Perhaps this is the reason for the new sociological experiment of the RDL:

Study: 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Inspires Women to Leave Churches
Tuesday, August 26, 2008

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — More than 50,000 women a year have deserted their congregations over the past two decades because they feel church is not relevant to their lives, according to a British academic study — and shows like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" have played a role in the exodus.

The research, published in a new book called "Women and Religion in the West," says TV shows like "Buffy" offer women an appealing message of female empowerment while the old-fashioned attitudes and hierarchies of churches are causing a steep decline in the number of female worshippers.

"In short, women are abandoning the church," writes Kristin Aune, a sociologist at the University of Derby. "Because of its focus on female empowerment, young women are attracted by [the pagan religion] Wicca, popularized by the TV series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.'

"Young women tend to express egalitarian values and dislike the traditionalism and hierarchies they imagine are integral to the church."

Her research cites an English Church census which found that more than a million women worshippers have left churches since 1989, and that women have been leaving churches at twice the rate of men.

Lord have mercy!

Which works out to them wanted to worship themselves
rather than God. Not a winning proposition.

Don't most Protestant Churches these days ordin women? I think the study is a bit scewed...

So much for those 'churches' that bent over backwards to make themselves woman-sensitive and gender neutral for the sake of women... Maybe that is not the road to take.

'who for us, and for our salvation'!

Nick

I find it difficult to take this study seriously...but then, research in sociology and psychology are very difficult to trust.

LOL, if someone really wants to blame women's empowerment, then shouldn't they go back to the 19th amendment? Or bash Hillary Clinton?

I suppose it depends upon several considerations, such as:

what does one mean by "women's empowerment"? Are you speaking of a Jewish mother, or a Catholic Mother Superior?

Are we allowed to distinguish between issues? May I support equal pay for equal work, equal votes for both men and women, but continue to think it wrong that when it comes to child custody, fathers have no enforceable rights?

Fr. Serge

...you forgot the word "men" in that excerpt from the Divine Liturgy (the "Red Book" version)!

Ung

Dang, don't be Perfiduous Ung.

( I make hidious references I know)