Recovering the Masculine in Approaches to Christian Spiritual Formation

I recently had an all too brief but very interesting e-conversation with Andii Bowsher about the “feminisation of Christian Spirituality” (this emerged from my review of Margaret Guenther’s book: Holy Listening). Neither of us had a problem with this feminisation per se. Both of us agreed that historically women’s voices and experiences have more often than not been marginalised and excluded from both conversation (books etc) and the practice of Christian Spirituality. We acknowledged that much has been done over the last 20-30 years to redress this “lack” in both ecclesial and spirituality circles. Neither of us wanted to take away from the exploration of the feminine. There is much to rejoice in and celebrate. There is much to honour and be grateful for. Christian spirituality is so much richer for the inclusion women’s voices, experiences, and perspectives. I have valued that input immensely.

That said; we were both very mindful that thoughtful masculine perspectives, imagery, practices, experiences, and voices are becoming increasingly marginal, which isn’t necessarily a negative if margins are regarded the seedbeds of new initiative, creativity, and innovation.

Given a few notable exceptions (Richard Rohr’s work for example) we both agreed that there seems little corresponding exploration of the masculine, of distinctly masculine approaches to prayer, spiritual direction, spiritual formation, and Christian spirituality.

This absence raises, for me, a whole lot of questions. For example:

• What might a more masculine approach to Christian spirituality and formation look like in practice; what might it look like, feel like, and sound like?

• How can we be affirming of the need and its importance without the “pendulum” swinging in the opposite direction?

• How might we fruitfully overcome the apparent neglect within and without church contexts that Andii and I have both noticed?

• How might we become more affirming, in practice, of male spiritual needs, issues, perspectives, and practices? Is there in fact a healthy male approach or approaches?

• Can anyone recommend any useful resources, which would help someone, explore either a more distinctly male Christian spirituality, or a healthy approach that honours masculinity and femininity as both being needful to our spiritual formation?

• What would have to happen in order for more males (young and not so young) to join spiritual direction training programmes?

Comments

[erickeck]

"Can anyone recommend any useful resources, which would help someone, explore either a more distinctly male Christian spirituality, or a healthy approach that honours masculinity and femininity as both being needful to our spiritual formation? "

one premise in http://www.desertstream.org/ is that men have no idea how to treat women without some sort of sexual baggage attatched. culturally im wondering if thats even wearing through to the church?

[bill]

Sounds like Mr Fromont is jonesin' for a Promise Keepers rally. Seriously though, what about the stuff Eldridge has been writing? Does it help? Also, a friend of mine is using material from a book Future Men by Douglas Wilson.

[Troy]

I would recommend LeAnn Payne's books. In just about all of her books tackles the masculine/feminine issue in a way I've not seen done before. She directly says that a man needs a proper balance of feminine in his inner life to be truly masculine (and vice versa for women). It was interesting to read.

[bob c]

richard rohr has done some really, really wonderful stuff on masculinity - http://www.malespirituality.org/

[philjohnson]

Interesting observation about the surge of feminised spirituality and your conversations about masculine spirituality being on the margins.

I find that interesting because there are voices in the EC scene (UK and USA; female and male)recently musing about how women in EC are currently marginalised with the accompanying perception of male dominance even in EC networks.