Why Men Hate Going to Church

In many places the church is dying. The survivors often only have a few elderly, and some women. David shows a number of aspects that make churches unfriendly and unattractive for men. These go from the culture of the gatherings to the tone of the message. The observations are obviously based in the USA, but I identified with too many aspects that he outlined. I had said to others previously that to get the children (to stay), you had to have their fathers. David says that if you get the men, the women (and children) will come, if they are not already there. (Don't throw the rotten tomatoes!) He notes that some of the mega US churches specifically targeted male stereotypes. Every pastor and leadership team should read this!

David Murrow has written a thoughtful, thought provoking book addressing the issue of why the church struggles to attract and keep men. \\r\\nHe also challenges church practices and traditions which make men feel uncomfortable. \\r\\nAlthough some of these traditions are valuable, his challenge should cause the church leader to stop and think about why we do these things and whether they can be adjusted or minimised for the sake of helping men feel more comfortable. \\r\\nOne downside to the book is he seems to stereotype men, and what men want, somewhat. \\r\\nControversially, although I would agree necessarily, he raises the issue that if women are organising everything, everything will be much more likely suited to women. This raises the needed challenge for men already within the church to step up and be more involved. If both men and women are working together the church will reflect and appeal to both genders. \\r\\n \\r\\nA book worth reading for church leaders to be challenged about how men can be more effectively reached with the gospel.

I chose this book to read worried that maybe it wasn't for me (being a woman) but I was wrong. It's really a book for everyone. I was hoping it might be helpful for me as a wife and mum of three boys and I was right. \\r\\n\\r\\nDavid Murrow has written 'Why men hate going to church' to address the glaring problem in churches all over the world today; women outnumber (sometimes by huge proportions) the men. His first section deals with this issue, describing the problem and defining exactly why it's a problem. \\r\\n\\r\\nPart 2 (the best part in a book for me) analyses church history (going as far back as the industrial revolution) and church culture. Murrow demonstrates why and how the church is slowly but surely become more for women, more about women, and more enjoyable for women. \\r\\n\\r\\nPart three gives us plenty of strategies for what to actually do about this problem. Murrow does a great job of reassuring his readers that it is possible and a lot of his suggestions are quite simple; they just require some intention to carry out. One of the highlights for me was chapter 20 when Murrow says that the willingness of women to crossover to a man's role is important. For example, many women would happily attend a DIY workshop at a hardware store or break into a male dominated career but most men could not tolerate attending a knitting class or breaking into the nursing profession! Because of the fact that women can 'do' masculine, Murrow asserts that our churches should…

An interesting, easy read - held my interest all the way through and made me laugh. \\r\\nThis book helps you to understand how the male mind works and thinks, but also gives practical things to do to understand and help them. My husband does not go to Church, and this helped me to understand why he doesn't, and to show me how to not let my young son follow in Dad's footsteps! - Idea of a spiritual male mentor is an excellent idea. \\r\\nThis book explained many things I have always thought about why my husband does not go to Church, and it made me feel more accepting and at peace with his decision not to go to church, and that I am not alone! It is also a wake up call to Churches everywhere who are pondering where all the men have gone. A good read, and one we should learn from. Churches are mostly female dominated, maybe we should try and change that?\\r\\n