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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi

@poetinbabylon.bsky.social

1.3K followers 720 following 7.1K posts

High-Church Pentecostal. Presbyterian (PCUSA) Minister. UChicago MAPH 16, MA Div 21. 19/20C History of Religions. Great Prairie State Enjoyer (and Loyalist to the Khan of Springfield). Dungeon Master. Yasuki Courtier. On the Spectrum. #MessiaenIsLove

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · Oct 17

Them: The words מלאך and αγγελος don’t really mean ‘angel.’
Me: That’s right.
Them: We must demyth—
Me: There’s a wide variety of spiritual beings in the universe, including, but not limited to, angels, demons, devils, powers, principalities, airish beasts, thrones, heavenly f

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 2h

Especially given how ANTI-USURY the whole Christian tradition is!!!

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 3h

I think something in this conversation has triggered an unhealthy reaction in you, friend — so I’m not going to push you on it — I’m just hoping to be helpful, if even in a small way.

Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 3h

Man, I experienced this too. But there’s such a big gap between bullying and teasing — and I think learning how to lean into those spaces of vulnerability and speak in terms of joy, rather than offstandishness is a really important practice. We can’t take ourselves too seriously!

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 3h

(God bless the Methodists for putting up with me.)

Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 3h

Oh, but I make fun of the Methodists daily??? I think this is a sign you need to find some folks to tease in your free time???

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 3h

Well, I think it’s important not to take jabs online too seriously — to me, any conversation is good conversation, even in jest!

Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 3h

not rudely — hilariously!

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 4h

I love this town. One of the local artists is making a trumpet out of trumpets to honor Miles Davis (who was born in Alton), and every day I drive home from the church I pass by this trumpet-shaped frame with more and more trumpets attached to it. 🥰🥰🥰

Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 4h

THE DISCORD HAS BEEN MENTIONED!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

First Wordle Problems @fwordleproblems.bsky.social · 6h

Absolutely no disrespect intended but "John Calvin Book Group" sounds like an alt-comedy sketch or else the most BlueSky thing imaginable.

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 4h

We’re past halfway to halfway there!!

Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 7h

was curious on some hard stats on preaching, and found this — it’s 6 years old, but still it’s fascinating data!

www.pewresearch.org/religion/201...

The Digital Pulpit: A Nationwide Analysis of Online Sermons

This Pew Research Center analysis harnesses computational techniques to identify, collect and analyze the sermons that U.S. churches livestream or share on their websites each week.

www.pewresearch.org

Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 7h

they don’t know what they’re missing!!

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 8h

okay, so this definitely showcases that I’ve always lived here, but I just assumed the rest of yall had a Weatherbird — I didn’t realize the Weatherbird was a STL only thing, unique to the Post-Dispatch???

Steph Kukuljan @stephkukuljan.bsky.social · 9h

A #STL icon lands in the @nytimes.com!

Enjoy this gift article about @stltoday.com’s own 🪶

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/a...

A St. Louis Bird That Crosses Divides Gets His Own Show

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi

Marguerite @margueritek.bsky.social · 13h

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 23h

I felt immeasurably privileged today as I served in parts of my pastoral office — to be with people in moments of dire need, of spiritual and personal crisis, to offer them to God in prayer, to share God with them in Sacrament — it’s not flashy or exciting, but it’s beautiful, and it’s worth it

Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 23h

ironically, we are in need of both an awakening from our revival-addicted forms of religion, and a renewal of forms rooted in non-charismatic (not speaking of the Gifts, but of powerful, persuasive leaders, etc) practices of faith — that is, institutional faith that cares across all stages of life

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 23h

this is not, to be clear, the necessary logic of revivalism, per se, but it is what happens when revivalism in America has transitioned from “new religious experience” into “good, old-timey religion” — which means many use revival as an object of nostalgia, devoid of any real spiritual awakening

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 23h

a friend recently pointed out that the true division in modern Protestantism isn’t on the Modernist / Fundamentalist debate but actually, more primordially, the Old Side / New Side debate — and it turns out the New Side (revivalism) has been fully co-opted by reactionary thought and practice

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 1d

Better yet: Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, set in Byzantium

Reposted by Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi

Kara N. Slade @karanslade.bsky.social · 1d

Broke: young people like conservative Christianity

Woke: young people like progressive Christianity

Bespoke: The Book of Common Prayer 1979 of the Episcopal Church represents conservative Christianity in every way that matters (sacraments, Creed), and progressive young people like it

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 2d

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com

Many Gen-Zers “bring a new attitude to the combination of faith and politics, and many see politics as a matter of spiritual warfare,” writes Daniel K. Williams, a historian of American religion and politics.

Opinion | Why So Many Gen Z-ers Are Drawn to Conservative Christianity

And what that might mean for the future of American politics.

nyti.ms

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 1d

I think this is one of those things where the Rules might be the same, but the Culture is very different between these two denominations!

Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 1d

that’s what the canons say… … yes… … but… …

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 1d

(I had to add the charismatic narcissists because they seem to be the folks who are most capable of gaming the current system to their benefit. And… … that sucks!!!!)

Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 1d

Meanwhile, every Methodist minister I meet is either a charismatic narcissist who does whatever they want anyways, OR is bulldozed by congregations with completely lopsided structures of authority such that so little can happen.

One understands why folks become nondenom pastors in such situations!

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Ian is the Priest-King of the Sacred Grove at Nemi @poetinbabylon.bsky.social · 1d

The local Episcopal priest teases me because I have no “final say” but hey hey hey I actually *do* have explicit domain over the teaching, preaching, and worship of the church — I just have to do politics for the rest. (Which is fitting for Presbyterian polity, anyways!)

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