Ashtar Command Book Blog : God is a woman

Thursday, June 19, 2025

God is a woman

Is this why I never have spiritual experiences?

I´ve heard that women are more religious and/or spiritual than males. Is there some evidence for this? Could women (on average) be more fantasy-prone, have higher levels of absorption, et cetera?

Yes, there is strong evidence from psychology, sociology, and religious studies that women are, on average, more religious and/or spiritual than men across a wide range of cultures and belief systems. This trend has been observed consistently in many large-scale surveys, such as those by Pew Research Center, Gallup, and the World Values Survey.

📊 Evidence: Gender and Religiosity

Multiple studies show that women are more likely than men to:

Believe in God or a higher power
Pray regularly
Attend religious services
Report having religious or spiritual experiences
Say religion is “very important” in their lives

These findings hold across different cultures and religions, although the gender gap is often wider in more religious societies.

🧠 Possible Psychological Explanations

Several personality and cognitive traits have been linked to this difference:

1. Fantasy-Proneness & Absorption

Women tend to score slightly higher on fantasy-proneness, absorption, and emotional openness.
These traits are associated with:
- Greater susceptibility to spiritual or mystical experiences
- Vivid inner imagery and emotionally resonant beliefs
These traits also correlate with paranormal belief, spiritual encounters, and belief in non-traditional religious phenomena.

2. Empathy and Moral Sensitivity

Women generally score higher on empathy, which may increase receptivity to moral teachings, care-based ethics, and a sense of connection to others—values often emphasized in religion.

3. Risk Aversion

Some theories propose that religious belief helps reduce existential anxiety (e.g. fear of death or chaos).
Women tend to report greater anxiety and lower tolerance for uncertainty, which could contribute to a higher rate of religious engagement as a coping or meaning-making strategy.

4. Socialization and Roles

Women are often socialized into more nurturing and relational roles, especially in traditional cultures.
These roles align well with many religious teachings about family, caregiving, and community.

🧬 Are These Biological, Cultural, or Both?

The causes are likely complex and multi-layered:

Cultural norms influence how men and women express beliefs.
Biological sex differences (e.g. in temperament, neurobiology) may contribute to receptivity to spiritual or emotional experiences.
Gender differences are not absolute—there is always significant overlap between male and female populations.

🧘 What About Spirituality vs. Religion?

Women are more likely to identify as both religious and spiritual.
Men who are not religious are more likely to be secular or atheistic rather than "spiritual but not religious."

📚 Summary Table

Trait / Tendency	Women (on average)	Men (on average)
Religious belief & practice	Higher	Lower
Spiritual experiences	Higher	Lower
Fantasy-proneness	Slightly higher	Lower
Absorption (TAS)	Higher	Lower
Empathy / care orientation	Higher	Lower
Preference for rationalism / skepticism	Lower	Higher
Paranormal belief (e.g., ghosts, astrology)	Higher	Lower

Would you like links to major studies, or a breakdown by country, religion, or age group?

How does it look like in the United States?

In the United States, the gender gap in religion is well-documented and pronounced, consistent with global patterns. On virtually every measure of religiosity, women report higher levels than men. Here's a detailed look at how this plays out:

📊 Key Findings in the U.S.

1. Belief in God or a Higher Power

According to Pew Research Center (2014, 2018):

69% of women say they believe in God with absolute certainty, compared to 57% of men.
Women are more likely to describe religion as “very important” in their lives.

2. Religious Attendance

40% of women say they attend religious services at least weekly vs. 32% of men.
Women are more likely to pray daily and participate in religious activities outside of worship (Bible studies, choirs, charity work).

3. Religious Affiliation

Women are less likely to be religiously unaffiliated ("nones"):
- About 23–25% of U.S. women identify as religiously unaffiliated.
- Around 30–34% of men do.

4. Spiritual but Not Religious

Women are more likely to identify as "spiritual but not religious."
They more frequently report personal religious experiences, such as feeling the presence of God, or having answered prayers.

🧠 Psychological and Sociological Factors (U.S.-Specific)

A. Cultural Roles

Historically, U.S. culture emphasizes religion as a source of family and moral structure, and women have often been seen as the spiritual caregivers of the home.
American women are more involved in volunteerism and community support, often through religious organizations.

B. Religiosity by Race and Gender

The gender gap is most pronounced among Black Americans:
- Nearly 80% of Black women say religion is "very important" vs. about 60% of Black men.
Latina women also show higher religiosity than Latino men.

✝️🕌🕍 By Religious Group (U.S.)

Religion	Gender Gap
Evangelical Protestant	Large (more women)
Black Protestant	Large (more women)
Catholic	Moderate (more women)
Muslim	Present, but smaller
Jewish (Reform/Conservative)	Small to moderate
Religiously unaffiliated	More men

📉 Gender Gap Among Atheists and Agnostics

Atheists in the U.S. are overwhelmingly male:
- ~68–75% male, depending on the study
Women who leave religion are more likely to identify as spiritual or explore alternative spiritual paths (New Age, astrology, energy healing)

🧠 Interpretation

The reasons behind these patterns in the U.S. likely involve:

Socialization and role expectations
Psychological traits (e.g. higher empathy, openness to emotion)
Institutional ties (churches often provide community, support, identity)
And possibly biological predispositions, although these are harder to isolate.

🧭 Summary

Domain	Women	Men
Religious belief	Higher	Lower
Church attendance	Higher	Lower
Daily prayer	Higher	Lower
"Nones" (no religion)	Lower	Higher
Atheist identity	Lower	Higher
"Spiritual but not religious"	Higher	Lower

Would you like graphs or data sets from Pew or Gallup, or comparisons to other countries like Sweden or Iran?

What about Sweden?

In Sweden, the gender gap in religion exists, but it is smaller and less pronounced than in the United States—primarily because Swedes overall are far less religious. Sweden is one of the most secular countries in the world.

🇸🇪 Overview of Religion in Sweden

Roughly 6–8% of Swedes attend religious services regularly.
Around 45–50% identify as non-religious, agnostic, or atheist.
Despite this, a majority are still nominal members of the Church of Sweden (Svenska kyrkan), although mostly for cultural reasons.

📊 Gender and Religiosity in Sweden

1. Religious Identification

Women are still more likely than men to:
- Identify with a religious tradition (even culturally)
- Say they believe in some form of higher power
- Engage in spiritual practices (e.g. prayer, mindfulness, astrology)

But the absolute numbers are low for both genders compared to global averages.

2. Church Attendance

Regular attendance is rare for both genders.
More women than men attend church, but this is often for:
- Life events (baptisms, weddings, funerals)
- Holidays like Christmas and Easter
- Cultural or musical interest (e.g. Lucia celebrations)

3. "Spiritual but not Religious"

Swedish women are more likely than men to:
- Express belief in some kind of spiritual force or energy
- Engage in New Age or alternative spirituality (e.g., Reiki, astrology, healing crystals)

This parallels global trends where women, even in secular countries, are more likely to retain spiritual beliefs even when rejecting organized religion.

🧠 Psychological and Cultural Notes

In secular cultures like Sweden, gender differences are more visible in spirituality than formal religion.
Swedish women often score slightly higher in:
- Openness to experience
- Absorption (tendency toward intense imaginative engagement)
- Fantasy-proneness
- Use of spirituality as a coping mechanism

These traits correlate with greater spiritual engagement, even in a secular context.

🔍 Summary Table: Sweden vs. U.S.

Measure	Sweden – Women	Sweden – Men	U.S. – Women	U.S. – Men
Believe in God	~30–35%	~25%	~70%	~60%
Church attendance (monthly+)	~10–12%	~6–8%	~40%	~30%
Spiritual but not religious	Higher	Lower	Higher	Lower
Atheist/agnostic ID	Lower	Higher	Lower	Higher

🧭 Final Thought

In Sweden, secularism is dominant, but gender differences in spirituality persist, especially in non-traditional or alternative forms. Swedish men are more likely to be:

Atheists or agnostics
Interested in science and skeptical worldviews

Swedish women are more likely to:

Express belief in vague spiritual forces
Use rituals, astrology, or mindfulness practices for emotional support

Would you like a deeper look at Sweden's Church-state history, or gender patterns in New Age movements?

What about gender patterns in New Age movements?

Gender patterns in New Age movements show a clear and consistent trend: women are significantly more involved than men. This has been observed in multiple countries, including the U.S., Sweden, and across Europe.

🌟 Key Patterns: Women in New Age Spirituality

📈 1. Higher Participation Rates

Women make up 60–80% of participants in most New Age and alternative spiritual activities.
Examples include:
- Astrology
- Energy healing (e.g. Reiki, chakras)
- Tarot and oracle card reading
- Crystals and crystal healing
- Spirit guides, angels, past lives, and reincarnation
- Mindfulness, yoga, and wellness retreats

🧠 2. Psychological and Personality Traits

Women, on average, score higher in traits that correlate with New Age interest:

Trait	Description	Gender Difference
Absorption	Deep involvement in inner imagery, trance states	Higher in women
Fantasy-proneness	Vivid imagination, engagement with non-ordinary realities	Slightly higher in women
Empathy	Emotional attunement to others and the environment	Higher in women
Openness to experience	Receptivity to novel or unconventional ideas	Higher in women

These traits make New Age frameworks (which emphasize intuition, healing, emotional insight, and cosmic connectedness) especially attractive.

🌈 3. Themes That Resonate More with Women

New Age spirituality often emphasizes:

Healing and self-care
Intuition and feminine wisdom
Connection to nature and cycles (moon phases, seasons)
Non-hierarchical, inclusive approaches to the divine

The movement has become a space where many women find:

Empowerment outside patriarchal religious traditions
A blend of psychological support, identity exploration, and spiritual fulfillment

📚 Academic Observations

🔹 Sociologist Paul Heelas:

Argues that New Age is part of a “self-spirituality” movement.
Women tend to be more involved in inner work, emotional healing, and relational growth, which fits New Age models.

🔹 Linda Woodhead:

Notes that traditional religion often places women in submissive roles, while New Age spirituality often elevates the feminine.
Some women see it as a form of resistance or reclaiming female spiritual power.

👨 Why Are Fewer Men Involved?

Men are more likely to:

Be skeptical of non-empirical claims
Value hierarchical or doctrine-based systems (e.g. organized religion, science)
Avoid emotionally expressive or intuitive frameworks, due to cultural norms

Men who do join New Age groups may be more interested in:

Shamanism
Esotericism, occultism, or Gnosticism
Meditation and martial arts with spiritual components

🧘 Summary Table: Gender Patterns

Aspect	Women	Men
Participation in New Age activities	High	Low
Spiritual healing and energy work	Very common	Rare
Emotional/spiritual self-help books	Majority of readers	Minority
Interest in astrology, crystals, chakras	Strong	Weak
Interest in structured esotericism (e.g. Thelema, Gnosticism)	Lower	Higher
Role of intuition and emotional insight	Valued	Less emphasized

Would you like examples of gender-specific New Age communities or a breakdown by country (e.g., Sweden, U.K., U.S.)?