Look, here is a question on the Reasonable Faith web site from a feminist from Canada who objects to the idea of sex differences:
Dear Dr. Craig,
I have usually found your words to be a source of information and reassurance in my Christian faith, and have often sought out your writings and videos in times of doubt or questioning.
So I was really disappointed, almost shocked, when I read your newsletter of April of this year in which you casually stereotypes men and women, and complain that the church is becoming increasingly feminized, and has difficulties in attracting men.
Your compared the audiences at a couple of your speaking engagements to the audience from a clip of a Downton Abbey Q&A at another location – concluding that they were all men at the former and almost all women at the latter “simply because the Downton Abbey program is highly relational, which is more appealing to women, whereas my talks were principally intellectually oriented, which is more appealing to men.”
I believe that you are using stereotypes here, which you justify by making a ridiculous comparison that holds zero statistical significance. Not only is your statement unreasonable, it is potentially damaging – especially when made so carelessly. Stereotypes are shortcuts in classifying people. They can, and often do, limit and distort the way we perceive others and the world. Stereotypes are a lazy way of thinking that can lead to discrimination, and their use should not be encouraged.
I’m also a little disturbed by your claim regarding the feminisation of the church. What do you mean by that, and how do you support that statement?
I’m curious because the church has historically been a largely male-dominated institution (sometimes criminally so), and the bible’s instructions to and about women are often difficult to swallow. If anything, the church has had difficulty in attracting women. And if we are truly seeing more women in leadership roles at the church (I have to assume this is what you meant by feminizing), I believe this is not something to fear and resist. It would be a welcome change, and has every opportunity to challenge how we think about each other – allowing us to love each other better and see each other more clearly.
This newsletter called your expertise in some areas into question for me. Could you help to rebuild some of the faith I’ve lost in your words? I would very much appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Alexandra (Canada)
Canadians are sooooo liberal, especially on social issues like feminism, abortion and marriage. I’m sure this woman has been influenced by feminist ideology so much that she just can’t deal with the fact that men are women are very different.
Anyway, here’s a snip of Dr. Craig’s response:
Third is my claim that the church is becoming increasingly feminized. What I mean by this is that church services and programs are increasingly based on emotional and relational factors that appeal more to women than to men. The problem of the church’s lack of appeal to men has been recognized by men’s movements like Promise Keepers and books like John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart. Nowhere is this feminization more evident than in contemporary worship music. Someone aptly remarked that if you were to replace references to God in many praise songs with “Baby,” they would sound just like romantic songs between a man and a woman! This is not true of classic hymns like “A Mighty Fortress” or “And Can It be?” Talking with young men, I find that many of them are just turned off by these touchy-feely worship services and would rather not go.
We see this same feminization though relational factors in network coverage of sports, traditionally a male bastion. Coverage of Olympic Games has deliberately targeted women in order to increase viewership by the addition of personal stories about athletes’ lives, rather than simply televising the events themselves. In professional sports have you noticed how in recent years television networks have engaged female reporters to go down on the field and interview baseball or football players, usually about how they felt about this or that? Jan and I had to laugh when, following the Broncos’ recent blowout of the Ravens, the female reporter asked Peyton Manning, “Didn’t you feel bad for the other team when you looked up at the scoreboard?” Uh, I don’t think so!
You’re right that the predominance of women in Christianity is a relatively new phenomenon. It is only over the last 200 years that Christianity has become increasingly female in its demographics. I’m very worried that the church is on a course that will end in relatively few men’s being active Christians.
Fourth is my claim that apologetics is a key to making the church and Christian faith relevant to men once more. People think that by having sports programs or men’s barbecues the church will draw in more men. But I’m convinced that the best kept secret to drawing in men is apologetics. Men need to see that Jesus of Nazareth was not only a tough guy but a smart guy. I never suspected that apologetics would have this special effect on men. I had no intention of ministering particularly to men in this ministry. But the appeal of apologetics to men is just undeniable. In my Defenders class we’ve got guys who don’t even attend church but who regularly come for my lectures on Christian doctrine and apologetics. One woman in the class told me, “I don’t understand a lot of what you say. But I’m glad to come because this is the only spiritual activity that my husband will participate in with me.” Wow!
Wow, indeed. Apologetics gets men to engage more in Christianity, and the church should leverage that to bring men in. That’s a fact. So, I’m glad Dr Craig didn’t give an inch to this fact-averse feminist from Canada.
My own post critical of the feminized church can be read here. Keep in mind that this is from two months after I started blogging – very raw stuff.
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WINTERY KNIGHT 
We live in a totally feminised culture, from the well documented “war on boys” that goes on daily in government schools to the touchy-feely keyboard/ video culture. Boys need to be outside playing and running, exploring the creeks and woods like Indians. Sitting in a room for 8 hours a day deforms normal male brain development and results in girly men with stunted intellects.
I also agree that most modern church music is really not helping men.grow into mature Christian men of fortitude and, chivalry. And, yes, this Canadian seems hopelessly brainwashed. Her language is mostly cliches.
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Someone really should do a statistical study of this, I’d be really interested in seeing some concrete data on it. But broadly speaking, I would agree with Craig that women generally favor the relational/subjective aspects of Christianity, whereas men do not.
I think both sexes want grounding for their beliefs, but most of the women I have met have gravitated towards mysticism as their basis. Not all, by any means, but enough to be notable. By contrast, most men I have known have been extremely cynical towards the mystical and gravitate towards non-experiential arguments. Again, this is just in my own experience – it may just be the pool in which I move.
I just wish both sides could manage to get along without turning this into a men-versus-women thing; competing with one another for power and influence. Sadly, this is what this issue usually degenerates into – not surprising, given the human condition I suppose. Being an Anglican, I think I’ve heard enough on this subject to last me a life-time.
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“I just wish both sides could manage to get along without turning this into a men-versus-women thing; competing with one another for power and influence.” Couldn’t agree more. It’s time for women to give up failed feminism, submit as the Bible commands, not place themselves over men in doctrine and teaching (as the Bible commands), and quit vying for power and influence. Not their job. And, women vying for power has done tremendous damage to society (increasing poverty), marriage (increasing divorce), families, children, and, especially babies in the womb. Stand down, women! You will have more power than kings when you support your (Christian) man on his quest and get out of his way.
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Hey WGC! I think I ought to lay a few of my cards on the table here to clarify my position a little. While I do agree that feminism, as presently understood, is terribly damaging and should be abandoned, I am supportive of women who wish to forego their natural final causes and pursue a career, take up positions of leadership when qualified etc. Now, there is a biological price to pay for doing this, but they should have the freedom to do so if they choose.
On the subject of the church; I know its controversial, but I have known (and continue to know) a number of extremely competent, intelligent and Christ-like female ministers who I personally would feel comfortable submitting myself to in terms of teaching and leadership. They are smart, evangelical, apologetically-minded and caring people. Now is it always like that? Well, sadly no. All too often it is power for the sake of power, mysticism, and Feminism über alles. Which we can all agree is sickening.
I just wanted to note that this is an extremely complicated issue and, while I sympathize with both perspectives on the “role of women in the church” debate, I have seen Christ work through female pastors and greatly appreciate the work they have done for Christ and his church.
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WK, thanks for providing a link to your 2009 post: excellent and not raw at all! In fact quite objective. And VERY useful.
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I agree that the church is becoming overly feminised. I watch my husband grimace at some of the stuff that goes on in churches – the touchy-feely emphases, the lack of manly songs, the lukewarm theology. I agree that churches need to be intellectually-stimulating places, but not just for the benefit of men! It is wrong to presume that women are anti-intellectual and just want a ‘Jesus is my boyfriend’ kind of environment. There are many women in the church engaged in deep intellectual thinking, and you feature some on your blog. As a researcher myself, I object to, and refuse to attend, women’s conferences with titles like ‘A godly makeover for women’ – as if all women were simply interested in makeovers and fashion and ‘looking good.’ I’m also conscious that they send a message to young women that intellectual pursuits are for some reason ‘unfeminine’ or ‘unbiblical.’ As a woman, God expects me to engage my brain in whatever I’m doing, whether it’s parenting or pointing out holes in someone else’s worldview. Loving God ‘with all your mind’ is not just something reserved for men, even though its application may take on different forms.
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I just wanted to share my all time least favorite hymn that we sing in my church (maybe that would be a good blog post – the worst hymns for men …). I’m sure that there are worse ones out there, but when I hear this I often find myself just shaking my head and stopping worship. That’s probably not good, but these words are so disturbing to me I can’t help it.
I KEEP FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM
1.
I keep falling in love with Him
Over and over and over and over again
I keep falling in love with Him
Over and over and over and over again
Refrain
He gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by
Oh what a love between my Lord and I
I keep falling in love with Him
Over and over and, over and over again
2.
He keeps blessing me over and
Over and over and over and over again
He keeps blessing me over and
Over and over and over and over again
3.
He keeps cleansing me over and
Over and over and over and over again
He keeps cleansing me over and
Over and over and over and over again
All I can do is try to ignore the words, but I really feel bad for any guys in the church who aren’t deep in their faith or who think this is how Christians are supposed to worship Jesus.
I have this dream where I’m in charge of worship and I tell the singers: “If you, as a man, wouldn’t say this to your best male friend, then don’t sing it!”
Of course, it’s just a dream …
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After Easter Sunday, my husband decided we would henceforth simply wait in the lobby until worship is over and go in as the teenagers leave for their class, because the music is so bad it is almost offensive (the preaching is fantastic and includes a LOT of apologetics, which is even taught to the kids in Sunday school!). So that is what we do. I hate walking in late, of course, but sometimes think both my husband and I hate the music more. Occasionally the worship team throws us a bone like “A Mighty Fortress” and “How Great Thou Art”, but only rarely. Not even the beautiful traditional carols at Christmastime.
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As a 57 year old lady, I do not appreciate the 7/11 songs predominantly sung in churches these days, and I enjoy studying apologetics with my husband and grown children. We all suffer when the old hymns, fraught with meaning, are not taught to our young folks.
I recommend these three books to one and all: Brain Sex: The Real Difference Between Men and Women by Anne Moir, The Female Brain, and The Male Brain, both by Louann Brizendine. The physiological differences between males and females are blatantly obvious.
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