KnightWhoSaysNi

I think several of the men who are married here might disagree. Incidentally, a female acquaintance I know from my university is the president of the campus debating club.

[ July 21, 2002: Message edited by: Nightshade ]</p>

HelenM

but, Nightshade, there aren't many theists who stick around here, though, period, are there? Of either gender, I mean?

love
Helen

KnightWhoSaysNi

C'est vrai

I've seen a few others, but they vanish after 1 or 2 posts.
<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Egoinos

Apologists and creationists tend to come from the fundy end, and, as Helen pointed out, these tend to be denominations which either outright do not allow women to teach, or which are a bit sniffy about female theologians. Even in liberal denominations it is rare to find women theologians - a case in point is my divinity faculty, while probably the majority of students are female, the majority of ministers-in-training are male (even though their denomination welcomes women ministers) and we only have three female lecturers, and none of them are professors. One of the lecturers, a feminist theologian, said that she found it really difficult to be allowed to study divinity, as her denomination were none too pleased.
Given that it is only relatively recently that women have been accepted on equal terms with men in theology (and even then only in certain parts) its possible there may be more female theologians in general, and maybe some female apologists in the future. Just takes time...

As for female atheist debaters, that is probably because of the fundies again. You get a load of crap off fundies if you argue against Christianity or are an atheist generally, but you will get a hell of a lot more abuse if you are female into the bargain. So you'd have to be tougher than a male atheist in order to go into those debates IMO.

--Egoinos--

Tricia

That's nothing. I've got over 2200 at the ilj boards.

~Tricia

RufusAtticus

When was the last time someone thought you were 16?

Mad Kally

Every night in infidelchat..

RufusAtticus

Ahh the schoolgirl outfit.....

ohwilleke

Women often care about different parts of the religious experience than many men.

Many men care a great deal about the metaphysical issues in religion. Does God exist? Did the miracles happen? What angels and demons are out there? When was the world created? Can the views of science and religion about the nature of the universe be reconciled?

Many women care a great deal about the social and moral implications of religion. Will my children receive the right kind of moral instruction? Will my family have friends who are good people? Will I have support when I am grieving or sick or I am trying to keep my marriage together? Do I have a community where I belong? How do I balance caring for others and meeting my own needs? How can I support someone when I have nothing substantial I can offer them?

Gender isn't the only factor that distinguishes these two outlooks on religion, but men are much more likely than women to be closer to the first category than the second.

The explains why both literalist creationists and atheists may have an overrepresentation of men debating. Literal Creationism is basically a metaphysical issue. Atheism, standing alone, is also basically a metaphysical issue -- it doesn't, logically, imply any moral or social stance.

Many men are more impressed by arguments over whether events in the Bible really happened. Many women are more impressed by the notion that the Bible's moral pronouncements are questionable and the argument from evil.

The area where I've seen the most involvement by women in atheist discussions are debates and discussions arising out of secular life. How does atheism affect relationships? How can I get these annoying fundies off my back? How can I raise my children to be rational and skeptical thinkers? How do I feel about a funeral? How do the pledge of allegience issue impact my life? Not, discussions about whether Pascal's Wager is logically correct, or the strength of the evidence for evolution.

Men and women often share both metaphysical and moral views, but the importance of each kind of issue often varies by gender.

ManM

Women just know better.