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Throughout history, we have exalted and theologised about men like Adam or David to the point where we have become oblivious to the fact that they are far from perfect role models for Christian manhood. Failing to read scripture properly, we have used it to shape a distorted understanding of masculinity. Stretching from issues of violence, emotional and sexual abuse, the desire for power, homophobia, and the suppression of emotions, Will Moore draws from scholarship, personal stories, and popular culture to offer an honest and accessible insight into the toxic myths which frame how we read scripture. Only when we expose these myths, he argues, can we start to see the authentic men staring straight back at us from the pages of our bibles, and be able to reshape the way in which we produce Christian men today, tackling the violence that is being done by men to themselves and others.
Will Moore is currently training for priesthood in the Church of England at Westcott House in Cambridge, undertaking study and research within the Cambridge Theological Federation. Prior to this, he studied for degrees in theology and biblical studies at Cardiff University.
[Details correct for the time of publication. Since then, Will publishes as Will Rose-Moore. See most recent publications here.]
Endorsements:
“The cult of masculinity in certain parts of the global church has resulted in much personal, familial and structural harm. Will […] is one of the important voices in the emerging generation of British pastor theologians. For both of these reasons, the argument he presents in this his first book, Boys Will Be Boys, deserves careful attention and a wide audience.”
— Helen Paynter, Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence, Bristol.
“In this open, accessible book, Will […] aims to shed light on the ways in which portrayals of men in the Bible have fed into accounts of masculinity in present-day church and society. Rich with examples from contemporary media and recent events, the book does not assume familiarity with scholarly literature in either biblical studies or critical masculinity studies, and will thus be of service to readers newer to these areas. [Will’s] self-reflexive openness to change and challenge invites the same of those who read his work.”
— Susannah Cornwall, Professor of Constructive Theologies, University of Exeter.
“This is a deeply personal and honest piece of theological work engaging with voices from the Hebrew Prophets to Womanist Scholars, to Christian Rappers such as Guvna B! What Will […] has done with success is draw our attention to masculinity, and it is this attention that is the beginning of what will set men, and all people free. Calling us to be attentive to our own complicity in violence and power, our reluctance to intimacy, gentleness and openness as men, Will […] enables us to plumb the depths of masculinity, and to do so with an attentiveness both to ourselves and to our God. A much needed piece of writing!”
— Jarel Robinson-Brown, Author of Black, Gay, British, Christian, Queer: The Church and the Famine of Grace.
Reviews since publication:
“‘[Will’s] debunking of the myth of ‘biblical masculinity’ and uncovering of a wealth of masculinities in the biblical library is such a helpful resource, for students, for Christians – among the many things I admire in this book is how [Will] managed to break down quite theoretic discussions to make them fruitful for a broader audience.” – from Hanna Reichel, Associate Professor of Reformed Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA (2023).
“This will be illuminating for those who find it inconceivable that anyone should or could find resources in the way the author so expertly critiques, with apt indications of the result – ‘Men are built better’, ‘Men on top’, ‘Violence is manly’, ‘Men know best’ […] but also edges the reader to have the confidence that ‘gender should not matter to us, because the way we act out our performative gender does not matter to God’ (p. 155).” – from a review by Professor Ann Loades in Theology 126.2 (2023).
“[Will] gives fresh eyes to see what you may not have seen before. […] I recommend this book as a helpful resource in exploring a more biblical masculinity and a timely reminder that – in Will’s own words – ‘we cannot use the Bible as an instruction manual on gender.’ I enter the caveat that you will not agree with him on everything – you may even be offended at times! But it’s well worth a read.” – from a review by Steve Moses, from All Saints Loughborough Book Club (2023).
“ […] this is a fundamental book on the path of deconstruction of hegemonic masculinity in which many men are committed […] where there is still more good will than significant progress. The bravery and honesty with which [Will] approaches the burning issues of our time, with fidelity to the tradition of faith in which he has been forged as a person, makes more sense to interpret the conclusion as one of the best parts of the book thanks to its pastoral, personal and close tone.” – from a review by the Programme of Masculinities for Revista de Interpretación Bíblica Latinoamericana (RIBLA), 91 (2023). [Translated from original Spanish.]
“Accessible, biblically inspired and personally reflexive, Boys Will be Boys ticks all the boxes of effective practical theology.” – from a review by Alison Webster in Modern Believing 65.4 (2024).
“Boys Will Be Boys is a call to rewrite the narratives of Christian masculinity. [Will] invites his readers, both men and women, to rethink what it means to be a man within the Christian faith, not by following the myths inherited from a patriarchal past, but by rediscovering the deeper and richer truths present in the biblical texts. […] Will [..]’s book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the theological roots of toxic masculinity and contribute to creating a more just and inclusive future. It is a book that does not just expose the problems, but offers concrete paths for a renewed and liberating Christian masculinity” – from a review by Francois Doyon for Présence – Religious information (2024). [Translated from original French.]
“Will’s book […] offers an accessible and engaging introduction to biblical masculinities.” – from Robert Beckford and Rachel Starr in Behold the Men: An Introduction to Critical Theologies of Masculinities (SCM Press, 2025), p. 51.
“Boys Will Be Boys, and Other Myths is impressively reflective and candid. It makes a clean break with the normal academic practice of hiding identity and experiences, even when these are obviously informing the perspectives advanced. Readers will be brought to see biblical figures whom they thought they knew in a new light and thereby to reconsider their own attitudes.” – from David Grummett, Senior Lecturer in Theology and Ethics at the University of Edinburgh (2025).
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Will Rose-Moore 