Why
don't men go to church? - CFN Newsletter Week 100
CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK NEWSLETTER 100
> Jackie Cosh looks at why men tend to find faith harder
than women
> News:
> Research by debt campaigners highlights credit gap
> Launch of Bible-based postcard initiative to combat stress
> G8 demonstrations prompt church youth group clear-up
> Church school divide over new Government guidelines?
> Sites:
> Divorce Recovery Workshop
> Christians Against Poverty
> Return of the Prodigals
>
Marriage MOT: Love ... bears all things
> You've got to laugh: To heaven with mischief
> Members' Zone latest
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Dear All
This newsletter is a rather special one - it's our 100th! So why not celebrate our ton up by sending it on to a friend or recommending CFN to another family?
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As ever, there's stacks of good content in this update - so take a look round. And keep your ears peeled for developments on the CFN front over the next few months.
Oh, and don't forget Father's Day on Sunday - you'll enjoy our two lighter Resource items this update. If you're a dad - why not let us know what your lot did for you: either via the Bulletin Board or to info@cfnetwork.co.uk
God bless - and here's to the next 100!
Russ
Bravo
Christian Family Network
info@cfnetwork.co.uk
http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk
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INSIGHT
The
real reason why men don't go to church
- We
all know our churches seem to have more women than men in the congregation
but, as JACKIE COSH explains, it’s a problem that goes back
to ancient times and affects all cultures
Two-thirds
of regular churchgoers are women, with more women than men claiming
to be religious, and more women than men participating in church activities.
This isn’t a modern day phenomenon, or a situation confined to
the western world, so why is a faith in God more important to women?
Although male irreligiosity is now taken for granted, few studies
have attempted to explain why this is the case. The long held belief
has been that socialisation and social power hold the answer. Women
are raised to be nurturing and more submissive, traditionally staying
at home, allowing them more time to practise their faith. Without
the social benefits of work, the socialising aspect of church activities
attracted them. Religion was seen as a compensation for a woman’s
lack of power in society.
It was once thought that as more women went out to work, the gender
gap would be reduced. With less time to devote to church activities
and a wider choice of social events, women would become more like
men, spending less time and thought on religion, but this has not
been the case. Even career women are more religious than their male
peers.
Some studies have found that the breakdown of the traditional family
unit has preceded a drop in male church attendance. For both men and
women, involvement in a local congregation is often tied in with family
life. While for men this involvement is more automatic (their parents
were involved in the church), for women it is more of a conscious
choice. They make an informed decision to bring their children up
within the church and for religion to be part of their family’s
lives.
But recent research carried out at the University of Washington suggests
that the answer may be more deep-rooted than once thought. Rodney
Stark, professor of sociology and comparative religion at the University
of Washington, decided to look at the situation worldwide. While culture
may be blamed for the situation in the West, what about in other countries
and societies where traditional values are still part of everyday
life, where men are still the breadwinners and where the majority
of men are married with children?
Stark studied the results of the American General Social Studies,
the National Jewish Population Survey and the World Values Survey.
Data from 57 different countries was examined. Whereas we might expect
that men are less religious in Western cultures, the results proved
the same in all the world’s main faiths, in countries as widespread
as Turkey, Brazil and India, and in male-centred religions such as
Judaism. In every country and culture men were less religious than
women.
Instead of asking why women are more religious than men, Stark looked
at why men are less religious than women. Turning the question around
gave a completely different focus on things. Instead of focusing on
women, he focused on men.
For the rest of this article in our Advice section at http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/advice.asp
> THIS WEEK'S NEWS
>
Research
by debt campaigners highlights credit gap
Debt on our Doorstep, the national network for fair finance,
has called on the Government to cap interest charges to put an end
to extortionate lending at rates of interest frequently in excess
of 200% APR, as a key element of its response to the Government’s
consultation on Extortionate Credit.
Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story
>
Launch of Bible-based postcard initiative to combat stress
Scripture Gift Mission, Christian Enquiry Agency and www.rejesus.co.uk
have backed a joint initiative to reach out to the one in five people
in Britain concerned about the level of stress in their daily lives.
Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp for the full story
>
G8 demonstrations prompt church youth group clear-up
Young people from Christ Church, Lausanne, organised a spontaneous
clear-up of debris left by G8 summit protestors , prompting police
and bystanders to join in.
Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story
>
Church school divide over new Government guidelines?
Governors and parents at church schools are being divided by new government
guidelines which stipulate that children in care should be put at
the top of admission lists, The Sunday Times reports.
Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story
>
MARRIAGE MOT
>
Check out our archived marriage tips in the Members'
Zone, plus stacks more marriage resources at http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk
Love
… bears all things
Putting up with things, forgiving, continuing to give even when it
seems one sided – that’s what true love does. That’s
a tall order. Can someone who loves bear all things? Is it too much
to ask? If it is, then where would you draw the line?
When I think of bearing all things I think of the mother and father
whose door is always open to the wayward son who has destroyed all
their dreams or the spouse who tries to find a way forward after his
or her marriage partner has let her down yet again. They are willing
to be hurt again because they cannot help but love.
It’s not about being a doormat and taking all the punches real
or figurative that are sent your way, but about going on loving in
spite of your loved ones faults. The marriage service talks of "for
better for worse". I wonder where we can find the resources to
love in that kind of way. The only place I know that you can find
that kind of love is through the grace of God putting that love in
our hearts. Perhaps that’s why you seldom see these words outside
the bible.
Are you committed to being loyal to your loved one come what may?
How precious to be loved that way? Where will you turn when your marriage
faces its toughest challenges?
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>
EVENTS
Catch up with the latest in our Events guide at http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp
Send
your family/church event to info@cfnetwork.co.uk
for a free listing.
Small groups, growing churches 2004
Almost 1,000 small group leaders enjoyed a day's teaching, inspiration and encouragement as part of the 2003 Small groups, growing churches tour organised in March by Christian Herald, Scripture Union and CPO.
Now plans are underway for more dates in 2004. And the organisers are looking for enthusiastic churches keen to host a training day, and promote it to the surrounding area. You'll need a main meeting place able to hold 2-300, and at least two smaller rooms able to take up to 80 people each.
We're
particularly interested in churches in the following areas:
Exeter, Tonbridge, York, Derby, Leicester, Norwich. If you
think your church could get involved with this exciting initiative
- with some free places for your small group leaders - mail
Lyn Bedford on lynbedford@christianmedia.org.uk or call her
on 01903 602126.
> SITES WORTH SEEING
If you're going through - or have gone through - the pain of divorce, you might find a visit to a Divorce Recovery Workshop helpful. More than 4,000 people have been helped through the trauma of divorce in the 10 years DRW has been going. Check it out at www.drw.org.uk
The promise of new beginnings, the triumph of love and forgiveness, the joy of reconciliation, and the call to the Church to be ready when our prodigals return - that's the summary for the new Bringing Home the Prodigals website at www.prodigals.org.uk
Christians
against Poverty provide helplines, advice and a stack of resources
to help you if you're going through financial problems, or if
you help others who are. Head for www.capuk.org
> YOU'VE GOT TO LAUGH ...
An exasperated
mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked
him: "How do you expect to get into heaven?"
The boy thought it over and said: "Well, I'll just run in and
out and in and out and keep slamming the door until St Peter says:
'For heaven's sake, Jimmy, come in or stay out!'"
>
CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK THIS WEEK
(MEMBERS' ZONE) - http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/default.asp
> Advice
>
Our new internet savvy column from Eric Spellman kicks off with how
to deal with spam - junk e-mail
> Why men don't go to church - Jackie Cosh looks at some new research
>
Resources
>
Father's Day speical: a dad's job description, and How a Bill Becomes
Law
> Reviews
>
George Luke gives his verdict on The Matrix Reloaded
>
News
> Research by debt campaigners highlights credit gap
> Launch of Bible-based postcard initiative to combat stress
> G8 demonstrations prompt church youth group clear-up
> Church school divide over new Government guidelines?
>
Top sites this week
>
Divorce Recovery Workshop
> Bringing Home the Prodigals
> Christians Against Poverty
> PLUS check out what's lined up for Parents' Week this autumn,
and National Family and Parenting Institute launches directory reviewing
parenting materials
> Events: More of what's on near you
> Webwatch Index: more than 600 sites at your fingertips
> Site Search Engine: the easy way to trawl our 1,000-page
plus archives
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