Why men don't like church: testosterone

The Ottawa Citizen ^ | Sunday, December 22, 2002 | Emanuella Grinberg

[L,TOWM]

Several missionairies I have talked to report an interesting phenomenon when discussing the Good News of Jesus Christ. A very common reaction is something along the lines of "Jesus, huh? So that's what you call him?"

Already you have backed down on your assertions of innocent children going to hell (which is incorrect); your assertions of Faith in Christ being a "get out of hell free card" (which is incorrect) and are now telling us that actually know what we are talking about, that some how we are being "cruel" in informing people that God wants them to be with Him, and provided the mechanism for them to escape judgement under God's standard of perfect adherence to the law.

Let's be clear, jlog. People do not go to hell for lack of faith in Christ. People go to Hell because they sin. Read Romans Chapter 1 & 2 about God's "out clause" for those that follow "Natural Law" perfectly. (Hint: no one obeys any moral code perfectly; I suspect even Ayn Rand told a fib or two in her life and felt a desire to initiate force on some one for no good reason other than being angered by the other person.) You cannot have it both ways. Everyone stands under judgement from the Natural Law (known to all) or the revealed law of the Old Testament (or both).

I cannot stay silent--I have a love for the man who asked me to go forth and make disciples in all the nations. I have received freely, and my gratitude means that I will give freely. I care for what happens to you because Christ cared what happens to you.

BTW, what happened to you? Two years ago you could discuss christianity without resorting to distortions in your arguments. A disappointing thing to see from you...

[maxwell]

academic eunuchs sweating in self-reproach

Bwahaha... Nice turn o' words there, FRiend... I dig. BUMP for a good post.

[Capriole]

I would rather see a man pray about how life is going to work out for the guy he's about to fire than be in a church parking lot where basic rules of civility, muchless Christianity, have been forgotten. And because so many churches seem to preach about anything but the Bible (fund-raisers, schools budgets, political stands, etc.), it's often better to be engaged in reading the Bible in daily private quiet prayer time than enduring temporal rhetoric and calling it "worship".

You're absolutely right in so many ways. Your words make me realize how fortunate I am to be in my church, which doesn't mention fundraising, budgets, or politics at all, ever, and simply tells people clearly how to draw closer to God. What a rare blessing it is. And maybe this also explains why so many men, married and single, go there.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I believe I answered that part also. Go back and reread my post.

Better yet. Go back and read the Bible.

[jlogajan]

Already you have backed down on your assertions of innocent children going to hell

First of all, it is the position of some of your fellow religionists that that is the case. I don't believe in either heaven or hell, so it certainly isn't any position of mine.

Secondly, they make a good case. The Bible pretty plainly states that the way to heaven is through a belief in Jesus -- the only way, in fact. Those religionists who believe that other religions have no chance (including their children) of making it to heaven (and thus the alternative is hell) have a strong documentary case -- despite your latter day interpretations.

[Torie]

Latter day interpretations are not insignificant, and I don't think most mainstream Christian sects now teach that those who don't believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ are going ineluctibly to hell if they don't have an epiphany prior to death. But I am no expert here. Maybe Sinkspur can help us.

[humblegunner]

I've been to hell, their isn't many women there

I ain't worried when I get there, I used to be married to the
head guy's sister.. I'll have a staff job.

[Mr. Mojo]

Biological differences between men and women mean that men are more likely to have an "underdeveloped ability to inhibit their impulses," he said. "Especially those involving immediately gratification..."

Nonsense. Most women couldn't resist a slice of chocolate cake to save their lives......especially if they're on a diet.

[jlogajan]

Latter day interpretations are not insignificant, and I don't think most mainstream Christian sects now teach that those who don't believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ are going ineluctibly to hell if they don't have an epiphany prior to death.

Actually, thank our lucky stars for latter day interpretations. I'm all for it. They tend to be more enlightend -- the elimination of women as property, the more recent elimination of justification for slavery, segregation, etc. A more or less elimination of warring between western religious factions. And a general reduction in western religions for lust for the power of the state.

These are all to the good, keep them coming.

Nevertheless, there are indeed "strict constructionists" who even harken to the horrors of the Old Testament as still applicable law. These people are scary, and many of them post on this forum.

[TotusTuus]

In addition to which, you can notice a "feminization" of the music and 'decorative' arts now au courant in many Catholic churches. "Group hug" music is simply not appealing to men, nor are burlap wallhangings with oddly-affixed felt shapes.

Perfect opportunity to, manfully, offer up these sufferings for the sake of the poor souls in purgatory. (At least that's my latest attempt to negotiate through these travasties...)

[L,TOWM]

despite your latter day interpretations.

Again, I can only direct you to Romans Ch 1 & 2. Written circa 55 C.E. (or A.D. if you prefer, I know I do). Hardly a latter day interpretation. You have also been directed to Matthew's Gospel, and some how pulled out an interpretation that I have never heard expressed in any church. But Christ's meaning was pretty clear: "The Kingdom of Heaven is for such as these". These kids had not made a statement of faith, tithed, or worshipped in a church. Notice too, in the first book of the "Left Behind" books, that as part of the story line, every child in the world disappeared at the same time the Christians did. No serious christian theologian tore into the authors for that; they were criticized for other things in those books. We can take a discussion of the concept of the "Age of Accountability" to a private venue if you wish.