Thomas Tweed
@tomtweed.bsky.social
Historian of religion. Author of 9 books, including Religion: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford); and Religion in the Lands That Became America (Yale). https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300221480/religion-in-the-lands-that-became-ame
Climate alarmists were right. Many climate experts disputed Jem Bendell’s paper 8 years ago, which turned out so alarmingly accurate that his alarmist claims are now standard mainstream climate scientist’s views. Climate experts yet again refuse to adjust to the new extremely alarming conditions.
What If Climate Alarmists Were Right? Jem Bendell interviewed for MEER.org
YouTube video by Jem Bendell
youtu.be
Early American Literature: Issue 61.2 is out now. This new issue continues the Special Essay Stream: What does 1776 mean to early American literature studies in 2026? You can access the latest issue here: muse.jhu.edu/issue/57218 www.english.uga.edu/directory/pe... @pamphilia2.bsky.social
www.businessinsider.com/what-you-can... #AI #artificialintelligence
OpenAI says we're running out of time to act on cyber defense. Here's what you can actually do about it.
OpenAI warned AI is making cyber attacks ore sophisticated and widespread. Cybersecurity experts say there are steps you can take to protect yourself.
businessinsider.com
Two-year postdoc at Dartmouth in Religious Studies, specializing in South Asian Religions. Deadline: September 16, 2026
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Mini human brains are being grown in labs all over the world. Soon, they could outthink neural networks. www.wired.com/story/organo...
AI Is Dead. Organoids Are Alive
Mini human brains are being grown in labs all over the world. Soon, they could outthink neural networks.
wired.com
OPINION: (RNS) — Since Pope Leo XIV spoke against the mass detention of immigrants last year, the American Catholic hierarchy has begun to move in new ways. García-Siller's new pastoral letter accelerates that shift.
How grief made Archbishop García-Siller a prophetic voice on immigration
(RNS) — Since Pope Leo XIV spoke against the mass detention of immigrants last year, the American Catholic hierarchy has begun to move in new ways. García-Siller's new pastoral letter accelerates that shift.
religionnews.com
After decades apart, Silicon Valley and the Pentagon have reunited. Bernice Yeung, managing editor at UC Berkeley Journalism, traces the history of their relationship in her latest story for the Bulletin.
The last time the US produced income & wealth inequality at these levels was during the Gilded Age/Roaring 20s. Historians & social scientists identify two commonalities between a century ago & now: the overlapping influences of Christian nationalism & capitalism. kettering.org/economic-ine...
Economic Inequality: How Christian Nationalism Weakens Democracy
KF Research Fellow Andrew L. Whitehead traces the connection between Christian nationalism and growing economic inequality in the US. The implications are more than economic—they can lead to democrati...
kettering.org
Evangelical roundup for July 6, 2026: America 250 edition Today's roundup is devoted to evangelical reactions to the July 4th weekend: Robert Jeffress, speaking from a hotel room, wants Americans to vote, pray, and share the Gospel. He admits that abortion is increasing after the Dobbs decision.…
Evangelical roundup for July 6, 2026: America 250 edition
Today's roundup is devoted to evangelical reactions to the July 4th weekend: Robert Jeffress, speaking from a hotel room, wants Americans to vote, pray, and share the Gospel. He admits that abortion is increasing after the Dobbs decision. Also, I wonder how many prayers for Joe Biden. went up at First Baptist-Dallas: *** Disgraced Trump election fraud lawyer Jenna Ellis and radio host Steve Deace imagine what the 250th might look like if "the Marxists had won." Frankly, I don't remember a Marxist mounting a serious run for president in 2024.
thewayofimprovement.blog
LIVE NOW: His Holiness Pope Leo XIV receives the 38th annual Liberty Medal from National Constitution Center for his lifelong work promoting religious liberty and freedom of conscience and expression around the world. Watch now: https://ow.ly/YZ9G50ZjXQh
2026 Liberty Medal Ceremony Honoring Pope Leo XIV
On July 3, 2026, the eve of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the National Constitution Center will award the 38th annual Liberty M...
ow.ly
(RNS) — The advisory commission’s 224-page draft report includes some controversial recommendations.
Four key takeaways from Trump's Religious Liberty Commission Report
(RNS) — The advisory commission’s 224-page draft report includes some controversial recommendations.
religionnews.com
Nice to see this on the front page of my local paper from one of my grad school (informal) mentors, @tomtweed.bsky.social Original hearers of the Declaration would have understood its 4 generic references to “God” quite diversely, as today.
What the Declaration of Independence does – and doesn’t – say about God
Debates about religion’s role in America often circle back to the country’s founding documents.
theconversation.com
The Louisville Institute is now accepting applications for grants (up to $55K) and fellowships (up to $150,000) supporting work at the intersection of church and academy. Grants: louisville-institute.org/programs-gra... Fellowships: louisville-institute.org/programs-gra...
In the U.S., satisfaction with democracy declined from 37% in 2025 to 30% in 2026, primarily driven by Republicans growing less satisfied.
Just wrapped up a conference on religious freedom that kicked off w my disc w @benjaminepark.bsky.social —my q for him was when was LDS in favor of separation and church and when not? Here we are.
The Salt Lake Tribune@sltrib.com · 3mo agoThe LDS Church was left off the Department of Defense’s list of Christian religions.
(RNS) — The new list includes 31 recognized faiths, most of them Christian denominations.
Defense Department to drop atheists, pagans, 175 others from list of military faiths
(RNS) — The new list includes 31 recognized faiths, most of them Christian denominations.
religionnews.com
We are one week away from the 9th Biennial Conference on Religion & American Culture! Follow along next week, for an inside look at our panels. Learn more about our sessions and events: raac.indianapolis.iu.edu/programs/bie...
Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith said Americans should be given “permission to hate again” and called Islam a “demonic death cult” during a recent appearance on a conservative web talk show, the latest in a series of public... indianacitizen.org/lt-gov-beckw... #hoosiersky #religion
Lt. Gov. Beckwith says it’s wrong to ‘eradicate hate in our culture’ and calls Islam a ‘demonic death cult’ - THE INDIANA CITIZEN
By Sydney Byerly The Indiana Citizen May 28, 2026 Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith said Americans should be given “permission to hate again” and called Islam a “demonic death cult” during a recent…
indianacitizen.org
A very helpful warning about the *spiritual* effects of AI, an issue I tried to raise in the last chapter of Religion: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford UP, 2020). doi.org/10.1093/actr...
Religion: A Very Short Introduction
Abstract. Religion: A Very Short Introduction offers a concise and fair account of the vast topic of religion, incorporating insights from different schola
doi.org
Tech Policy Press@techpolicypress.bsky.social · 3mo agoWhat happens when AI starts reshaping spiritual life itself? Pope Leo XIV's encyclical named the material harms—labor, truth and warfare. Danielle A. Davis Canty argues the AI debate is still missing an important dimension.
Quoted in this great NPR piece by @ulabeast.bsky.social that places the Washington imagery in historical context, with more helpful context by @nbshrum34.bsky.social @yalepress.bsky.social @csraac.bsky.social @bradleyonishi.bsky.social #america250
NPR@npr.org · 3mo agoA painting of George Washington is being used by the Trump administration to argue the founders were devout Christians, but historians have doubts about whether the moment depicted actually happened. n.pr/4wIUdCu
A helpful preview of the forthcoming statement on AI by Pope Leo: @americamag.bsky.social @csail.mit.edu @knowentry.com @aarweb.bsky.social @ncronline.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
What we know about Pope Leo’s A.I. encyclical
Podcast Episode · Inside The Vatican · May 22 · 38m
podcasts.apple.com
Pope Leo XIV will personally present his first major teaching document on AI's ethical challenges alongside the co-founder of the AI research company that recently thrust into a public clash with the Trump administration.
Pope Leo to present his encyclical on AI alongside Anthropic co-founder
Pope Leo XIV will personally present his first major teaching document on AI's ethical challenges alongside the co-founder of the AI research company that recently thrust into a public clash with the ...
bit.ly
Thought it might help to repost this ahead of Sunday’s “Rededicate 250: National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving” in DC
Andrew Whitehead@andrew-whitehead.bsky.social · 4mo ago"Knowing what the declaration actually says, and how its first listeners reacted, might not sway Americans at the extremes. But it provides evidence for less polarizing, more nuanced views about the founding generation’s convictions and compromises." theconversation.com/what-the-dec...
Thought it might help to repost this ahead of Sunday’s “Rededicate 250: National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving” in DC
Andrew Whitehead@andrew-whitehead.bsky.social · 4mo ago"Knowing what the declaration actually says, and how its first listeners reacted, might not sway Americans at the extremes. But it provides evidence for less polarizing, more nuanced views about the founding generation’s convictions and compromises." theconversation.com/what-the-dec...
Gabi, a 4 ft high robot, has taken part in an ordination ceremony to become a Buddhist monk at a temple in South Korea. Wearing brown robes, bowing to monks, and praying with hands together, Gabi pledged: “Yes, I will devote myself”, and was given a rosary necklace as a sign of belonging.
Humanoid robot becomes Buddhist monk in South Korea
YouTube video by Reuters
youtu.be
Thanks to Grant Wacker for the kind words: “graced with luminous prose, staggering erudition, and uncompromised sophistication” @christiancentury.bsky.social @aschurchhistory.bsky.social @yalebooks.bsky.social @yalepress.bsky.social www.christiancentury.org/books/master...
A masterful survey of American religious history
Thomas Tweed offers a bold new benchmark for scholars, with an expansive scope across 11 millennia and far beyond...
christiancentury.org
