EP.12 The Masculine Formation Crisis: Why Young Men Are Checking Out with Dr. Anthony Bradley
Dating and Desire PodcastShow Notes
Dr. Anthony Bradley joins Bridgett and Lauren to talk about what's actually driving the crisis of young men - and why the church's standard diagnosis is wrong.Bradley traces the problem past porn and video games to a formation breakdown that started with the Industrial Revolution. When fathers left for factories and children left for schools, the developmental process that shaped boys into men for thousands of years simply stopped. The church didn't recover that ground. It replicated the separation with age-segregated ministries and accountability groups built on shame. The result is a generation of men who have checked out — not angry, just resigned. And they're not pursuing women for the same reason: they don't know who they are yet, and nobody told them they were ready. Bradley's prescription is intergenerational community and a church willing to speak identity over men instead of shame. Watch this episode on YouTube Connect with Dr. Anthony Bradley Instagram Substack His Books
Coming Up: Join Bridgett's RECLAIM Info Party on April 18th 🎉 You'll learn her most successful tool for processing sexual desire in real time Next Cohort- Starts May 9th
Want help applying this to your dating life? If something in this episode resonated with you, here are two ways to go deeper depending on what you need:
🩷 Work with Bridgett You don’t need more rules. You need a deeper understanding of your sexual desire.If you still feel confused about how to navigate dating without shutting down or crossing your boundaries, Bridgett helps you build sexual self-trust and honor your values → RECLAIM Cohort 📓 Free Guides and Ecourse → Instagram → Website
💙 Work with Lauren If you’re feeling unsure what to do next— whether that’s meeting people, choosing who to pursue, or trusting your judgment in dating, Lauren helps you move forward with clarity and confidence. → Book a Dating Clarity Call We’ll look at your specific situation and map out your next step. 📔 Get the free guide Dating Apps Don’t Have to Be Confusing → Instagram → Website -- Follow @datinganddesire on Instagram for updates and conversation: https://www.instagram.com/datinganddesire -- Topics covered in this episode: Christian dating, Christian men, male disengagement, formation crisis, masculinity and faith, intergenerational discipleship, men and the church, shame in church culture, men's ministry, accountability groups, attachment and addiction, father-son relationship, Industrial Revolution family, age-segregated ministry, marriage readiness, Christian marriage, dating and desire podcast, Anthony Bradley, self-resignation, video game addiction, single Christian men, Christian women dating, pursuing marriage, biblical marriage standards, married men success, church and young men, purity culture, identity in Christ, Christian podcast, faith and relationships
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