The Gender Gap in Religion

[Smoke]

"Salvation was universally considered to be much more becoming in women than in men." (Marilynne Robinson)

Christianity in the United States has a lower ratio of men to women than any other religion. Why do you think that is?

Data:

Jehovah's Witnesses: 40% male, 60% female
Historically Black Churches: 40% male, 60% female
Mormons: 44% male, 56% female
Mainline Churches: 46% male, 54% female
Catholics: 46% male, 54% female
Orthodox: 46% male, 54% female
Other Christians: 46% male, 54% female
Evangelical Churches: 47% male, 53% female
Jews: 52% male, 48% female
Buddhists: 53% male, 47% female
Muslims: 54% male, 46% female
Other Faiths: 54% male, 46% female
Unaffiliated: 59% male, 41% female
Hindus: 61% male, 39% female

Source: Religion in American Culture -- Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

 

[Kilgore Trout]

The ideas contained within chrisitianity appeal to women more than men?

 

[3.14]

wich are more gullible

 

[Ringer]

Men are probably a little more resistant to get into touchy-feely subjects.

 

[Breathe]

I think one of the facts maybe because the basis of Christianity is a loving, personal relationship with a masculinized deity whom people call Father, and in church hymns of love are sung about ones' love and dedication to Jesus- and this is something a lot of men can't get over?

There's more to it than that though, but that's something I think probably many will argue with -- but I think there's a lot more to it than that. Otherwise, I'd say stranger's spot on.

 

[monta]

I do think women are less likely to rock the boat but it is also less socially aceptable for a mother to be a 'godless heathen'

Can I ask though how do the figures tally by country and by the gender breakdown of the population of the country do you think it is possible that the fact that women live longer might have something to do with it?

 

[Smoke]

Can I ask though how do the figures tally by country and by the gender breakdown of the population of the country do you think it is possible that the fact that women live longer might have something to do with it?

The figures given are just for the United States. I assume that Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu women live longer than Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu men, though I haven't seen any hard data.

 

[idea]

Can I ask though how do the figures tally by country and by the gender breakdown of the population of the country do you think it is possible that the fact that women live longer might have something to do with it?

Perhaps women live longer because they are more religious

Men are probably a little more resistant to get into touchy-feely subjects.

agree

I think one of the facts maybe because the basis of Christianity is a loving, personal relationship with a masculinized deity whom people call Father, and in church hymns of love are sung about ones' love and dedication to Jesus- and this is something a lot of men can't get over?

There's more to it than that though, but that's something I think probably many will argue with -- but I think there's a lot more to it than that. Otherwise, I'd say stranger's spot on.

Interesting. We believe in Heavenly Parents, (not just Heavenly Father) but then we don't talk much about Heavenly Mother. As a female I have no sexual attraction to the Godhead - never thought of it like that - see them as Parents. Do men have a different relashonship with their parents?

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
(Old Testament | Genesis 2:24)

the man is the one who leaves his parents... does not say anything about the wife leaving her parents I joke with my hubby about this one.

 

[monta]

We don't have enough information to come to an informed decision on this with only the stats from the op, the information is not easy to find either I found a census from 2000 that showed that 32.3% of the us population is male over 45 years 36.6% of the male population is female over 45 years this gives us a descrepency in the number of male to females of 4.3% in this age group which is the age group most likely to be religious so the religious men are shuffling of their mortal coils earlier, there is a greater disparity in age is in the Hispanic section of society and the census doesn't give a religious breakdown that would be needed to come to any conclusion on the matter.

I do believe the figures will show that men are more likely to be atheists but at the moment it can't be proved or disproved without some more info.

 

[Breathe]

Do men have a different relashonship with their parents?

Some of us, especially nowadays. I'm not very close to my parents, I still love them, but I couldn't live with them for eternity. :cover: I can't even stand being around them for seven days.

 

[Imagist]

I don't know, but it's a damn shame. Atheist women are hot.

 

[monta]

I don't know, but it's a damn shame. Atheist women are hot.

Why do I get the feeling you don't set the bar that high

 

[Oberon]

"Salvation was universally considered to be much more becoming in women than in men." (Marilynne Robinson)

Christianity in the United States has a lower ratio of men to women than any other religion. Why do you think that is?

I don't know, but one interesting result from sociological research is that cross-culturally and regardless of the particular religion, women are more religious than men.

 

[monta]

My sisters husband doesn't know she is an atheist, If she isn't telling hm I don't think she is going to tell the census taker.

It is more acceptable for a man to be sexually permissive, a jerk and an atheist, just 3 examples of the mountain of double standards in this post feminist society we apparently inhabit.

Throughout history 'the weaker sex' :faint: have been condemned for deviating from acceptable behavioural norms, castigated as hussies, harridans and accused of being in league with the devil for beliefs or acts that if undertaken by men are more likely to be percieved as a blokish a groundbreaking and a free thinking.

 

[Smoke]

We don't have enough information to come to an informed decision on this with only the stats from the op, the information is not easy to find either I found a census from 2000 that showed that 32.3% of the us population is male over 45 years 36.6% of the male population is female over 45 years this gives us a descrepency in the number of male to females of 4.3% in this age group which is the age group most likely to be religious so the religious men are shuffling of their mortal coils earlier, there is a greater disparity in age is in the Hispanic section of society and the census doesn't give a religious breakdown that would be needed to come to any conclusion on the matter.

Do you think the Christian men are shuffling off the mortal coil earlier than the Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu men?

Wouldn't women's longer life expectancy tend to be a wash when applied to all religions, and not just Christianity?

 

[monta]

Do you think the Christian men are shuffling off the mortal coil earlier than the Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu men?

Wouldn't women's longer life expectancy tend to be a wash when applied to all religions, and not just Christianity?

I think we should have all the pertinent information before making assumptions.

The fact is most people in the US that are of latin descent are christian and this is the widest gap,but as I can't find a breakdown by religion , I can't dispute anything at this time, but I don't think that any assertion based on 1 piece of information is fair or reasonable.

 

[Imagist]

Why do I get the feeling you don't set the bar that high

I have very high standards! It's just that I'd say personality makes up about 25-50% of how attractive a girl is to me, and atheist chicks generally score high in that area.

That's not to say that non-atheist girls are excluded from receiving my lovin'.

 

[Oberon]

I think we should have all the pertinent information before making assumptions.

I'm going to post an abstract from an article published in the peer-reviewed journal The Journal for the Scientific Stuy of Religion. The article is very clear on the fact that it is very well established that women are more religious than men, cross-culturally and regardless of religion. Those who wish to view the full article, please send me a private message, and I will send it to you in .pdf format.

"That men are less religious than women is a generalization that holds around the world and across the centuries. However, there has been virtually no study of this phenomenon because it has seemed so obvious that it is the result of differential sex role socialization. Unfortunately, actual attempts to isolate socialization effects on gender differences in religiousness have failed, as have far more frequent and careful efforts to explain gender differences in crime. There is a growing body of plausible evidence in support of physiological bases for gender differences in crime. Making the assumption that, like crime, irreligiousness is an aspect of a general syndrome of short-sighted, risky behaviors leads to the conclusion that male irreligiousness may also have a physiological basis. If nothing else, this article may prompt creative efforts to salvage the socialization explanation "


Stark, Rodney. "Physiology and Faith: Addressing the "Universal" Gender Difference in Religious Commitment. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 41.3 (2002) 495-507.

 

[dogsgod]

Maybe woman are less educated in the US.

 

[MoonWater]

Maybe woman are less educated in the US.

What does being more religious have to do with being less educated?