Table Of ContentReligion, Spirituality, and Masculinity
Religion, Spirituality, and Masculinity provides concrete, practical suggestions
for mental health professionals. Drawing from decades of clinical experience
working with men and interdisciplinary insights from psychology, sociol-
ogy, religion, and more, the authors explore some of the most salient aspects
of men’s mental and spiritual health.
Chapters focus on topics such as men’s relationships to religion and to
masculinity, shame, and forgiveness, and concerns such as pornography use
and drifting between religious affiliations. In addition to relevant theory
and research, each chapter includes a case study and clear, science-informed
strategies that can be incorporated into everyday practice in ways that
improve men’s health and wellbeing.
Anthony Isacco, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and associate professor
in the graduate psychology program at Chatham University in Pittsburgh,
USA.
Jay C. Wade, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Bali,
Indonesia. He is a fellow and past president of APA Division 51, the Society
for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinities, and a former associ-
ate professor of psychology at Fordham University, USA.
The Routledge Series on Counseling and
Psychotherapy with Boys and Men
The Routledge Series on Counseling and Psychotherapy with Boys and
Men includes books devoted to the process of helping boys and men in
counseling and psychotherapy. Topics addressed include: counseling gay boys
and men; addictions counseling with boys and men; helping older men;
couples counseling with men; counseling gifted boys; assisting men with the
transition to fatherhood; helping men with emotional intimacy; counseling
boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; counseling boys and men
from different racial and ethnic backgrounds; and counseling aggressive boys.
Series Editor: Mark S. Kiselica, The College of New Jersey, USA
Men, Addiction, and Intimacy
Strengthening Recovery by Fostering the Emotional Development
of Boys and Men
Mark S. Woodford
Breaking Barriers in Counseling Men
Insights and Innovations
Edited by Aaron Rochlen and Fredric E. Rabinowitz
Counseling Widowers
Jason Troyer
Counseling Gay Men, Adolescents, and Boys
A Strengths-Based Guide for Helping Professionals and Educators
Edited by Michael M. Kocet
Religion, Spirituality, and Masculinity
New Insights for Counselors
Anthony Isacco and Jay C. Wade
For more information about this series, please visit: www.routledge.com/The-
Routledge-Series-on-Counseling-and-Psychotherapy-with-Boys-and-Men/
book-series/RSCPBM
Religion, Spirituality, and
Masculinity
New Insights for Counselors
Anthony Isacco and Jay C. Wade
First published 2019
by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
2019 Taylor & Francis
The right of Anthony Isacco and Jay C. Wade to be identified as
authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with
sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Isacco, Anthony, author. | Wade, Jay C., author.
Title: Religion, spirituality, and masculinity : new insights for
counselors / Anthony Isacco and Jay C. Wade.
Description: New York : Routledge, 2019. | Series: The Routledge
series on counseling and psychotherapy with boys and men |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018059780 (print) | LCCN 2019004100
(ebook) | ISBN 9781315231488 (eBook) | ISBN
9781138280762 (hardback) | ISBN 9781138280779 (pbk.)
Subjects: LCSH: Men—Psychology. | Masculinity—Religious
aspects.
Classification: LCC BF692.5 (ebook) | LCC BF692.5 .I73 2019
(print) | DDC 155.3/32—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018059780
ISBN: 978-1-138-28076-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-28077-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-23148-8 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo
by Swales & Willis, Exeter, Devon, UK
I would like to dedicate this book to the women in my
life that make me a better man, Celeste, Sophia, Claire,
Gianna, and Monica.
– Anthony
I would like to dedicate this book to my parents, Jean and
J.C.
– Jay
Contents
List of Figures viii
List of Tables ix
About the Authors x
Series Editor’s Foreword xi
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction 1
1 How Do Men Use Religion? 12
2 How Do Men Use Masculinity? 38
3 Men and Their Relationship with God 55
4 Pray and Go to Church? 77
5 Men’s Shame 105
6 Men and Forgiveness 120
7 Pornography Use and Spiritual Issues with Men 140
8 Gay Men and Religion 168
9 Religious Drifters 189
10 Creating More Positive Pathways That Improve
Men’s Health 201
Index 210
Figures
10.1 Religiosity/spirituality is related to men’s health due to
masculinity ideology 201
10.2 Masculinity ideology is related to men’s health due
to religiosity/spirituality 202
10.3 Religiosity/spirituality and masculinity ideology are
related to men’s health, but religiosity/spirituality
is also related to men’s health due to masculinity ideology 202
10.4 Religiosity/spirituality affects both masculinity
ideology and men’s health. Therefore, masculinity
and men’s health are related 202
10.5 Religiosity/spirituality affects the strength of the
relationship between masculinity ideology
and men’s health 203
10.6 Religiosity/spirituality interacts with masculinity
ideology to affect men’s health 203
Tables
1.1 Assessment Areas and Methods 29
3.1 Assessments for God Concept, God Image, God
Attachment, and Relationship with God 73
4.1 Overview of Prayer, Religious Attendance, and
Sacred Reading in World Religions 98
4.2 Assessments Used for Prayer and Church Attendance 101
6.1 Forgiveness Assessment Tools 135
6.2 Masculinity Ideology Assessment Tools 136
7.1 Terms and Definitions 161
7.2 Assessments Related to Problematic Pornography
Consumption 163
7.3 Assessing Centerfold Syndrome 164
