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Wyatt Graham

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What We’ve Lost by Over-sexualizing Male Friendship

January 9, 2021 by wagraham 3 Comments

pen on paper

One-hundred years ago, men customarily wrote each other letters, used words of affection for one another, and even slept in the same bed while travelling. No one would have even suggested anything by these actions but male friendship. In fact, in some churches, friends would publicly vow before the church to befriend one another. Now, however, most of these actions seem overly sexual and men avoid them. But in so doing, it seems that something has been lost, namely, the ability for intimate male friendship. David and Jonathan loved each other, hugged, and wept with each other. John laid upon the bosom of Jesus during the Last Supper. This is what friends did. Not so today. 

Of course, the way in which we show friendship changes over time. I do not think we have to somehow go back to 18th century standards of friendship! Rather, here I want to discuss very briefly the effect of an overly-sexualized view of male affection. That is: men used to freely show love and kindness to one another because that is what friends did. Today, that openness seems utterly lost because it seems to mark a sexual advance.  [Read more…] about What We’ve Lost by Over-sexualizing Male Friendship

Filed Under: Culture Tagged With: friendship

Why Reflect on Creation? Answer: Because God Made Everything to Reflect Himself

November 4, 2020 by wagraham 2 Comments

Why reflect on creation? Answer: because God made everything to reflect himself—and he is our beatitude. So pursue medicine, arts, nature, and crafts for the sake of happiness, eudaimonia, makarios, or whatever term you prefer.

Human culture can cultivate the goodness of creation which itself shares in the goodness of God. Or it can vitiate what is good and descend into non-being. 

One promises beatitude; the other non-being. 

So build well. Love what you create. Enjoy God’s gifts.

[Read more…] about Why Reflect on Creation? Answer: Because God Made Everything to Reflect Himself

Filed Under: Culture Tagged With: Virtue Ethics

The Responses to John Piper’s Article Reveal Three Deeper Conflicts than Mere Politics

October 27, 2020 by wagraham 3 Comments

John Piper’s recent explanation for why he chose to write-in his vote rather than choose one of the two main presidential candidates has resulted in a whole host of responses. Some partially seem to misunderstand Piper, while others have expressed well-reasoned counter-arguments.

In today’s politically charged climate, I think we can appreciate the differences of opinions. That said, I am not here interested in defining who Americans should vote for. I am entirely interested in pursuing the question of why Christians have agreed or disagreed with Piper. I think the answer to that question reveals quite a surprising set of undergirding differences.

The responses to John Piper’s article reveal deeper oppositions of:  

1. Utilitarian consequentialism and virtue ethics (which one takes priority)
2. Pietism and theonomistic reasoning (of a sort)
3. Metaphysics/real natures and nominalism

In this article, I want to briefly explain what I mean and why it matters. [Read more…] about The Responses to John Piper’s Article Reveal Three Deeper Conflicts than Mere Politics

Filed Under: Culture, Life Tagged With: anthropology, Politics, Virtue Ethics

Did John Piper Wrongly Compare the Sins of the Left with the Sins of the Right?

October 23, 2020 by wagraham 2 Comments

pen on paper

John Piper recently explained that he will not vote for an egregiously immoral leader. Of the two main political parties in the USA, he finds neither presidential candidate viable. So he has decided to write-in his vote. 

Some however disagreed with his approach because they felt that the pro-choice actions of democrats amount to much greater evil than the arrogance and deceit of the republican president. The accusation amounts to this: Piper compares apples to oranges or equivocates on the seriousness of sin. 

He does not. The objection betrays a misunderstanding of what sin is and does. It further implicitly undercuts the metaphysical reality of sin. If that sounds too abstract, it is not. Let me explain in order to make this response concrete. [Read more…] about Did John Piper Wrongly Compare the Sins of the Left with the Sins of the Right?

Filed Under: Culture, Life Tagged With: Politics, sin

Episode 15: Colin Redemer on the Crisis in Modern Education

September 23, 2020 by wagraham Leave a Comment

Colin Redemer and Wyatt Graham talk about modern education. We also talk about the Davenant Hall, a project that Colin has been working on.

Make sure to subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and/or Apple Podcasts. Also, see the host page at Anchor. And bookmark this page to see every episode. [Read more…] about Episode 15: Colin Redemer on the Crisis in Modern Education

Filed Under: Culture, Podcast Tagged With: Education

Why Do So Many People Listen to Jordan Peterson?

August 30, 2020 by wagraham 6 Comments

Jordan Peterson has left the cultural space that he had inhabited for years. Suffering from a physical dependency to benzodiazepine and most recently coronavirus, he has understandably receded from the limelight. 

Yet many have felt his absence—something difficult to achieve unless his presence had already made a deep impression on the souls of many. Evidence of this statement follows from a simple Google search for “Jordan Peterson” and the news articles that result from the query or from social media.

While some readers may have immediately made up their mind at this point about the article and Peterson himself since he represents (according to some) extreme-right views or some other unfavourable position, I would ask you to pause. I am not here to talk about Jordan Peterson nor to analyze his way of being in the world. 

I want to talk about why so many people have listened to Jordan Peterson and why his absence has made an impression on so many. While Peterson undoubtedly knows how to speak to hearts, I do not think that alone explains why he affects so many people. The answer is more fundamental.  

What he supplies, people feel that they need. [Read more…] about Why Do So Many People Listen to Jordan Peterson?

Filed Under: Culture Tagged With: Death

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Wyatt is the Executive Director of The Gospel Coalition Canada. He enjoys his family and writing. You'll generally find him hiding away somewhere with his nose in a book.

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