Why Young Men Are Drawn to the Manosphere
- Krista Bontrager
- Oct 3
- 5 min read
Join Monique and Krista as they explore the growing influence of the manosphere and figures like Andrew Tate on young men, with guest Will Spencer. This episode dives into the crisis of fatherlessness and terms like "longhouse" and "trash world" that shape online ideologies. Learn why young men are drawn to these voices, how the church can respond biblically, and practical ways parents and pastors can mentor the next generation toward godly manhood. Tune in for a powerful discussion on reclaiming purpose, meaning, and belonging in a fractured culture.
On tonight’s episode, we introduced our audience to Will Spencer, host of the Will Spencer Podcast. The focus of our discussion was the phenomenon known as the "manosphere," a largely online movement focused on masculine personal development.
Highlights from the discussion are below:
Q. Please introduce yourself to our audience and make sure to tell us how you became involved in the “manosphere” (also called the red pill community or new right). What drew you in and kept you there? And, eventually, what made you leave?
Will introduces himself as the host of the Will Spencer Podcast. He grew up in a non-Christian household and spent 20 years in new age/occult spirituality and the manosphere (men's movement). This exposed him to ideas about history, masculinity, and society. He entered Christianity in 2020, experienced sanctification, and confronted his prior beliefs biblically. In 2022, after sharing these ideas on his podcast, he was corrected, repented, and shifted his views. He documented his journey in articles, noting it resonates with many young men.
Q. Have you noticed tension between the online manosphere and the real world? What does the average mom need to know about this?
Yes, moms absolutely need to know about it, as sons seek wisdom from non-father figures like influencers who exploit bitterness for profit and politics. He links this to a generational crisis of fatherlessness since the mid-20th century, where society has displaced and despised fathers. Boys without fathers seek substitutes online. Mothers may contribute through choices leading to fatherless homes, requiring societal reckoning.
Q. So, what I hear you saying is that the manosphere is largely men who are looking to get perhaps a need met, due to so many young men who are growing up without fathers in their home…is this correct?
Correct. The manosphere stems from the 1980s men's movement (e.g., Robert Bly's book), but Andrew Tate exploited it ruthlessly in recent years. Tate didn't create the phenomenon but capitalized on validated needs, like Jordan Peterson did earlier (validating father hunger). Young men are drawn by purpose (higher calling), meaning (understanding life's events), and belonging (team effort). These were once provided by families and churches but are now sought online due to societal vacuums.
Q. Why are we seeing this in the church? Doesn't the church have a position of wanting to raise up and disciple our sons? Or are you bringing the church in too, saying we missed the mark?
Absolutely, the American evangelical church failed hardest by softening on fathers, marriage, discipline, and gospel truth to align with cultural tides. It should have been a bulwark; quit allowing pagan influencers (e.g., Tate, a pagan; Peterson, non-Christian) to fill the void. Some faithful ministers resisted but were shamed as fundamentalists.
Q. Let's go back to your provocative statement about how mothers have contributed to this. Are you referring more specifically to mothers who intentionally have children out of wedlock and the rise of no fault divorce rates?
Both, plus more. The sexual revolution celebrated premarital sex, leading to dad-deprived children. No-fault divorce (since the 1970s) allows women to end marriages for lack of fulfillment, with custody often going to mothers, creating fatherless kids. Additionally, wives who don't respect/submit to husbands (e.g., contentious wives per Scripture) force men to suppress themselves, reducing their presence. All create vulnerabilities to manosphere influencers.
Q. Who do you see on the Christian side that is reaching these young men? Who are speaking to these young men in either a healthy way or not a healthy way?
Healthy: Michael Foster (focuses on righteous responsibility) and Voddie Baucham (emphasized legacy and community). Unhealthy: Bitterness is a red flag—listen for content that stirs persistent anger/blame vs. guiding toward righteousness. Anger can motivate briefly but leads to destruction if sustained. Avoid 24/7 bitterness; seek balanced perspectives.
Q. Do you think some of this bitterness is due in part to DEI policies that seem to have rigged the system against white men?
Yes, it's real. Society has been rigged against white men (e.g., college admissions biases since the 1990s). But Christians must respond biblically—anger is natural to injustice, but use it for sanctification, not bitterness/violence. Submit to God's will for freedom, then act rightly (e.g., Christ's submission to crucifixion).
Q. Can you explain the concepts of the long house and the idea of trash world?
Long house: A society driven by female sensibilities (inclusion, no hurt feelings), shaming male norms (justice, confrontation) as oppressive (e.g., "mansplaining," "man spreading"). Trash world: Post-mid-20th-century decay where everything (goods, families, relationships, media) is disposable, shallow, and consumerist, lacking depth.
Q. If I saw the world through that lens, I can see how that would kind of lead to a mindset of depression and feeling like men’s culture is being trashed or erased. Is that part of the dynamic?"
Yes, legitimate for young men (e.g., female-dominated education/media/politics; inflation eroding affordability). They feel alienated, making them susceptible to exploitation. But this isn't just white men—it's cross-cultural (e.g., black men via archetypes like "James and Tyrone"; Asian men adopting other cultures). Father famine affects all.
Q. What would be some of your suggestions about how we begin to talk to our young men about these issues? What kind of interventions or conversations do we need to be having?"
At church level: Reject Darwinism and feminism. At individual level: Ask about father relationships to identify gaps; guide toward forgiveness/honor (5th Commandment) despite trauma culture. Pastors must invest time shepherding. Build men's groups with physical activity first (e.g., hikes, projects), then doctrine/emotions. Fathers: Involve sons in tasks side-by-side. Churches: Invite fatherless boys; create togetherness to crowd out seductive influencers like Tate.
Q. Christian men are going to have to figure out some ways to build culture. Young men need a calling. They need a purpose, correct?
Yes—avoid intellectual/emotional ditches in men's groups; prioritize activity (e.g., retreats with workouts). For fathers/sons: Learn/do projects together. Men converse non-verbally first (e.g., fishing in silence). This is wartime for young men's souls—fill space with real community to counter Tate's flashiness. Warn of Tate's true nature (e.g., violence footage).
Resources:
Check out Will's article from Christ Over All: https://christoverall.com/article/longform/the-dangerous-secret-your-young-men-are-keeping-neo-nazi-thought-has-entered-the-church/
Books:
Fault Lines by Voddie Baucham: https://www.amazon.com/Fault-Lines-Movement-Evangelicalisms-Catastrophe/dp/1684513286/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title
The Toxic War on Masculinity by Nancy Pearcey: https://www.amazon.com/Toxic-War-Masculinity-Christianity-Reconciles/dp/0801075734/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title
Upcoming events:
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Connect with the Guest:
Check out Will Spencer's website to follow his podcast and subscribe to his newsletter: https://www.willspencer.co/
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