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In his book entitled The Church Impotent: The Feminization of Christianity [Dallas, Tex.: Spence Publishing, 1999], Leon J. Podles ask some extremely insightful question: Why is the Church filled mostly with women? What is it about the faith that attracts far more females than males? Podles, a Catholic historian, explores reasons why the Christian Faith began to be feminized in the post-New Testament era and discusses the consequences of a religion that alienates men. Podles says the medieval emphasis on the "heart," on virginity as the highest spiritual goal, on bridal mysticism (marriage to Jesus), adoration of the Virgin Mary, and rejection of everything masculine has all distorted the original biblical revelation and led to trivialization and a dangerous weakening of the Church. He suggests it also contributes to the rampant homosexuality among priests, as he witnessed himself as a boy in Catholic schools. All of this is in contrast to biblical Judaism, in which strong but caring patriarchs led the people of God. Podles sees similar patterns among conservative Protestants. For example, he believes the Promise Keepers mens' movement, begun in the United States, draws males into a feminized form of revivalist evangelicalism. He points out that American revival movements have traditionally contained a strong emphasis on "the heart" with emotional appeals to return to God. And women were often the first to respond to such messages and in far larger numbers. This emphasis matches a statement by PK founder Bill McCartney that males "were created to be in a love affair with Jesus . . . ; Scripture tells us the only way to please God is to be passionately in love with Jesus Christ" [B. McCartney, Go the Distance: The Making of a Promise Keeper (Colorado Springs: Focus on the Family Publishing, 1996), p. 13]. [It needs to be said that in the Bible, the "heart" is the seat of the mind, rationality, imagination, conviction, and determined faith in God. It is not the organ of emotion, sentimentality or intuitiveness. Christianity is off the biblical track in the way it uses this word.] [Top] Leon Podles's insights can be extended to other contemporary Protestant groups and movements, since feminizing forces are active among them too. These are some of my personal observations: Visit a Bible book store and note its marketing techniques, top ten best-seller list, ambient fragrances, background music, and its array of what Frankie Schaeffer once called "Jesus Junk." It's nearly all aimed at women and adolescent girls. In other venues, note how often music performances are the big draw at church services and evangelistic outreaches—emotionally stirring music performed by professional musicians and at times sensually-dressed singers. (A young man once said to me that his choice of a congregation was based on the "worship music" they provided.) Attend worship at Pentecostal/charismatic churches, where stirred up emotions and submissiveness to a domineering (male or female) alpha-leader who dispenses an invading Spiritual power prevail. Passivity, yielding, abandonment, emotional and bodily feeling, and uncritical thinking are all the norm. This is a feminine mindset being promoted and exploited within the sphere of "Spiritanity." [Top] In a seemingly paradoxical but similar phenomenon, Liberal mainline Protestants tend to extol feminine virtues while they disdain masculine ones. They praise peace-making but denounce strength, courage and self-sacrifice in war, except if the "war" is for the advancement of feminine causes. They promote the depleted or anti-male sexual values of radical feminist and homosexual ideology. But they ignore lifting up demeaned, identity-robbed minority men—as men. And they affirm an effeminate, politically-Left Jesus and an emasculated if not maternal Godhead. The Blessed Virgin Mary is becoming an object of special interest, if not devotion, among many Liberal Christian denominations. In contrast, women in the Bible aren't passive, emotional push-overs who submit to anything or everyone because they can't think or are emotionally handicapped. Of course, women in history outside the church have also been "feminized" and suppressed by tyranical men— contrary, I believe, to the Creator's intent and the teachings of both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. Conclusion Leon Podles's book on feminization is a bracing stimulus for analyzing the evolution of and present spiritual climate within Christianity. It helps explain why men in droves don't participate in it. The book concludes with a warning that alienated men and suppressed (though God-given) masculinity will drive more and more men away from the biblical God into various forms of destructive nihilism, making them (in my words) enemies of—instead of spiritual warriors for—the Messianic Kingdom. • Paul Sumner [Top] Obtaining Books Hebrew Streams is an affiliate of Amazon.com. If you purchase books (or music, movies, computers, software, food, or tools) through us—using the image link below—a portion of your purchase will be credited to us. This will not increase the price of your purchase. But it will help defray our expenses. We are a non-profit website and appreciate reader support. Thank you for considering this option: Directory | Site Map | Explanation | Apples of Gold (Quotations) | Book Review List hebrew-streams.org