Forging the Male Spirit

Book excerpt: Description: Young men undergo significant changes during their years in college. They wrestle with ""big questions,"" which are essentially spiritual questions, as they ponder who they are, what they believe, what kind of persons they want to become, and how they might shape the world into something they can feel comfortable being themselves in. Those who participate in men''s groups realize that their involvement can nurture their inner lives as they explore these questions and connect to transcendent values and a vision of a larger whole. This book includes historical and sociological perspectives on men and spirituality and an expanded case study of how one campus pioneered in the development of men''s spirituality groups, which became a model for other campuses. It includes quantitative empirical research that explores college men''s openness to spirituality and their interest in men''s groups. The book''s most extensive discussion is based on a qualitative analysis of thirty-six interviews with male college students, focusing on their understanding of the relationship between their masculinity and their spirituality, and how spirituality groups provided a venue in which they could begin to engage what it means to be spiritual and what it means to be a man. Endorsements: ""A wonderful account of how men''s spirituality groups at religiously affiliated colleges have enabled men to share their thoughts and feelings about their lives, relationships, and sense of authenticity. I was especially inspired by the men''s thoughtful reflections on the way in which they understand their own masculinity and how they express it in their own lives. The authors make a powerful case for men''s spirituality groups on college campuses by enabling the men''s own voices to be heard."" --Donald Capps Princeton Theological Seminary (Emeritus) Author of Men and Their Religion: Honor, Hope, and Humor ""Forging the Male Spirit is a must-read for anyone interested in the spiritual yearnings and development of young men of college age. Well researched and documented, this study analyzes empirical data and grounds those data in the history of men movements and gender theory. The authors of this study . . . advocate for . . . creating college support groups for young men in search of meaning."" --Bjorn Krondorfer St. Mary''s College of Maryland Editor of Men''s Bodies, Men''s Gods: Male Identities in a (Post-)Christian Culture ""Longwood, Schipper, and Culbertson offer us a surprising glimpse into the lives of college men. Contrary to the perceived masculine norms of restrictive emotional behavior, competition, and distance, many seek closer connections, support, and deeper relationships with each other, as well as meaning in their studies and work. Some find transformation and fulfillment in opposing sexism and violence against women. Everyone concerned with the healthy development of young men must read this book."" --Stephen B. Boyd Wake Forest University Coeditor of Redeeming Men: Religion and Masculinities ""In an era when highly edited versions of the self rocket through cyberspace via instant messaging, the meticulous empirical research of Forging the Male Spirit leads to a haunting but convincing counternarrative. Here young men yearn for slower, braver, face-to-face forms of intimacy with male peers and adult men. They find not in institutional religion but in ongoing same-sex support groups the true foundry of authentic masculine spirituality."" --Robert C. Dykstra Princeton Theological Seminary Coeditor of Losers, Loners, and Rebels: The Spiritual Struggles of Boys ""Forging the Male Spirit is an invaluable resource for anyone wishing to move from thinking to actually doing something about the spiritual development of college men. From broad surveys as well as detailed case studies of both persons and institutions . . ., we learn how we and our institutions can understand and . . . address men''s concerns about their spiritualities and mascul"