Are women more spiritual than men?

[ATraveller]

There is genuinely a gender gap in not only attendance but praying and Scripture reading too.
The reasons are many and have been mentioned.
Another factor is many men are formed to be arrogant by our radical individualistic culture. Many overcome or are immune to it but many don’t or aren’t. Apparently some feel emasculated to believe they need a Saviour or they can’t do whatever they please because they think they’re the boss. This doesn’t include genuinely convinced skeptics, who are in the minority. Again, one factor among an extensive list.

 

[Michael16]

Hmm. Good point ATraveller. I’ve struggled with letting God be in control of my life for many of the same reasons.

 

[BornInMarch]

Yes. Statistically, there are more Christian Women than Christian Men in the world.

It’s also worth mentioning that Christianity has been an empowering force for women; a lot of practices that hurt women (polygyny, child marriages, female circumcision, foot binding, female infanticide, arranged marriage, etc) only began to be opposed when Christianity spread to an area where they were practiced.

 

[Michael16]

I’ve seen that. Christianity has softened and uplifted a harsh, pagan world.

 

[ConfusedLucy]

For whatever reason modern Christianity doesn’t seem to appeal to young men as much. Even at a young age you often see more females involved in things like Sunday school and confirmation prep and then later on ministries in church and mass attendance. It’s not just Catholics either.

I wonder if this very subtly gives boys the impression that spirituality is something inherently female and that they are supposed to grow out of it and become men.

 

[Michael16]

I can see that. I certainly thought that spirituality was an inherently female thing until I began to read Christian spiritual works written by men like St Ignatius de Loyola, the anonymous author of the Cloud of Unknowing, St Augustine’s Confessions, Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Merton and various works written by non Christian men like Buddhist philosophy.

 

[RebeccaJ]

In my life, I’ve seen more women interested in religion and spirituality than men. In my church, I see more women than men at our Daily Masses. Admittedly; I am fascinated with women in general and I try to understand female psychology. But; I’d like a woman’s perspective on this… Does anyone else think that women are more spiritual than men?

No, I don’t think so.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

For whatever reason modern Christianity doesn’t seem to appeal to young men as much. Even at a young age you often see more females involved in things like Sunday school and confirmation prep and then later on ministries in church and mass attendance. It’s not just Catholics either.

I wonder if this very subtly gives boys the impression that spirituality is something inherently female and that they are supposed to grow out of it and become men.

But again, these are simply public-facing roles. Women have been considered teachers of young children for centuries.

In other religions, it might not be the case, but most of the parishes in my area have an extremely FULL Knights ministry. But the Knights are basically always behind the scenes. They cook the dinners for 6 hours but the women serve the dinners. It simply appears the women are are more in number but that’s because all the exhausted men are enjoying their food. The men are the ones who spend hours repainting the lines on the lot, or cleaning the pews, or fixing broken things around the Church. They are the ones who change out the missels every year. They are the ones who set up for Christmas and Easter.

We just never see them.

When the priest asked to bless the Knights SO MANY men stood up. And they were ALL extremely active in their ministry.

So, I think it is incredible folly to judge on basis of what is seen since so much goes unseen.

 

[ConfusedLucy]

I think it would definitely help boys and young men to see these serving men. I think we all benefit from seeing people who are slightly older and more experienced serving so we can’t mentally project ourselves into those roles.

 

[Verdanty]

The modern clergy and liturgy doesn’t really promote masculine involvement. For better or for worse, the way God is spoken of and worshipped in the modern world largely seems designed for women.

Though there is something to be said that the women of Christ’s time always seemed to be a little more willing to accept Him as He was.

I agree with your premise that worship is directed towards women, but I don’t think this is a modern issue per say. It’s a long standing underlying issue, but only one in which has become problematic since the factors that previouly propped it up have since fallen away.

Historically there has long been greater numbers of female religious (nuns, consecrated virgins, parish workers etc) than men, but men had greater rewards and secular motivations to consider a vocation (wealth, political power etc).

Within Christianity men are called to fall desperatley in love with God…as a male. There’s an unusual phenomena documented in a book called The Eternal Child which noted through the authors research that within Christianity (not merely Catholicism) it wasn’t just women more likely to be religious, but same sex attracted males were more likely to be than heterosexual men. It was also noted that same sex attracted women were also interestingly noted to be less religious as well. It works in reverse as well, in India the Goddesses Shakti and Kali are unlike other popular Gods (Vishnu, Shiva etc) in that they are among the very few cults in which the majority of worshipers are males.

I’m not suggesting anyone is sexually attracted to Jesus, but rather the whole vocabulary and doctrine (God loves you, sacred heart, divine mercy etc) at the time borrows heavily from the vocabulary of romantic love, the Catholic Church especially does in this regard because it claims to be the literal bride of Christ. The body of believers is styled in the feminine sense and betrothed to a God who is very male, so insistent upon his maleness in fact one requires the correct genitalia to act in his person.

In a world with less motivation or reward for embracing a religious life, this factor comes to the fore in a way that didn’t matter as much when there were other factors that made it more appealing. The Church hasn’t suddenly become effeminate, in some respects the language always has been geared this way.

 

[adamhovey1988]

Definitely. Not sure why some of the posts are talking about “white” people. What is white? About Race
Since not every country agrees with the US definition. (I come from a racially mixed background, never met someone the colour of paper, look into Mit brennender Sorge By Pius XI if you get the chance)
Anyway. Sometimes I go to Mass during the week after confession. I’d say most of the people there are women. BUT, I think much of that is because 1) They tend to be older 2) They are often (not always) widows. These are just some observations. I think there’s this unfortunate culture where we think “women pray”, especially in the United States, where I live. I’m glad a bunch of women are praying for our world, but men need to realise this is something they are called to do as well.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

I think it would definitely help boys and young men to see these serving men. I think we all benefit from seeing people who are slightly older and more experienced serving so we can’t mentally project ourselves into those roles.

Well…that would be a parenting issue then.

Men shouldn’t change their preferred avenue of service just because Mrs. Marple thinks Johnny needs a good example.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

And yet, St Thomas Aquinas (and other male theologians/ philosophers) have published amazing works on the profound reasonable-ness of religious belief…

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

I meant no disrespect–just my observation.
I also noticed that people in the suburbs are less likely to talk about religion AT ALL than urban or country…

 

[ConfusedLucy]

It would be a good thing for the church to be more open and public about all the different types of ministry, maybe even, health and safety permitting, some opportunities for the youngsters to help out with church maintenance alongside experienced people as a learning opportunity.

Mrs Marple might be a widow or might otherwise not have any good Christian men in her life for Johnny to look up to. As Christians we should all try to help out where we can even if only in small. The attitude of “we shouldn’t have to do anything as a church, parents should be perfect” isn’t fair to those who don’t have perfect parents.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

It would be a good thing for the church to be more open and public about all the different types of ministry, maybe even, health and safety permitting, some opportunities for the youngsters to help out with church maintenance alongside experienced people as a learning opportunity.

Mrs Marple might be a widow or might otherwise not have any good Christian men in her life for Johnny to look up to. As Christians we should all try to help out where we can even if only in small. The attitude of “we shouldn’t have to do anything as a church, parents should be perfect” isn’t fair to those who don’t have perfect parents.

Priests thank the nights all the time. Both from the pulpit and in the bulletin.

It is very arrogant to suggest that men need to change for the sake of children. This is not Christian, but rude behavior.

A parent, single or not, should be seeking out the necessary things for their children’s education. This would include having acceptions made so their child could join in.

 

[ConfusedLucy]

Not asking men or anyone to change behavior, just some appropriate publicity and a little kindness for those who don’t have an obvious route to these things.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

Not asking men or anyone to change behavior, just some appropriate publicity and a little kindness for those who don’t have an obvious route to these things.

Yeah no.

Many of the men don’t like the recognition and don’t want to be in the public eye. They don’t want to get up in front of the congregation. They don’t want to be in a visible role. Forcing them to do so just so people know isn’t right.

If a parent is seeking something specific, then they should ask. Claiming anything less is just a complete abdication of parental responsibility.

 

[ConfusedLucy]

I respectfully disagree. Not all parents are committed and I think it takes more than parents to raise a child in the faith. I’m personally very grateful to those who helped to catechize me rather than just shrugging and saying, “I’m fine, I have my faith, Lucy’s parents were responsible for catechising her, why should I do anything”

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

I respectfully disagree. Not all parents are committed and I think it takes more than parents to raise a child in the faith. I’m personally very grateful to those who helped to catechize me rather than just shrugging and saying, “I’m fine, I have my faith, Lucy’s parents were responsible for catechising her, why should I do anything”

I’m not saying that. What I’m saying is

If you want something specific, ASK.

Not asking is simply lazy.

Most people are willing to help. I know all the knights in my parish would. In fact, father keeps a quiet role of men who are willing to voulenteer for the father-daughter dance and the father-son camping trip when a single mother asks just what the parish means by “If your child would like to go and their father is not available, please contact us.”

What they will not do?

Go bragging and put themselves in the parish’s face just so little Johnny with the absentee dad can know that their out there.

They do not say “grown men would love to spend time with your kid” Because…ewwww.

The onus is on the parent, where it should be, not on determining how people spend their time.