Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Marguerite · 05-03-2002, 01:47 PM

Let me just jump in here with some personal experience.

I was raised Baptist. My father is a recovered alcoholic, but during my childhood he was absolutely flaming. My mom kept things as normal as she could by doing the normal family things --
like going to church. We are a family of five children. Currently, two of us are religious, and the other three are atheists. My mother is and atheist, and my dad still believes in God, but has never attended church on anything close to a regular basis.

Once I became an adult, religion lost its significance in my life -- until I had children.
Suddenly, I wanted my children to have the social advantages of belonging to a church. I also thought they might be missing out on something if I did not give them some kind of spiritual center.
I was afraid of messing up as a mother.

So, I think the traditional role of women plays a big part in women appearing to be more religious than men. I also believe the mothering/nesting instinct also has a lot to do with all of this.

--Marguerite

Marguerite · 05-04-2002, 03:44 AM

Kip,

What makes you think babies are not intelligent?
Do some research on how much a baby learns in his/her first two years of life.

(Sorry about the delayed response on that one. I had not read all the posts before I replied to the
topic question.)

--Marguerite

Panta Pei · 05-04-2002, 04:27 AM

My personal theory echoes similarly with motherly instinct theory provided by Margeurite.

However, it is not the "advantages of belonging to a church", or the "thought they might be missing out on something if I did not give them some kind of spiritual center.", but rather the age-old and loving threat of eternal damnation for their 'soul' for not following the xtian true way(tm).

So, I agree, it may be the motherly/nesting instinct to protect her child, but only due to the imagined rantings of a moldy dogma.

IMHO

bonduca · 05-04-2002, 05:43 AM

(pointedly ignores Kip)

Where is the proof (aside from personal anecdotes) that women actually are more religious than men? Until it is conclusively established that is IS so, how can we debate WHY it is so?

I'm trying to think of a major religious leader who is female, but I can't. (Unless Falwell goes for a sex change, in which case I will buy you all beer.)

[ May 04, 2002: Message edited by: bonduca ]</p>

Marguerite · 05-04-2002, 06:22 AM

Bonduca,

Why are there more male political leaders?

Being a religious leader is a power position. I don't think it has a whole lot to do with true religious convictions.

--Marguerite

bonduca · 05-04-2002, 06:25 AM

But surely a religious leader must be very religious indeed. I'm sure that Mr. Robertson is a very holy man.

Seriously, is there any conclusive proof that women really are more religious than men?

[ May 04, 2002: Message edited by: bonduca ]</p>

Marguerite · 05-04-2002, 06:29 AM

Riiiight.(Almost knocked over my coffee cup on that one)

bonduca · 05-04-2002, 06:30 AM

Marguerite · 05-04-2002, 06:41 AM

Bonduca,

We must have been posting at the same time. I had read only part of your post when I replied.

I'm only going by my own personal observations, and I do live in the South. Most of my married female friends and acquaintances who attend church
are the ones who get the family up and dressed on Sunday morning. More women go to church without the spouse than men from what I have observed.

Of course this is not proof.

And I don't believe there were any female hijackers slamming airplanes into buildings in September.

Food for more thought on my part.

--Marguerite

bonduca · 05-04-2002, 06:48 AM

I was also raised in the South. I remember feeling intense pressure from my father especially (as head of household) to be a "good" girl, which, among other things, meant a lot of church-going and Bible studying.

It seemed to be expected that the women would provide the spiritual influence (along with the cooking and cleaning and child care).

When I was a young adult, the men I dated would tell me that even though they didn't practice religion anymore, even though they disliked the church and considered it hypocritical, they expected their children to nevertheless be brought up in the church, as they were.

They also expected to marry women who would provide this environment (along with the cooking and cleaning, etc.)

This isn't proof of anything either, though it may explain why I live in NJ and am still single.

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05-03-2002, 01:47 PM	#81
Marguerite Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: LA, USA Posts: 53	Let me just jump in here with some personal experience. I was raised Baptist. My father is a recovered alcoholic, but during my childhood he was absolutely flaming. My mom kept things as normal as she could by doing the normal family things -- like going to church. We are a family of five children. Currently, two of us are religious, and the other three are atheists. My mother is and atheist, and my dad still believes in God, but has never attended church on anything close to a regular basis. Once I became an adult, religion lost its significance in my life -- until I had children. Suddenly, I wanted my children to have the social advantages of belonging to a church. I also thought they might be missing out on something if I did not give them some kind of spiritual center. I was afraid of messing up as a mother. So, I think the traditional role of women plays a big part in women appearing to be more religious than men. I also believe the mothering/nesting instinct also has a lot to do with all of this. --Marguerite

05-04-2002, 03:44 AM	#82
Marguerite Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: LA, USA Posts: 53	Kip, What makes you think babies are not intelligent? Do some research on how much a baby learns in his/her first two years of life. (Sorry about the delayed response on that one. I had not read all the posts before I replied to the topic question.) --Marguerite

05-04-2002, 04:27 AM	#83
Panta Pei Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: in the middle of things Posts: 722	My personal theory echoes similarly with motherly instinct theory provided by Margeurite. However, it is not the "advantages of belonging to a church", or the "thought they might be missing out on something if I did not give them some kind of spiritual center.", but rather the age-old and loving threat of eternal damnation for their 'soul' for not following the xtian true way(tm). So, I agree, it may be the motherly/nesting instinct to protect her child, but only due to the imagined rantings of a moldy dogma. IMHO

05-04-2002, 05:43 AM	#84
bonduca Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: . Posts: 1,653	(pointedly ignores Kip) Where is the proof (aside from personal anecdotes) that women actually are more religious than men? Until it is conclusively established that is IS so, how can we debate WHY it is so? I'm trying to think of a major religious leader who is female, but I can't. (Unless Falwell goes for a sex change, in which case I will buy you all beer.) [ May 04, 2002: Message edited by: bonduca ]</p>

05-04-2002, 06:22 AM	#85
Marguerite Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: LA, USA Posts: 53	Bonduca, Why are there more male political leaders? Being a religious leader is a power position. I don't think it has a whole lot to do with true religious convictions. --Marguerite

05-04-2002, 06:25 AM	#86
bonduca Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: . Posts: 1,653	But surely a religious leader must be very religious indeed. I'm sure that Mr. Robertson is a very holy man. Seriously, is there any conclusive proof that women really are more religious than men? [ May 04, 2002: Message edited by: bonduca ]</p>

05-04-2002, 06:29 AM	#87
Marguerite Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: LA, USA Posts: 53	Riiiight.(Almost knocked over my coffee cup on that one)

05-04-2002, 06:30 AM	#88
bonduca Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: . Posts: 1,653

05-04-2002, 06:41 AM	#89
Marguerite Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: LA, USA Posts: 53	Bonduca, We must have been posting at the same time. I had read only part of your post when I replied. I'm only going by my own personal observations, and I do live in the South. Most of my married female friends and acquaintances who attend church are the ones who get the family up and dressed on Sunday morning. More women go to church without the spouse than men from what I have observed. Of course this is not proof. And I don't believe there were any female hijackers slamming airplanes into buildings in September. Food for more thought on my part. --Marguerite

05-04-2002, 06:48 AM	#90
bonduca Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: . Posts: 1,653	I was also raised in the South. I remember feeling intense pressure from my father especially (as head of household) to be a "good" girl, which, among other things, meant a lot of church-going and Bible studying. It seemed to be expected that the women would provide the spiritual influence (along with the cooking and cleaning and child care). When I was a young adult, the men I dated would tell me that even though they didn't practice religion anymore, even though they disliked the church and considered it hypocritical, they expected their children to nevertheless be brought up in the church, as they were. They also expected to marry women who would provide this environment (along with the cooking and cleaning, etc.) This isn't proof of anything either, though it may explain why I live in NJ and am still single.

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