I found what is wrong with Christianity: It’s been Feminized

Roopster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:31 pm **Posts:** 30

I was wrong. I’ve been encouraging Christians to be kinder, more compassionate, and more tolerant. I believed that these were traits they should demonstrate. I’ve spoken against misogyny and campaigned for Christians to treat women as equals and for churches to be more “women friendly.”

Then in my nightly reading of blogs, I read the atheist blog, “Pass Me My Bible, Bitch,” by No More Hornets. The blog is in reference to a church for men cleverly named “Church For Men.” I checked out their website and immediately saw the errors of my way.

Here’s what they wrote to women:

Quote:

Church offers the things women crave: safety, relationships, nurturing, and close-knit community. The rules are: be nice. Be sensitive. Be gentle. We promise a personal relationship with a man who loves you unconditionally.

On the other hand, men need adventure, challenge and risk – but these things are discouraged in church. Change moves at a glacial pace – because it has the potential to hurt people’s feelings. Any man who tries to bring risk into his local congregation will quickly find himself in the gun sights of a longtime member.

Volunteer opportunities in the local church revolve around traditionally feminine roles: childcare, teaching, music, hospitality and cooking. Men who want to serve in church often end up passing out bulletins or attending meetings. Where is the adventure in that?

Men are dying for a leader, but we’ve turned Christ into a lover. Today’s Jesus is sensitive, caring and beautiful. Our praise music has the same breathless feel and romantic lyrics as top-40 love songs. Jesus barked, “Follow Me!” but we’ve softened that; it’s now, “Have a personal relationship with Me.”

You may think that the church is too male-dominated, harsh and legalistic. Some churches are this way – but far more common are comforting churches where the real agenda is making everyone feel loved, accepted, and busy. While there’s nothing wrong with this lineup, it’s not going to get many men out of bed on a Sunday morning.

Men are absenting themselves from church because they cannot function in a feminine environment. We might as well invite men to a baby shower. Men know that church is not for them; that’s why it’s earned a reputation as a place for little old ladies of both genders.

They continued this line of thinking in their section written to the men:

Quote:

How did Christianity, founded by a man and his 12 male disciples, become the province of women? There is a pattern of feminization in Christianity going back at least 700 years, according to Dr. Leon Podles, author of The Church Impotent: the Feminization of Christianity. But the ball really got rolling in the 1800s. With the dawning of the industrial revolution, large numbers of men sought work in mines, mills and factories, far from home and familiar parish. Women stayed behind, and began remaking the church in their image. The Victorian era saw the rise of church nurseries, Sunday schools, lay choirs, quilting circles, ladies’ teas, soup kitchens, girls’ societies, potluck dinners, etc.

Soon, the very definition of a good Christian had changed: boldness and aggression were out; passivity and receptivity were in. Christians were to be gentle, sensitive and nurturing, focused on home and family rather than accomplishment and career. Believers were not supposed to like sex, tobacco, dancing or other worldly pleasures. The godly were always calm, polite and sociable.This feminine spirituality still dominates our churches. Those of us who grew up in church hardly notice it; we can’t imagine things any other way. But a male visitor detects the feminine spirit the moment he walks in the sanctuary door. He may feel like Tom Sawyer in Aunt Polly’s parlor; he must watch his language, mind his manners and be extra polite. It’s hard for a man to be real in church because he must squeeze himself into this feminine religious mold.

Men, if you’ve felt out of place in church, it’s not your fault. If you’ve tried and failed to get a men’s ministry going in your church, it’s not your fault. If you can’t get your buddies interested in church, it’s not your fault. The church system is getting the results it’s designed to get. Until that system changes – radically – men will continue to perish, both inside and outside our congregations.

Some of you don’t know what I’m talking about. A feminized church? Some guys are happy with church just as it is, and see no need for change. Others are the sensitive type and actually like the macho-deficit. But try to see church through the eyes of a typical guy. It’s intimidating for a man to hold hands in a circle, to cry in public, or to imagine falling deeply in love with another man (even if his name is Jesus).

In other words, the church is too much about being kind, compassionate, and tolerant. Apparently these are feminine traits. The church really isn’t against women. In fact, the church has been “feminized” and men need reclaim church for themselves hence a church for men. GRUNT!

Mickey · **Joined:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 12:04 am **Posts:** 224

Wow, what a fascinating article and website. I need to study this further.

I'm wondering if part of the reason for the huge growth of the Word of Faith movement is that it does appeal to the desire to be able to control circumstances, determine one's own future, speak blessings into existence, etc. Men are taught in WOF churches that they can DO something about their Christianity, rather than simply be passive observers.

Thanks for posting this. :idea:

Coolhermit · **Joined:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 12:33 am **Posts:** 183

I remember going into a local church and at the front was some horrendous piece of kitsch fabric sculpture - ugly beyond words and lacking any zing or artistic worth - when I pointed it out, the pastor went, "Isn't it wonderful? It was put here for a wedding and we like it so much we are keeping it."

I knew there was no future for me there.

Men won't take to church cos they have to sit their all meek and mild and humble and be told what to think and how to conduct their lives - it does not match the male psyche.

.sola · **Joined:** Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:58 pm **Posts:** 256

Quote:

Ballad of the Goodly Fere

Ha' we lost the goodliest fere o' all
For the priests and the gallows tree?
Aye lover he was of brawny men,
O' ships and the open sea.

When they came wi' a host to take Our Man
His smile was good to see,
"First let these go!" quo' our Goodly Fere,
"Or I'll see ye damned," says he.

Aye he sent us out through the crossed high spears
And the scorn of his laugh rang free,
"Why took ye not me when I walked about
Alone in the town?" says he.

Oh we drank his "Hale" in the good red wine
When we last made company,
No capon priest was the Goodly Fere
But a man o' men was he.

I ha' seen him drive a hundred men
Wi' a bundle o' cords swung free,
That they took the high and holy house
For their pawn and treasury.

They'll no' get him a' in a book I think
Though they write it cunningly;
No mouse of the scrolls was the Goodly Fere
But aye loved the open sea.

If they think they ha' snared our Goodly Fere
They are fools to the last degree.
"I'll go to the feast," quo' our Goodly Fere,
"Though I go to the gallows tree."

"Ye ha' seen me heal the lame and blind,
And wake the dead," says he,
"Ye shall see one thing to master all:
'Tis how a brave man dies on the tree."

A son of God was the Goodly Fere
That bade us his brothers be.
I ha' seen him cow a thousand men.
I have seen him upon the tree.

He cried no cry when they drave the nails
And the blood gushed hot and free,
The hounds of the crimson sky gave tongue
But never a cry cried he.

I ha' seen him cow a thousand men
On the hills o' Galilee,
They whined as he walked out calm between,
Wi' his eyes like the grey o' the sea,

Like the sea that brooks no voyaging
With the winds unleashed and free,
Like the sea that he cowed at Genseret
Wi' twey words spoke' suddently.

A master of men was the Goodly Fere,
A mate of the wind and sea,
If they think they ha' slain our Goodly Fere
They are fools eternally.

I ha' seen him eat o' the honey-comb
Sin' they nailed him to the tree.

Ezra Pound

The Real Logos · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:50 am

Yes, a church filled with uncouth, dysfunctional, self-centered and aggressive slobs sounds perfect.

But it should be called "The Possum Lodge."

"Church for Men" is just TOO clever and cute.

http://www.redgreen.com/

Pax!
8-)

As I understand it · **Joined:** Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:42 pm **Posts:** 57

Ok, is it just me but...

room full of sweaty men
singing together
worshiping a bunch of guys on a stage

sounds like a drag show!

Boo · **Joined:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:46 pm **Posts:** 102

Nothing new there Paul. Men have been blaming women from the beginning of time. Remember? :mrgreen:

As I understand it · **Joined:** Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:42 pm **Posts:** 57

Not too surprised to see such a "Manly" church has risen out of the lavendered flower petals of Christianity.

As any basic study of any religion will prove, the values preferred in the faith in question mirror exactly the cultural trends of its founders and main body of followers.

In short a G-d made in mans image.

The Real Logos · **Posted:** Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:00 am

.

Brain-dead macho rising from the ashes.

Probably has a lot to do with the popular t.v. sitcoms that portray men behaving badly and getting acceptance and even encouragement from women.

Such shows help dysfunctional men and women to feel better about themselves.....an often overlooked reason for their popularity.

People are so vulnerable to television. It is quite ironic that the shows are called "programs," since they actually do program the weak-brained audience.

Though it was always a factor in television......I think the real serious "macho idiot" programming started with the stupid and obnoxious "Tool Time" character......who was a tool and a fool, but was portrayed as a hero........thus he actually encouraged bad behavior in men (along with his brainless wife, Jill, who was portrayed as being OK (and even clever)......thus encouraging women to stay with abusive men).

The show was called "Home Improvement" and undoubtedly contributed to life being validated by art and so, the further destruction of homes.

Pax!
8-)

doc · **Joined:** Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:57 pm **Posts:** 119

It's kinda funny that Logos mentioned "Home Improvement" and "Tool Time", cuz I know a great pastor who kinda agrees with the O.P. and has recently started a church for men called "The Tool Time Ministry".

Not sure how How he's going about it cuz I've never talked to him about it nor have I visited his church, but he was a temp at our church for 5 months and he did a great job for us.

Come to find out, he's an ex-police captain who had a stroke, which pretty much nullified the left half of his body, But rather than sitting around and bemoaning his losses, he became a CLP with an excellent sense of humor, and his sermons reach out to those who feel trapped and oppressed by a dispassionate society, endeavoring to empower them in a way whereby they can better utilize their strengths to make life more joyous and rewarding in the face of that oppression.

Once my term of office as an Elder concludes this year, I may wander over to his church to see how it's going for him, and maybe give him a good left hand.

doc

The Real Logos · **Posted:** Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:03 am

Hi Doc, how ya like the new place?

And, as to the type of ministry you mention......it works because dysfunctional, abusive men have a need to be validated, and the claimed validation by GOD (of all people) is the ultimate validation.

Dysfunctional women who choose to live with abusive men, feel bad about themselves, and want to think they are "OK", of course, also are drawn to such things.

Sad, but common.

Pax!

doc · **Joined:** Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:57 pm **Posts:** 119

The Real Logos wrote:

Hi Doc, how ya like the new place?

And, as to the type of ministry you mention......it works because dysfunctional, abusive men have a need to be validated, and the claimed validation by GOD (of all people) is the ultimate validation.

Dysfunctional women who choose to live with abusive men, feel bad about themselves, and want to think they are "OK", of course, also are drawn to such things.

Sad, but common.

Pax!

This new place is O.K., I guess...I'm not one to move around too much anymore, being satisfied with staying put where I am/was...

On the other hand, it's always interesting to meet new challenges...

And I'm not so sure the "Tool Time Ministry" I spoke about will be about 'validation'. Rather, after having heard 5 months of sermons from that particular pastor, it's most likely that he will endeavor to teach and help such individuals become more caring and less prone to their insecurities.

As an ex-police Captain, he is well aware of the need to address the problem of abuse and all that goes with it, having responded to the many cases of child and spouse abuse through the years in his district.

So while his congregation may consist of those initially seeking validation for their actions, they're gonna be in for a surprise. Hopefully, he'll be able to make them want to stay and grow up, that being the challenge he's facing. So far, he's got about 60 members, which isn't too bad for having started just over a year ago...

doc

The Real Logos · **Posted:** Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:44 am

.

Good. I'm totally convinced.

Of course....you WILL have to post one of his sermons so we can witness his method.

:mrgreen:

doc · **Joined:** Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:57 pm **Posts:** 119

The Real Logos wrote:

.

Good. I'm totally convinced.

Of course....you WILL have to post one of his sermons so we can witness his method.

:mrgreen:

Better yet, maybe you can drive down from the spice-laden mountains, and experience one of 'em for yourself. :mrgreen:

The Real Logos · **Posted:** Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:21 am

.

That's what I thought.

Pax!
8-)

I found what is wrong with Christianity: It’s been Feminized

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