Reviewing "Why Men Hate Going to Church"

Today I finished reading David Murrow's book "Why Men Hate Going to Church." I was reading the revised edition. I've never read the original. I'm not sure how they compare. I'd be curious about the difference, but I'm not sure I could bring myself to read it.

I really wanted to like this book. When I picked it up, I had high expectations. Our church struggles to get guys involved. I was eager to learn about changing that.

I almost didn't finish it. In fact, had I not agreed to read it in its entity I probably would have dropped out in the middle. It's a bit like reading the Bible cover to cover. It all starts strong, but then around Numbers things go off the rails and the repetition just about kills it. Here's what I mean: he bashes churches that repeat the same praise chorus until everyone is in what he calls "a worship coma" but does practically the same thing as he repeats again and again all the things that churches do to repel men. I get it. churches turn men off. And not only is he nauseatingly repetitive, at times he comes across homophobic. I'm sure he doesn't mean to, but he's got to let up on how "gay" some church practices come across.

If you'd like to read the book here's my recommendation: read the first two chapters to get his point, understand where he is coming from, and to begin to wrestle with the need. Then skip to chapter 16. All the qualities, the redeeming characteristics, and the value of the book begin in chapter 16. Then you'll be able to read something helpful. There is some good stuff in there, but I wonder how many will have the patience to find it. I'm sure men won't.

I suppose the irony of all this is that the book itself is incredibly man unfriendly. All the things he says the church does wrong in regards to men are done in the book. The only way it could have been worse would be if each copy came with a crocheted book mark.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255