John Lee Wagas
Writer / Chaplain / Nerd
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Within our hearts is a longing for something, a desire to find that missing puzzle piece and fix it into place. It’s not likely that we already know what it is. If we do, we may occasionally have moments where we question if it truly is the fulfillment of our longing. However identifiable or indescribable…
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It is said that people who refuse to recognize the flaws in something are wearing rose-tinted glasses—willingly and consciously denying an aspect of reality and choosing to stick with their own version of current affairs. Maybe they hate to see something they hold dear unravel before their very eyes. Or maybe it’s the belief that…
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Often the Middle Ages are distilled to a handful of elements—castles, feudalism, monarchy, religion, and folklore. But as with any historical period, dominant perspectives and popular culture shape how we view, understand, and engage with the past. The Middle Ages is no different, but we must take this into further consideration when seeking to find…
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“Puhon, anak. Say ‘puhon.’” It was my dad more than my mom who reminded me of this. Funny enough, my dad’s native tounge was Tagalog; it was my mom who taught him Bisaya. Yet she would never be the one to remind me—part of me always wondered why. But what mattered more to me was…
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To some, theology is a specter, an ivory tower, or a weathered cage. It either haunts, demeans, or confines. And I don’t blame people who think of theology this way. Far too often, theology is presented in the public square as something that is either lofty or bigoted—as problematic or irrelevant. I believe that this…
“When love chooses, it chooses with a perfect sensitivity for the unique beauty of the chosen one, and it chooses without making anyone else feel excluded.”
— Henri Nouwen, The Life of the Beloved
10th
May ’22
Philosophy & Religion
Truly God, Truly Man: An Application of the Yin-Yang and Hegelian Models to the Christological Theories of Chalcedon and Monophysitism
An examination of the Yin-yang and Hegelian dialectic models followed by an exploration of their relation to the contrasting Christological approaches of Chalcedon and Monophysitism from early patristic Christianity.
8th
Dec ’23
Religion & Theology
Radical, Ravishing, Holy Love: Eroticism, God, and Divine Love in Christian Mysticism
A contextualization of the erotic and sexual ethics in the broad Christian tradition paired with an examination of erotic spirituality in Christian mysticism through the medieval monastic figures Bernard of Clairvaux and Teresa of Avila.
7th
July ’23
Religion & Theology
Bridging Divinity & Humanity: Personhood in Eastern Orthodox Theology
Drawing from the works of numerous contemporary theologians in order to analyze Eastern Othrodoxy’s approach to personhood, particularly regarding the subjects of relationship, identity, and purpose.
2025
March 17
Earth & Altar
From the Shire to the Altar
In this article reflecting on the eucharist, .
Between the vibrant hardcover spines bearing the names of familiar authors and the thick binders of my teacher’s lesson plans lay an unassuming black paperback. Its title, The Hobbit, rendered in a humble typeface, seemed almost hidden amid the vivid hues of nearby books. I was in third grade then, entranced by stories of time travel and talking animals penned by Mary Pope Osborne and Lemony Snicket…: You’re Not Alone2023
October 26
Spartan Media Group
Faculty focus on human connection
This article from my time as an undergraduate at San Jose State University.
Religious studies senior John Wagas is currently enrolled in Zárate’s Middle Eastern Traditions asynchronous course. “For me, at the heart of it, is engaging in religious conversation in the first place,” Wagas said…: You’re Not Alone
John Lee Wagas 