Sons of Patriarchy Non-Toxic Masculinity
May 13, 2025
Zachary Wagner, Director of Programs at the Center for Pastor Theologians and author of Non-Toxic Masculinity, dives deep into the complexities of masculinity and purity culture. He shares his personal struggles with marital issues rooted in church teachings and examines how purity culture dehumanizes both women and men. Wagner calls for a redefined masculinity grounded in gentleness and love, urging young men to model Christlike strength while providing encouragement for women to embrace their dignity. His insights challenge traditional church teachings and promote healthier relationships.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Personal Marriage Crisis Sparked Research
- Zachary Wagner described his personal marriage struggles after his wife's disclosure of childhood church-based sexual abuse and how purity culture failed them.
- This experience, combined with public evangelical scandals, catalyzed his research into broken masculinity.
Public Scandals Prompted a Wake-Up
- Wagner tied purity culture and high-profile evangelical scandals to public acts of sexualized violence after the Atlanta shootings.
- He wrote 'Broken Masculinity' to process the connection between fractured masculinity and abuse.
Purity Culture Distorts Biblical Purity
- Purity culture narrows biblical purity into sexual exceptionalism focused mainly on teens and abstinence.
- That narrowing turned sexual behavior into the chief marker of Christian identity for youth.
