Why Men from the Church of Christ
This study focuses exclusively on men from the Church of Christ for two reasons.
FIRST, our beliefs in the sanctity of marriage, the importance of sexual fidelity, and our teachings against divorce can precipitate feelings of a religious crisis and emotional distress in response to this sexual experience. Since men from the Church of Christ do not see an affair or divorce as an easy option for solving our troubling feelings, the likelihood of finding men who feel distress for six months or longer is much higher by talking to religiously conservative men.
SECOND, as the project researcher, I am a long-time member of the Church of Christ. As such, I understand the spiritual pressure of this experience and the long-term risks it poses to a man’s standing in the church, within his family, and to his relationship with God. In addition, I understand the meaning behind Biblical and historical references and certain words men from the Church of Christ use to describe this experience.
Over the past 30 years, I’ve known many Christian men who have acknowledged not having sex with their wives.
Typically men raise the issue as part of joking with me, but the topic is always tinged with subtle anxiety and an indirect inquiry if I might be having the same experience. So, this study focuses on men from the Church of Christ because I personally care about helping my brothers who are struggling with this troubling experience and because I know I can rely on my brothers to participate out of compassion for other men. Click the Researcher button for more information about me and my reasons for conducting this research.