Really enjoyed reading this conversation between @mccraryc.bsky.social @tisawenger.bsky.social @wheatleyjt.bsky.social and Sonia Hazard. I've loved what I've read of Wheatley and Wenger's books; can't wait to dig into Hazard's. tif.ssrc.org/2026/07/15/b...

Bloody metaphysics: three new books on the 19th century

Charlie McCrary: One reason I wanted to bring you three and your books into conversation is that they are all […]

tif.ssrc.org

I thought with this book by Finbarr Curtis a lot, both while writing this review and in the months since. Can’t stop thinking about it, TBH. Great book; recommended! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

Mourning Sonny Rollins (RIP), but also celebrating Miles Davis, who would have been 100 today.

“That’s where billionaires like yourself come in. For a mere $10 million gift, you can help us remake the intellectual landscape by endowing a prestigious chair in an underrepresented subfield, such as geocentric astronomy, high-energy phlogiston physics, or patriotic history.“ 😂

Katie Hinde@mammalssuck.bsky.social · 3mo ago

"For too long, the university has ignored the wisdom of the donor class and hired based on academic excellence. Regrettably, this has led to the underrepresentation of discredited viewpoints in elite higher education." www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/wer...

Thrilled that we can finally share this great news! So proud of Dr. Sokolow’s excellent work so far, and so excited to see what this next chapter brings.

Penn Religious Studies@upennrels.bsky.social · 4mo ago

The Graduate Group in Religious Studies is pleased to announce that Dr. Kirby Sokolow has received a prestigious Engaged Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Syracuse University Humanities Center! rels.sas.upenn.edu/news/2026/04... Congratulations, Dr. Sokolow!

This is very well done.

Kevin M. Kruse@kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Last night I gave a talk at the Princeton Adult School on the legacies of the civil rights movement and the links to our world today. Just posted it on CAMPAIGN TRAILS:

There's a new Dr. in the house! Dr. Sokolow's dissertation is a sophisticated reframing of the history of Buddhism in the US, a novel take on prison religion, and a compelling investigation of intersections between race, religion, and governance in the contemporary US. Stay tuned for the book!

Penn Religious Studies@upennrels.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Congratulations to Dr. Kirby Sokolow, who successfully defended her dissertation "Buddhism Behind Bars: Transforming Race, Religion, and Power" this afternoon! rels.sas.upenn.edu/news/2026/04... Prof. Jolyon Thomas (supervisor), Dr. Kirby Sokolow, Prof. Donovan Schaefer (Graduate Chair)

Looks like today is a good day to remember my 2025 Halloween costume.

Jolyon Thomas@jolyonbt.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been all about DIY Halloween costumes that are both dark and goofy. This year I went as the space shuttle Challenger, in a tip of the hat to one of the more horrifying public memory events of my childhood. 🎃

www.theguardian.com/news/2026/ma...

AI got the blame for the Iran school bombing. The truth is far more worrying

LLMs-gone-rogue dominated coverage, but had nothing to do with the targeting. Instead, it was choices made by human beings, over many years, that gave us this atrocity

theguardian.com

“Everyone thinks universities have to do what donors want because they pay the bills. But that gets it backward, and not just at Hopkins.” I highly recommend reading this piece. www.publicbooks.org/the-misuses-...

The Misuses of the University - Public Books

Have the funds that might have trained the next generation of scholars at the nation’s first research university have been blown on ostentatious new buildings?

publicbooks.org

Happy #Caturday 😸

While MLPS was a victory, moral and tangibly, for ICE resisters, don't call it 'a retreat.' The dystopia is just getting started Thousands of new agents. 150 new offices in every state. And the nationwide gulag archipelago. The fight has just begun My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-...

No, ICE isn’t ‘retreating.’ It’s loading up to invade your town. | Will Bunch

A much-hyped ICE pullback from Minneapolis is a blip in a looming nationwide surge of arrests, concentration camps.

inquirer.com

U.S.-based humanities scholars should probably read the Atlantic's Mellon article. I'm not saying you should like it or agree with it (and please, laugh with me at some of the flippant "I-def-got-rejected-by-Mellon" vibes). But this is part of the debate / perception now archive.ph/202602122209...

Now listening.

Japan researchers, take note!

NCC (北米日本研究資料調整協議会)@nccjapaninfo.bsky.social · 6mo ago

The National Diet Library is exploring the possibility of extending its Digitized Transmission Service for Individuals (DCTI) to those residing outside of Japan. To understand potential demand, the NDL and CULCON have created a survey. Deadline for responses 3/31! forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

🎁 share.inquirer.com/LrtoM5

Here are the signs the Trump administration removed from Independence Park

Following last year’s review, every sign has been removed from the President’s House site.

share.inquirer.com

“Just following orders.” share.inquirer.com/QpbN8X

The slavery exhibits at the President’s House have been removed following Trump administration push

President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered content at national parks that “inappropriately disparage” the U.S. to be reviewed and potentially removed.

share.inquirer.com

I learned so much from reading this paper! It complicates a commonplace claim about unique zones of vulnerability to hazards while still offering an alternative vision of justice and care. Recommended for people thinking about environmental harms, environmental justice, and disability.

Kimberley Thomas@kimanh.bsky.social · 7mo ago

“Sacrifice zone” has become a powerful label for naming unequal burdens of toxic contamination, too often located in and near marginalized communities. The problem is that naming polluted places as “zones” implies toxic containment when PFAS, dioxins, etc easily move thru air, water, and soil.

Starting the year off with an ab workout thanks to LOLing at this string of zingers. Just ruthless.

Kevin M. Kruse@kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Yeah, man, the only difference between your career and Mark Rufallo’s career is the political stuff.

This story was both exactly what I thought it was based on the title and nothing like what I expected. Recommended! www.bostonreview.net/articles/a-b...

A Brief History of AI Psychosis - Boston Review

A short story.

bostonreview.net

A pleasure to talk about our edited volume with Raditya for this recent podcast!

Matthew McMullen@mcmullen.bsky.social · 7mo ago

I recorded a podcast with @jolyonbt.bsky.social a couple weeks ago for @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social hosted by @radityanuradi.bsky.social about The New Nanzan Guide. Listen here:

Not to pick on the author of this piece, who did important journalistic work with a range of relevant parties, but the assumption that doctrine is anterior to political stances is so flawed. 1/? www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...

The dangerous rise of Buddhist extremism: ‘Attaining nirvana can wait’

The long read: Still largely viewed as a peaceful philosophy, across much of south-east Asia, the religion has been weaponised to serve nationalist goals

theguardian.com

this is mesmerizing

My favorite piece of content today.

I love that type of energy that's like, "Every now & then I just gotta pop back out & remind y'all I'm one of the baddest people walking." This Erykah Badu did that.

Erykah Badu - ...& On (LIVE) | Spotify Anniversary

YouTube video by Erykah Badu

youtube.com

It was a privilege to contribute to this forum in Religious Studies Review on Leslie Ribovich's book _Without a Prayer: Religion and Race in New York City Public Schools_. Exciting conversations in the field of religion and education are afoot! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17480922...

Great write-up about Kirby Sokolow's research on Buddhist programs in US prisons. omnia.sas.upenn.edu/story/prison...

Buddhism Behind Bars

Kirby Sokolow, a seventh-year PhD candidate in the Religious Studies Department, wants to challenge stereotypes around incarceration and religion.

omnia.sas.upenn.edu

Public lecture on "The Religion of Anime" Coming up on Wednesday! Still time to register for those who are interested. usjetaa.wildapricot.org/event-6396204

ICYMI

Jolyon Thomas@jolyonbt.bsky.social · 9mo ago

I'm delivering a public lecture and leading a roundtable discussion on the religion of anime on Nov. 12 at 7:00 PM ET. Flyer with registration information below. This is hosted by the US JET Alumni Association, but is open to the public for a small fee. usjetaa.wildapricot.org/event-6396204

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been all about DIY Halloween costumes that are both dark and goofy. This year I went as the space shuttle Challenger, in a tip of the hat to one of the more horrifying public memory events of my childhood. 🎃