Quote: nicmarlo wrote in post #45

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Six Reasons Young People Leave the Church...

Olivia and Steph, I was listening this morning to American Family Radio during the Dr. Dobson portion (and darned if I can find out who it was that was speaking; it's not the person that is showing on Dobson's "Family Talk" for today). The man was saying how church, as it is and has been organized, appeals to women not men, not boys. Boys, when they grow up, want to leave the childish behind; the way Christ is taught in Sunday Schools is like an 'effeminate' Christ; church is formatted in ways that do not appeal to men (socializing/chatting). The pastors direct their sermons to women, usually talking about feelings, and love, and kind acts, etc. He was not ridiculing the pastor's hearts, or the church goers, or saying that Christ doesn't encompass the 'soft' side of humanity. But men tune in better to learning via stories, boys are not girls; they are captured better by such things as, instead of "Sunday School" having it be called "Adventureland" where the children DO things, not sit in their seats being 'good, quiet listeners.' Middle school / high school boys are turned off from the 15 minutes of standing still and singing praise songs. He said the pastors need to direct their sermons to men if they expect and want men to come to church and stay there. He said his pastor even says things like "dudes" during the sermon. If the services are directed at the males, of all ages, the women and children will go. It's the boys and men who, in high numbers, don't go or won't go /remain in church. The man speaking today stated great ideas and observations. He's written two books. I think he's on again tomorrow so I'll try to remember to get his name and/or the books he wrote and add them here later. Thought it was well worth posting here as I agreed with much of his points and they are worthy of consideration, imho.

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Quote: Sanguine wrote in post #46

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Quote: nicmarlo wrote in post #45

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Six Reasons Young People Leave the Church...

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I wish I'd heard that, Nic. (And, good to see you.)

I agree with most of that. It's not even "feminization" as much as it is infantilism. Our pastors/priests act more like kindergarten teachers than moral leaders. And, it turns a lot of us away.

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The American people don't give a damn about this topic.

Quote: Weird Tolkienish Figure wrote in post #48

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The American people don't give a damn about this topic.

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Quote: Justme wrote in post #50

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Quote: Weird Tolkienish Figure wrote in post #48

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The American people don't give a damn about this topic.

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When put to a vote the care to keep traditional marriage time and time again.

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It is not hardly beating a dead horse when it is currently affecting the state of affairs primarily in the church and in the country. The topic of the thread is "The GOP’s Complicity in the Spread of Gay Marriage" finding out why that is helps to figure a way out of the current GOP mess we are in right now.

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