Is The Historicity Of The Bom More Important To Men Than Women?
#1
Posted 19 August 2012 - 02:29 PM
Some interesting facts. Despite women comprising over 60% of the membership of the Church, the majority of FAIR Conference attendees and contributors of FAIR/FARMS are men. Is it possible that LDS women are just not as interested in these subjects as men? Is it possible that women join and stay in the LDS Church for entirely different reasons than men?
Much research attests to the idea that women are more religious than men, hold their beliefs more firmly, practice their faith more consistently, and work more vigorously for the congregation. Some contend that women are socialized to be nurturing and submissive, qualities that make religious acceptance and commitment more likely. Similarly, some social scientists argue that the role of the mother subsumes religiousness, since it involves such activities as teaching the children morality and caring for the physical and spiritual welfare of other family members. Some contend that religious belief is more of an emotional thing than a cognitive thing, and that this explains the disparity.
Whatever the reasons, most LDS women that I know are not really concerned about whether or not the BoM is historical. I have never met an LDS woman who read the BoM and told me that it was a wonderful history book, or frankly was interested in its historicity, DNA or geography. LDS women will tell you the reason they love the book of Mormon is because of how it makes them feel. They are not too interested in the historic details, or even if there are any. I highly doubt that most LDS would have any problem whatsover accepting an inspired Book of Mormon rather than a historic.
In my experience, one of the main reasons women attend Church more than men is that it allows them to focus on achieving personal connections and avoiding social isolation, to feel connected to others. In my LDS experience, women are more emotional and men are more analytical. It is possible that women have a more emotional approach to The Book of Mormon and men have a more analytical approach.
If you don’t believe me, then please feel free to attend the next Relief Society meeting.
Just my 2cents. Thoughts?
#2
Posted 19 August 2012 - 02:55 PM
Peppermint Patty, on 19 August 2012 - 02:29 PM, said:
Some interesting facts. Despite women comprising over 60% of the membership of the Church, the majority of FAIR Conference attendees and contributors of FAIR/FARMS are men. Is it possible that LDS women are just not as interested in these subjects as men? Is it possible that women join and stay in the LDS Church for entirely different reasons than men?
Much research attests to the idea that women are more religious than men, hold their beliefs more firmly, practice their faith more consistently, and work more vigorously for the congregation. Some contend that women are socialized to be nurturing and submissive, qualities that make religious acceptance and commitment more likely. Similarly, some social scientists argue that the role of the mother subsumes religiousness, since it involves such activities as teaching the children morality and caring for the physical and spiritual welfare of other family members. Some contend that religious belief is more of an emotional thing than a cognitive thing, and that this explains the disparity.
Whatever the reasons, most LDS women that I know are not really concerned about whether or not the BoM is historical. I have never met an LDS woman who read the BoM and told me that it was a wonderful history book, or frankly was interested in its historicity, DNA or geography. LDS women will tell you the reason they love the book of Mormon is because of how it makes them feel. They are not too interested in the historic details, or even if there are any. I highly doubt that most LDS would have any problem whatsover accepting an inspired Book of Mormon rather than a historic.
In my experience, one of the main reasons women attend Church more than men is that it allows them to focus on achieving personal connections and avoiding social isolation, to feel connected to others. In my LDS experience, women are more emotional and men are more analytical. It is possible that women have a more emotional approach to The Book of Mormon and men have a more analytical approach.
If you don’t believe me, then please feel free to attend the next Relief Society meeting.
Just my 2cents. Thoughts?
I lost a bet once to the RS Pres. in YSA and had to attend and teach RS but I am watching Wrath of Khan so I will have to get back to you about your points
President George Q. Cannon
(Oct. 6, 1896, DW 53:610)
#3
Posted 19 August 2012 - 03:01 PM
Peppermint Patty, on 19 August 2012 - 02:29 PM, said:
I am certainly in no position to speak for women, so I'm treading lightly here. I suspect that you are correct, and that women in general have a different religious experience than do men. I have seen it in a number of modern as well as ancient contexts (at least plausibly different).
From personal experience, I know that I have often found some thing little thing in the Book of Mormon that is absolutely fascinating (to me) from a historical or anthropological perspective, and when I explain it to my wife she patiently responds; "so who would care?" I have learned not to expect validation from her.
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And from what i have seen employ religious beliefs in a more concrete social fashion. Religion becomes part of the way that women care for loved ones. They are more often those lighting the candles or performing rights that invoke the divine for someone's benefit.
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My wife is much more concerned with the living.
#4
Posted 19 August 2012 - 03:17 PM
#5
Posted 19 August 2012 - 03:18 PM
Whatever it is about men that make them more likely to go into geeky type careers such as programmers, engineers, etc, the same thing makes men more likely to gravitate to the analytical side of the church's truth claims.
#6
Posted 19 August 2012 - 03:47 PM
I am very analytical myself, so are all of the women in my family. And all of us have a hard time in RS. Don't know if this is something genetic or environmental.
Edited by calmoriah, 19 August 2012 - 03:48 PM.
#7
Posted 19 August 2012 - 04:24 PM
#8
Posted 19 August 2012 - 04:43 PM
As for the majority of FAIR conference attendees being male, I'm not sure that is true anymore. It certainly was in the early years and it remains true for FAIR membership.
~Dallin Oaks http://newsroom.lds....vard-law-school
#9
Posted 19 August 2012 - 05:17 PM
Peppermint Patty, on 19 August 2012 - 02:29 PM, said:
#11
Posted 19 August 2012 - 05:30 PM
CV75, on 19 August 2012 - 05:17 PM, said:
You mean "his tory." Sorry, the glibe and preposterous "his story" is a pet peeve of mine.
I assure you that it is you that is ignorant of ancient Judaism. Read the Bible instead of listening to your teachers who appose [sic] the bible. -Echo
i REALLY NEVER NEW YOU WAS A UNLEARNED PERSON. -Lucy Ann Harmon, a facebook anti-Mormon
#13
Posted 19 August 2012 - 06:37 PM
My blog: http://wayfaringfool.blogspot.com
#14
Posted 19 August 2012 - 06:49 PM
juliann, on 19 August 2012 - 04:43 PM, said:
As for the majority of FAIR conference attendees being male, I'm not sure that is true anymore. It certainly was in the early years and it remains true for FAIR membership.
#15
Posted 19 August 2012 - 06:50 PM
blackstrap, on 19 August 2012 - 06:07 PM, said:
#16
Posted 19 August 2012 - 07:37 PM
Edited by Evangeline, 19 August 2012 - 07:41 PM.
#17
Posted 19 August 2012 - 07:43 PM
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Edited by calmoriah, 19 August 2012 - 07:45 PM.
#18
Posted 19 August 2012 - 07:58 PM
President George Q. Cannon
(Oct. 6, 1896, DW 53:610)
#19
Posted 19 August 2012 - 08:01 PM
Edited by calmoriah, 19 August 2012 - 08:02 PM.
#20
Posted 19 August 2012 - 08:06 PM
I do think women process things differently, generally speaking, which doesn't mean that we don't have both the analytical, as well as the emotional sides. Its just a matter of which is more predominate (which can vary, of course, in both men and women). On a continuum, I think women lean more towards the nurturing/intuitive/emotional side and men more towards the analytical, logical side of things. On that continuum, there may be many women leaning more towards the analytical side, and many men leaning more towards the intuitive/emotional side. But, generally, speaking, you will probably have somewhat of a division between men and women.
Edited by Libs, 19 August 2012 - 08:08 PM.
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