Though I haven't read the whole book, "Why Men Hate Going to Church" raises an important issue. Namely, men have disappeared from our churches. Women outnumber men in the general population anyway (50.7% according to the US Census website), but the percent of women in church membership (estimated at 60%) is far more. The author of the book suggests it's all about the feminization of the church. It makes for an interesting argument, but I don't want to go too deep into that. What I'm really interested in is whether the concept of "love" is gender specific?
The scriptures use the term "love" quite often. There are extremes to how it is used. In the Song of Solomon, the love is certainly the emotional love of a newlywed couple. It is intimate, raw and sexual. It is also tender and precious. It is the emotional love of romance. While the emotional side of love is not reserved to women alone, there's a good reason why romantic movies are often referred to as "chick flicks."
Jesus talks about love in this way, "This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends." That doesn't sound like emotion. That sounds like something you would find in a war movie (traditionally "guy" movies.)
So, is love feminine or masculine? I'll go with "yes."
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