Are women more religious than men?

[Dilettante]

It seems to be an observable, tried and true principle that women are, in general, more religious or spiritual than men. Where I live, if you peek into any church any Sunday you'll see that the vast majority of churchgoers are female, with only a few scattered males here and there. Does anyone have a theory to explain this? Is it nature or nurture? I'm curious to hear what you think, since you always come up with interesting stuff.

[otseng]

I'm curious to hear what you think, since you always come up with interesting stuff.

I'm not sure who "you" is, but I was thinking about this recently too. Yes, in most church activities, the female population usually outnumber the male. Then again, in this forum, males outnumber females 3 to 1. And I think this is a typical in other religious forums as well. So, in a virtual world, males outnumber the females.

So, why do females outnumber males in the physical world, and in the virtual world, males outnumber females?

I have a couple of guesses:
- Females feed of off intimate relationships. Going to prayer meetings, Bible studies, etc help to meet this need.
- Males feed of off mental challenges. Listening to a one way sermon on Sundays is boring, but being involved in debates is more fun.

[ST88]

It seems to be an observable, tried and true principle that women are, in general, more religious or spiritual than men. Where I live, if you peek into any church any Sunday you'll see that the vast majority of churchgoers are female, with only a few scattered males here and there. Does anyone have a theory to explain this? Is it nature or nurture? I'm curious to hear what you think, since you always come up with interesting stuff.

At the risk of sounding gender-biased, it's been my experience that women tend to be more interested in personal relationships, which is what being at a church in-person gives them. Males tend to be more interested in cold, hard ideas, which I suppose is why we tend to think nothing of carrying on deep, heated conversations with people we've never really met.

[Dilettante]

Thanks, otseng and ST88, for your responses!

The bit about women and personal relationships seems true to me. Nothing, however, indicates to me that women do not like mental challenges as much as men (or that men are less intimidated by them than women). Maybe women express "cold, hard ideas" differently, though.

On the other hand, males enjoy going to football (or in my part of the world, soccer) games, where there is also a sense of community and of belonging to somehing bigger than oneself. Granted, it's not the same as going to church, but the external signs sometimes are strikingly similar. Both a mostly female Protestant church congregation and the audience at a Liverpool soccer game are apt to break out into singing "You'll Never Walk Alone". Now there's an idea in case any British film directors read this. (Oh yes, a Catholic congregation may be singing the Magnificat with similar devotion).

That males outnumber females in this forum is indeed an interesting fact. But this forum is probably not a good sample because not everyone in the forum is religious, to begin with. A more apt comparison would involve churchgoers and forum participants who profess a religion.

I'd like to hear what the females in the forum think!

[ST88]

On the other hand, males enjoy going to football (or in my part of the world, soccer) games, where there is also a sense of community and of belonging to somehing bigger than oneself. Granted, it's not the same as going to church, but the external signs sometimes are strikingly similar. Both a mostly female Protestant church congregation and the audience at a Liverpool soccer game are apt to break out into singing "You'll Never Walk Alone".

I would argue that sporting events, rock concerts, and other "macho" get-togethers are convenient excuses for males to be able to show their community "spirit". In our culture, males are discouraged from sharing their feelings on specific situations, but encouraged to share their thoughts on abstract subjects. "Who's the better player, Diego Maradona or that Beckham guy?"

Singing "You'll never walk alone" at a football match strikes me as deliberate irony, and is a way for males to express themselves in such a way as to make themselves appear clever.

[Dilettante]

ST88 wrote:

I would argue that sporting events, rock concerts, and other "macho" get-togethers are convenient excuses for males to be able to show their community "spirit". In our culture, males are discouraged from sharing their feelings on specific situations, but encouraged to share their thoughts on abstract subjects. "Who's the better player, Diego Maradona or that Beckham guy?"

I am not a sports fan, and perhaps you're right. However, it seems to me that for some people in some cultures football has become almost an alternative to religion. Too many people take it too seriously (there was even a war between two Central American countries because of a soccer game, believe it or not). As for males being discouraged from sharing their feelings, I would agree, especially if those feelings are seen as negative, e.g. sadness ("Los hombres no lloran", my dad used to say). But not so much if the feelings are positive, at least in my culture. I suppose in English speaking countries males are still expected to keep a stiff upper lip under in all emotional situations.

Singing "You'll never walk alone" at a football match strikes me as deliberate irony, and is a way for males to express themselves in such a way as to make themselves appear clever.

Actually it is the "official anthem" of Liverpool F.C., as the British memebers of this forum can confirm. But don't ask me why--I'm no soccer fan.

[windy]

It seems to be an observable, tried and true principle that women are, in general, more religious or spiritual than men. Where I live, if you peek into any church any Sunday you'll see that the vast majority of churchgoers are female, with only a few scattered males here and there. Does anyone have a theory to explain this? Is it nature or nurture? I'm curious to hear what you think, since you always come up with interesting stuff.

I dont think women are more spiritual than men its just that they seem to be better catered for,
whilst men are just tolerated.

[pandorasbox]

I am a female, and not religious. I live in Kentucky, and more women here are religious also, especially in my family. I don't really have an opinion that hasn't been shared except that maybe women want to feel needed, and not by husband or kids. Does anyone know if women have always been more religious? I know in today's society, it is understood that women are more emotional, or allowed to be, but was there ever a time when women were outnumbered by men in the religious sense?

[windy]

I am a female, and not religious. I live in Kentucky, and more women here are religious also, especially in my family. I don't really have an opinion that hasn't been shared except that maybe women want to feel needed, and not by husband or kids. Does anyone know if women have always been more religious? I know in today's society, it is understood that women are more emotional, or allowed to be, but was there ever a time when women were outnumbered by men in the religious sense?

I am not sure about a couple of things pandora..

I don't really have an opinion that hasn't been shared except that maybe women want to feel needed, and not by husband or kids.

I am not sure what you are saying here pandora; are you saying that women who go to church are wanting someone to care outside of their husbands and family?

Does anyone know if women have always been more religious?

Are you saying that you think Women are more religious here?

but was there ever a time when women were outnumbered by men in the religious sense?

I cant answer that question and I doubt if anyone can truthfuly.
I think that Many wars the first and second World Wars in particular; cut down male numbers by millions.

[windy]

[quote="Dilettante"]
Both a mostly female Protestant church congregation and the audience at a Liverpool soccer game are apt to break out into singing "You'll Never Walk Alone". Now there's an idea in case any British film directors read this. (Oh yes, a Catholic congregation may be singing the Magnificat with similar devotion


This is so funny I think you are under the impression that 'You'll never walk alone is a Hymn..
It was was written by Rogers and Hamerstein for a musical called Carousel.
The reason it is sung at Anfeild so much; apart from the beautiful sentiment of carrying on regardless is; It was recorded by Gerry and the Pacemakers; a Liverpool band ; and brings back memories of some of their Greatest triumphs under a manager (much revered) by the name of Shankly. (Gerry) of Gerry and the pacemakers fame is also a great Liverpool supporter.
If you knew Liverpool at all you would know that your remarks Regarding the Magnificat would be targeted at Everton football club..
I am sure they would be very amused at your missunderstanding of them as Liverpool, and Hamerstein who i think would not want his song sang in a church as he was Jewish..