Go into most American churches and you will see a preponderance of women. I don’t know what the ratio is, but between widows who outlive their husbands and younger women who go to church without husbands, or who are unmarried and you see a pattern of a dramatic difference in the number of men and women in a church congregation. This has been recorded and lamented in many quarters.
But go to a theology conference, at least the ones I go to, and the place is packed wall to wall with dudes. Most of the heavy duty theology books coming out are written by men. Go to a lot of the big name blogs and the commenter’s are overwhelmingly men.
So why is that? Is it that men, the rare ones who are “devout” anyway, are just more serious about their faith? Are women less interested in the heady theology and more into the relational aspects of the faith? Do men just like theology because it is kind of like a contact sport in many circles? Is it because the leadership in conservative churches is typically restricted to men?
Whatcha think?
3 comments:
My observation? Church has become far to feminized in my opinion!
The women are encouraged to take care of the sunday school teaching.
Every program you can think of is catered towards women. Bible studies, support groups, etc.
Men are left in the dust.
The typical church has very little to offer men.
To take this further, the husband/father, Biblically, is to be the priest in the home.
But he is not expected to be in the church, due to the one pastor church roles, along with a few elders.
If he does not have a role in the church, other then pew warmer or basket passer, then why bother?
Paula
I love going to conferences with my husband! But, it is a little difficult to find someone to watch our 4 kids! As soon as the oldest one gets a little older, we plan to take the whole family to conferences! But, then, there is the issue of cost! Come to think of it - I may never get to go to another conference again...
Bethany :(
I wonder if having child care would help. I am sure there are all sorts of logistical and legal nightmares to deal with in that.
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