I was chatting with a Christian brother yesterday and he asked me a thought-provoking question: "Why are there more women in church than men?" I found myself stuttering to answer his question.
He went on to cite various examples in the Bible that showed women were more devout worshippers than men. For a few minutes we racked our brains trying to figure out an answer to his question but alas we could not produce a cogent explanation
So I thought of throwing the question open to my Fresh Angle readers. What is it about men and women that make us so different? Are we inhabiting parallel universes, or do we have more in common than we realise?
He went on to cite various examples in the Bible that showed women were more devout worshippers than men. For a few minutes we racked our brains trying to figure out an answer to his question but alas we could not produce a cogent explanation
So I thought of throwing the question open to my Fresh Angle readers. What is it about men and women that make us so different? Are we inhabiting parallel universes, or do we have more in common than we realise?
It's one of those things that has always been that way and would probably remain so. I'm not sure if anyone knows the answer to it.
ReplyDeleteIt's somewhat similar to an issue raised by a Cisco Executive about why few women are in the IT industry during a District training session I attended recently.
Thanks for your comment, Naija. I just wonder, what are the fundamental differences in our personalities that make us so different. It would be nice to get some kind of explanation.
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess it must be because women are more demanding. It's common knowledge that most people go to church only for what they can get from God. Men on the other hand have so much ego that sometimes, they don't admit that they need something even when they need it the most.
DeleteAnyway, we all have different temperaments and this makes up who we are on the outside- our personalities. I once wrote a post explaining the four major temperaments.
Nice post and by the way, I like the fat guy in the pic, he explains the principle, "if you can think it, you can be it."
Thanks for your comment, Lanre. I liked your piece on the major temperaments.
DeleteI read that men are just as emotional as women. The only difference is they do not express their emotions.
Brilliant question. For me, i just think men are governed by rationality and logic while women lean towards emotions. Worshiping involves a lot of emotions; therefore you get more women who could connect easier emotionally than men. So yes men and women are created differently and should embrace what makes us unique rather than losing our identities in the aim of bridging the gap between sexes.
ReplyDeleteThat brings me to my question.If we (meaning men and women) are all the same and should be treated as equals in everything, why do women/females insist on being treated like "ladies". Its the most hypocritical issue Ive come across and want answers. One cannot eat your cake and have it.
Interesting question, Chuks. I listened to a similar argument on the radio. Men and women are equal but different. So while men will like to be treated with respect & deference, women prefer to be flattered/treated preferentially. Treating a woman like a lady makes her feel special. Different strokes for different sexes. Thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Naija4Life and Chuks that male and female are different in everything but our spirit.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Chuks question, I am not sure that it is ladies that necessarily insist on being treated gently like 'ladies'. Often a guy insists on holding the door open for me to walk through based on his own chivalry. Men treat women like 'ladies' because they like women a lot!
So how you choose to treat the women you come across (your mum, sisters, friends, aquaintances)is your personal choice. I acknowledge the additional challenges that women can face and I thing it worth making them feel special, just like I try and make the men feel good as well.
Thanks for your response, Dlaw. To add to what you said, women are actually physically weaker than men. So men, being the stronger ones, will always want to let the ladies go first. What do you think makes us so different?
ReplyDeleteWell if I answer your question with my cognitive knowledge then I would say that men remain or try to remain happy with whatever they have but I have noticed in most of the cases women are not happy even if they have got the thing they want. As can be seen in the picture you have added in your post.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid that I disagree with you on that point CFAgbata The fact that women are often dissatisfied with their own physical bodies does not amount to unhappiness. From my observation dissatisfaction is more of an individual attitude or choice, the sex of the individual does not play a decisive role
DeleteThanks CFAgbata, that's an observation I haven't really made. I know women tend to have body issues unlike men. Though I'm not sure if it translates to not been happy/satisfied. Thanks for your comment once again.
ReplyDeleteIt takes so much emotions to converse with God with your heart. In doing that, women just happen to be, most of the time, the right sex that possess such requirement. There is this softness that makes women connect faster than their male counterpart will do. Check out the Resurrection story {Matthew 28:1-8}, weren't those women who first went to Jesus' tomb more 'boldly' concerned than the disciples were? Mark my 'boldly'; women really know how to emotionally connect, no matter whose axe is goad. So, having more women in the church than men really has nothing to do with one type of the sexes being more demanding than the other.
ReplyDeleteYes Strong Self. It takes time to 'connect' with God. Whether it is in the room during morning prayers or even at church during service, it is a process for which time is required. While I am not sure if women are more patient, maybe it is their attitude of feeling the need to seek reliance beyond self that makes them 'softer' as you describe it and more able to connect with God
DeleteGreat questions..
ReplyDeleteI think women worry less / are more patient than men in general. Men have too many things to worry about in their brains and so for them to relax and connect to God takes extra effort. For example, you can see a man in the Church trying to make a cell phone call about his business instead of switching the phone off so that he can communicate with God.
ReplyDeleteThe good news though is that in heaven there is no marriage; if not there may be more women than men with Christ in heaven.
Kind regards,
Prof-G.
Prof G, I like your response. It's hilarious. Men indeed shoulder an enormous burden especially in terms of caring for financial needs. I also think there would be more women in heaven if heaven were to be gender specific. Thanks for your comment; I had a good laugh.
ReplyDelete