Decades ago, when I studied theology in college, the male-to-female ratio was about nine women to every man. I suppose, semi-ironically, I have taken it as a general rule that women are nine times more interested in religion than men, whether in intellectual study or in the ordinary life of a congregation. This ratio was frequently confirmed in subsequent years.

Maybe that’s why a headline in the New York Times caught my attention: A First Among Christians: Men Are More Religious Than Women.

Reporter Ruth Graham examines a survey from the Center for American Life/American Enterprise Institute that finds young men attend services more often than their female peers and are more likely to identify as religious. This is a surprising change.

The article suggests that women are shut down from church attendance due to lack of church attendance. gender equality. However, the arguably most liberal and progressive US Protestant denominations losing members to a degree that threatens their existence. They do not attract young women or young men.

When young men in the United States turn to religion, they gravitate towards evangelical churches with traditional theology, which is probably why they are the ones who grow up.

So is turning to religion just a part of this movement? the political divide covered by my fellow columnist Jennifer O’ConnellWhere young women are increasingly moving to the political left and young men are moving to the right?

Campus minister Derek Rishmawy, interviewed for the New York Times article, says: ‘Religion is coded correctly and coded as more traditionalist.’

But he also says Christianity is perceived as institutionally and officially unsuspicious of young men as a class. At the same time, a real spiritual quest is going on. It’s not all about wearing Maga hats.

While being young and female is still no picnic, young men struggle in more ways than oneincluding mental health problems and loneliness.

While there is a connection between men becoming more open to traditionalist views and their increased religious participation, they are primarily driven by a crisis of meaning. The individualistic, consumerist culture with its temporary dopamine hits is failing them.

For example, I suspect there is such a person J.D. VanceDonald Trump’s vice presidential candidate converted to Catholicism partly because he hung out with a lot of smart people who shared his views but were also Catholic.

However, it would not be good for Christianity or young men if devotion to Christianity became some kind of additional accessory for an anti-woke brigade. Trying to fit Christianity into a neat left-right divide only distorts it.

Pope Francis Not only does he support the right to life of the youngest people, he also constantly talks about climate change and accepting immigrants, neither of which are well-coded stances.

Young men exploring Christianity should be offered faith development and spiritual guidance that goes beyond mere traditionalism. At its best, faith is not a comforting blanket but a constant drive for growth and change.

There is little Irish research examining religious gender segregation. Of course, young men do not come to Irish churches in droves.

But anecdotally, the ratio is not even close to nine to one in religious movements such as Youth 2000, the largest Catholic youth organization for young people aged 18 to 35 on this island. At both the annual summer holidays, attended by around 1,000 young people, and at its regular regional meetings, three young women appear closer to two men, a remarkable statistic.

The same goes for students; college chaplains now see participation from large numbers of men.

The sad thing is that some people in the church don’t seem to know what to do with these young seekers, or worse, are uncomfortable with their desire for orthodox faith.

It was troublesome reading in light of the recent closing of the cumbersomely named Vatican Synod on Synodality. A presentation from Youth 2000 To what is called the Synodal Way in Ireland.

This was a process where people came together in neighborhoods to contribute to a national report for Ireland.

A member of Youth 2000 attended a local synodal road meeting with many members of the youth group but reported feeling “choked” and so did not attend the meeting afterwards.

Others reported being treated as if they were abnormal or unrepresentative. Some people in congregational discussions were unaware of and even skeptical about the existence of large numbers of young people practicing the Catholic faith.

It’s remarkable how young people who not only want to contribute, but are already active in their faith, are so invisible to people who probably stay up at night worrying about the church dying.

The Dominican Order is among the few religious orders that consistently attract young men who want to become priests. Unsurprisingly, the Dominicans are also Youth 2000 champions.

Young men’s interest in religion should not be exaggerated because it is only a minority. However, a minority choosing religion in the teeth of rising secularism is still a phenomenon worth closer examination.