfortable. Not to mention that a lot of the guys who are currently in churches are milksops. I mean, could you really imagine Samson or David donning button-down dress shirts and attending a Tuesday night pot-luck and prayer? NO! They'd be occupied with fighting physical battles (which, as a sidenote, is where a bunch of great Christian guys are nowadays). What about Paul? Would he attend the Saturday morning fellowship workshop where he talks about how he's dealing with the stress of his nagging wife or the harrassment from his boss? Nooooppee! He's making pharisees rend their clothing, getting chased of out of towns, and sailing and traveling about the world inspiring Christians under intense persecution.

There are great groups of Christian guys out there, but lots of times they're not in churches. There's also loads of unreached guys chased off from churches cause they don't want to be pansies or be neutered. Maybe if the churches change the way they roll, attendance would improve.

- Topher

Honestly, Topher, your response is just as confusing as my original post.

Hand raising, worship, and heartfelt prayer are expressions and core principles (dare I say nessisary?) of Christianity. The fact that you say they're "womanly" is affirmation that Christianity is a "womenly" religion rather than arguing against it.

I'm sure Paul didn't have a problem falling to his face before God and crying out his emotions. I'm also positive that everyone isn't expected to raise their hands and sing during church (sometimes sitting by yourself quietly and leaving at the end of the service is the norm for most people.) I also have never been to a potluck dinner, been randomly hugged by a stranger, or poked repeatedly to share my feelings.

I also fail to see why men are so prideful that they can't put on a button down shirt to praise their GOD who created them or wake up early enough on a Sunday morning after playing Halo till 12am. This is the point that the pastor was trying to make- men simply dont take God and church seriously like women do...so women have stepped up and in your opinion "womanized" the church.

Perhaps if more men were present in the church they'd have enough influence to produce cookouts, football after church, and anti-pot luck protests. I suppose when you dont have numbers you dont have influcence. Something to think about.

 

[Wonderland]

I agree with you Christopher. Churches are generally lacking in healthy man stuff. I see this huge gap with my husband--he is becoming more and more disinvolved because he'd rather play video games and eat doritios with his friends than sit in a Bible study circle and talk about the meaning of words. I, however, love talking about the meaning of words, so I love being involved. (As an example

What do people suggest to get men interested in church again?

 

[giantone]

This doesn't make any sense! God did not create one gender with some advantage over the other when it comes to being a Christian and being saved. That would mean when he's knitting together babies in the womb he's like "an extra X chromosome for you, my little christian fellow" and "ohh, a Y chromosome for you, mr. heathen". Just doesn't pass the common sense test.

I didn't understand that part of what you were trying to say. Could you explain it a little different or clearer?

Men and women are equal, but not in the same ways. Women are stronger in certain arias and men are stronger in other arias, They complete each other.

( I re-read my last post and it said women are more sustainable to the devil, no, what it should have said is women are more susceptible to the devil)

 

[DinoDillinger]

I don't think it is neccarilly that there are more women who are true christians or better christians but that females are more inclined to enjoy church services and still more inclined to keeping a suitable moral character displayed. Which they show by attending church. I will say that the american church for the large part neglects men's discipleship in training us to be the spiritual leaders of our household. Some of that comes from modern culture which basically tries to neuter men according to their God given responsibilities which has infiltrated the church. But my thinking is that today women are more inclined to practice religion in a spiritually dead state while the spiritually dead men don't feel the need because we are already portrayed as womanizing selfish baffons and it has become something to glory in according to society.

 

[resurrection33]

I was listening to my local Christian radio, and a paster got wildly passionate about the fact that the missions and church attendence are mostly women.

He claimed that women are the gender that care enough about God to show up to church and do missions. He claimed the ratio of women-to-men was asounding. I tried to look online for any such report or statistic but couldn't find it.

He urged the male gender to find their spiritual backbone and follow Christ. He isn't saying men don't do these things at all, just that its so shameful to find that there are vast numbers of men turning against God and women have esencially taken over for their laziness/unbelief.

Are women by nature more spiritual then the average man? Can anyone find evidence of this? I know from experience that women around my area tend to outnumber the men in church by numbers.

As for who this pastor was, it was 8am and I barily function at that hour...I believe it was John McArther but I can't say for sure.

I am afraid of women, so I always sit in the back row.

 

[Dread_Zeppelin]

I don't think it is neccarilly that there are more women who are true christians or better christians but that females are more inclined to enjoy church services and still more inclined to keeping a suitable moral character displayed. Which they show by attending church. I will say that the american church for the large part neglects men's discipleship in training us to be the spiritual leaders of our household. Some of that comes from modern culture which basically tries to neuter men according to their God given responsibilities which has infiltrated the church. But my thinking is that today women are more inclined to practice religion in a spiritually dead state while the spiritually dead men don't feel the need because we are already portrayed as womanizing selfish baffons and it has become something to glory in according to society.

I never think of Christian men being womanizing selfish baffons, quite on the contrary I think most Christian men are cowards and dont know how to properly court a woman. But this is another issue (probably mine) and not the point.

I refuse to think that my Christ-filled church is catagorized as "dead" and therefore men do not come. I can see this if it were a spiritualy dry church but it's not.

I suppose my attitude is that the men vrs. women had to start somewhere. I'm not talkibng about you specifically, but its unfair to blame women for this phenomenon, because men are in the positions of power not women. They have the ultimate say and are the ones preaching every morning. To blame women for the absense of men and the way things are ruled is a gross irresposibilty.

If men feel like they aren't welcome to church they should show up to church and change it to be more "man friendly". Supply vrs. demand. Unless of course they dont care enough, which was what the issue was in the beginning.

 

[JMans1187]

I am afraid of women, so I always sit in the back row.

Aww we dont bite, just have cooties! LoL! I sit in the front when I can, I like to be up close and involved!

 

[DinoDillinger]

I never think of Christian men being womanizing selfish baffons, quite on the contrary I think most Christian men are cowards and dont know how to properly court a woman. But this is another issue (probably mine) and not the point.

I refuse to think that my Christ-filled church is catagorized as "dead" and therefore men do not come. I can see this if it were a spiritualy dry church but it's not.

I suppose my attitude is that the men vrs. women had to start somewhere. I'm not talkibng about you specifically, but its unfair to blame women for this phenomenon, because men are in the positions of power not women. They have the ultimate say and are the ones preaching every morning. To blame women for the absense of men and the way things are ruled is a gross irresposibilty.

If men feel like they aren't welcome to church they should show up to church and change it to be more "man friendly". Supply vrs. demand. Unless of course they dont care enough, which was what the issue was in the beginning.

Maybe I didn't explain what I was saying clearly, first, I meant that society portrays men in general as such, not necessarily christian men, and I did not mean to imply that is what you thought by posting this.

I also wasn't trying to blame women, what I was trying to get across was that if you had some super awesome goggles that you could put on and see who was truly a child of God and who wasn't you would probably find that the men/women ratio would be pretty much equal, and the great majority of them would be in church. It says there are tares among the wheat, it was may guess that more of the tares are women these days, considering their nature.

Lastly, you are right, it is men's fault that we are not being properly trained in today's churches.

 

[firest0rm]

I have to say that I agree somewhat with Topher: the way many mainstream churches "do church" fails to capture the men in the congregation. A couple of my beefs:

Lyrics: Too many contemporary worship songs sound like sappy love letters to your girlfriend. This might be helpful for a segment of a given church congregation, but how can you expect most men to engage in songs like "I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever," or "Draw Me Close To You."

The men leading these songs: I don't want to be mean—I'm sure their hearts are in the right place—but it seems like so many of the men who end up being worship leaders have super-high tenor voices and sing their songs in a woman's range. Most men couldn't sing along even if they wanted to!

I'm mainly addressing the music side of things here, but it's a big focus of a lot of churches, so I think it's worth thinking about.

 

[Graybeard]

.....Think about it. All the hand-waving, emotional prayer, hugs, and heart-felt singing is all great and whatnot, but that's stuff for girls, not guys.....

Are you perhaps of the group that thinks a man is defined as a bear in one hand and a mental tally of the female species bedded??..just wondering

 

[Sharp]

Church is usually a feminised environment.

Churches that allow women to speak in church tend to allow women to take over proceedings.

Generally, men do not want to listen to women speaking. This is the truth. I abide by this claim. I do not want to hear women speaking in church, let alone most places in the world.

When women speak in church, they tend to speak about relationships, either with their husbands or children or kittens. No man wants to hear about that.

No man wants to be in an environment dominated by women.

If women were to take their proper place in the church instead of trying to control things, men would attend church!!!

 

[lightbliss]

But since there are no men in church, someone has to take the lead.

And if you want things to change you have to be there to change them.

If not then you (to whomever) really don't have the right to complain about women being leaders.