Wyatt Graham

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The Church of Sweden Votes to Use Gender Neutral Language for God

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The Church of Sweden (AKA: The Evangelical Lutheran Church) voted on November 23rd, 2017 to use gender neutral pronouns to refer to God. On May 20th, 2018, the church’s decision will come into force  during Pentecost. The goal here is to modernize “its 31-year-old handbook setting out how services should be conducted.” Essentially, this will mean that priests will use, for example, the term God instead of he, choosing gender-neutral terms when possible.

Practically, the church’s decision means that priests will be allowed to say, “in the name of God and the Holy Trinity” instead of “in the name of the Father, son and Holy Spirit.” No longer is it neccesary to call God Father, Son, or Holy Ghost. [Read more…] about The Church of Sweden Votes to Use Gender Neutral Language for God

What Does LGBTQQIP2SAA Stand For?

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Over the last decade, a number of terms have arisen that aim to describe people who do not follow traditional patterns of sexuality and gender. The most common designation used is probably LGBT or LGBTQ. But other terms exist like: LGBT*, LGTBQ2, LGBTQI2S,  LGBTTIQQ2SA, and LGBTQQIP2SAA. If you are like me, you have probably struggled to understand what each of these letters stands for. So here’s a guide to help you to understand accurately what these terms mean. [Read more…] about What Does LGBTQQIP2SAA Stand For?

Pope Francis Wants to Modify the Lord’s Prayer

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Pope Francis wants to change the Lord’s Prayer to say “do not let us fall into temptation” instead of “lead us not into temptation” (Matthew 6:13; Luke 11:4.). Francis believes that the current translation (“lead us not into temptation”) “implies that God rather than Satan leads people into temptation.” The translation “do not let us fall into temptation,” according to him, conveys better that the idea that the Devil, not God, is the agent of temptation. The Daily Wire notes:

“A father doesn’t do that,” insists Pope Francis. “He helps you get up right away. What induces into temptation is Satan.” Francis suggests rewriting the final verse to read, “Do not let us fall into temptation” to better explain the role of Satan as tempter.

Is their biblical warrant in the Lord’s Prayer to translation the text in this way? [Read more…] about Pope Francis Wants to Modify the Lord’s Prayer

Can We Define Our Own Success?

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Can you we define our own success? Many certainly try. Some, for example, find success in wealth and prestige, while others find it in living the minimalistic life. In both cases, success is determined by us: either the culture who affirms that being “rich” equals success or by the subculture that argues that living minimalistically equals success.

But can success really be something that we define individually? [1]

How should we define success? Can we define it as individuals or should we let the broader collective of humanity define it? To my mind, stating the question this way creates a false dichotomy. [Read more…] about Can We Define Our Own Success?

Witchcraft Will Be Legal in Canada

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In years past, Canada outlawed witchcraft. Section 365 of the criminal code outlaws witchcraft related fraud, which includes when one:

(a) pretends to exercise or to use any kind of witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment or conjuration, (b) undertakes, for a consideration, to tell fortunes, or (c) pretends from his skill in or knowledge of an occult or crafty science to discover where or in what manner anything that is supposed to have been stolen or lost may be found, is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

So, this law means that anyone who pretends to use magic can be convicted as a criminal in Canada. One wonders why the jails were not full of teens who loved Harry Potter? After all, the law only outlaws those who pretend to practice witchcraft.

Recently, however, the justice department of Canada announced that it would “make the law more relevant in our modern society.” And this means legalizing witchcraft. So what does that mean for Canada? [Read more…] about Witchcraft Will Be Legal in Canada

The Forearm of Saint Francis Comes to Canada

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After nearly 500 years, the forearm of St. Francis Xavier is coming to Canada for the first time. The Archdiocese of Ottawa, the Jesuits in Canada, and Catholic Christian Outreach are working together to accomplish this feat, which will allow Canadians to go on a pilgrimage to see the saint’s arm. According to the Catholic Christian Outreach, they are expecting “three particular extraordinary graces in this pilgrimage.” The extraordinary graces are: “(1) conversion of souls; (2) the raising up of missionary disciples who are abandoned to God’s will; and (3) healing.”

To announce the relic, the Catholic Christian Outreach released a video, and announcer concludes by asking, “What graces do you think Saint Francis Xavier wants to bring for you, for Canada?”

My answer? Not one iota of grace.  [Read more…] about The Forearm of Saint Francis Comes to Canada