The boys are back in town; a return of men to the church

The boys are back in town; a return of men to the church

July 8, 2026 · 28 min · Season 8 · Episode 3

About this episode

The episode discusses the resurgence of male church attendance and explores cultural and political trends influencing this phenomenon.

After many years of decline, male church attendance appears to be on the up. It's official – the boys are back! In this episode, Katherine and Peter look at some of the high-profile men exploring Christianity and what is causing this trend as Christian footballers are casting their crowns, praying and worshipping before and after matches and celebrity converts are encouraging others to explore Christianity. Delving deeper into the cultural stories, they uncover the consumerist mindset around 'bolt-on' spirituality where the wellness world uses prayer alongside supplements and routines as a way to self-optimise. The conversation then shifts to political trends which sparks discussions about Christian nationalism and the rallies associated with Tommy Robinson. Show notes: 00:00 Expressions of faith in pop culture 00:55 Men Returning to Church 01:26 Supplements and tracking your existence 02:54 Footballers sharing faith 07:46 Wellness and self-optimisation 11:30 Self-help, discipline and Jordan Peterson's rules 14:04 Prayer as a life hack 15:23 Consumer church mindset 15:40 Young men and right-leaning politics 17:18 Defining Christian nationalism 18:31 Algorithmic influence 19:35…

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