Thomas Tweed
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tomtweed.bsky.social
Thomas Tweed
@tomtweed.bsky.social
330 followers 270 following 54 posts

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 .. more

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Political science 35%
Sociology 26%
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Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

rbreich.bsky.social
Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 8h
Somehow, all the programs that help the majority of Americans are decried as “wasteful spending,” but the ones that help billionaires aren’t…

Funny how that works.

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Nicholas A. Christakis, Caroline Krafft , and 4 more

amandacarpenter.bsky.social
Amanda Carpenter @amandacarpenter.bsky.social · 8h
PBS News Hour: U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents describe how they were treated.

Watch the segment here www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMgC...

I'm clipping transcripts of the citizens speaking in this thread 1/3
GEORGE RETES: “My name is George Retes. I was born and raised here in Ventura, California. I’m 26 years old and I am an Iraq combat veteran. I was going to work like normal. I show up. ICE is there. There’s kind of like a roadblock. I get out. I identify myself — that I’m a U.S. citizen, that I’m just trying to get to work. I’m trying to leave. I’m getting ready to leave and they surround my car, start banging on it, start shouting these contradictory orders. Even though I was giving them no reason, they still felt the need to — one agent knelt on my back and another agent knelt on my neck. And during that time, I’m just pleading with them that I couldn’t breathe. I was in isolation. I was in basically this concrete cell. I was stripped naked in like a hospital gown. And they leave the lights on 24/7. They just came out and they said that I was violent and that I assaulted agents. Why lie when it’s on video of everything that happened? Why lie?”

tomtweed.bsky.social
Thomas Tweed @tomtweed.bsky.social · 2d
Buddhist monks' 15-week walk for peace ends in Washington, DC

apnews.com/article/budd...
Buddhist monks' 15-week walk for peace ends in Washington, DC
A group of Buddhist monks has finally reached Washington, D.C., after completing a 15-week trek from Texas that captivated the country.
apnews.com

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

indianacitizen.org
The Indiana Citizen @indianacitizen.org · 2d
Indiana House Republicans advanced sweeping immigration legislation Tuesday that would require local governments, colleges and employers to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement — cementing the state’s alignment with...

indianacitizen.org/indiana-hous...

#hoosiersky #deportation #sb76
Indiana House Republicans move to align state law with Trump’s deportation push - THE INDIANA CITIZEN
By Sydney Byerly The Indiana Citizen February 10, 2026 Indiana House Republicans advanced sweeping immigration legislation Tuesday that would require local governments, colleges and employers to…
indianacitizen.org

tomtweed.bsky.social
Thomas Tweed @tomtweed.bsky.social · 3d
substack.com/@jemartisby/...
Jemar Tisby, PhD (@jemartisby)
💯 Agree. Dr. Dochuk’s works are must-reads!
substack.com

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

jonmsweeney.bsky.social
Jon M. Sweeney @jonmsweeney.bsky.social · 4d
I loved this movie and feel it’s been overlooked.

“I was amazed at the gritty reality with which bodies are shown: Ann in raw childbirth, for example, and Ann under torture. The thrusting and pounding of hands and feet in trance-like prayer.” www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/review...
The Testament of Ann Lee | Film Review | Spirituality & Practice
A drama-musical about one of the most vital female religious leaders in American history: Mother Ann Lee, founder of The Shakers
www.spiritualityandpractice.com

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

wordandway.bsky.social
Word&Way @wordandway.bsky.social · 10d
Pete Hegseth suggested this morning that someone who dies fighting for the U.S. gains salvation, making it a salvific act.

Such rhetoric echoes comments that the head of the Russian Orthodox Church made about Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine or that medieval popes told crusaders.
At National Prayer Breakfast, Hegseth Says US Soldiers Gain Salvation by Dying for ‘Christian Nation’
While Trump's remarks dominate the headlines about the event, more concerning Christian Nationalist comments came a few minutes later.
publicwitness.wordandway.org

Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Thomas A. Tweed

propublica.org
ProPublica @propublica.org · 12d
Our investigation found 40+ cases in which federal immigration agents used chokeholds or other moves that can restrict someone’s breathing: https://propub.li/4rq51BV

We showed video clips from our reporting to Marc Brown, a law enforcement expert. This is what he said.

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

congrelib.bsky.social
Congregational Library & Archives @congrelib.bsky.social · 13d
REMINDER: The deadline to apply for the Arvel M. Steece Research Fellowship for non-academic researchers is March 1st. Pastors, church historians, and anyone interested in Congregational history are invited to apply. Learn more at https://congregationallibrary.org/fellowships

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

csraac.bsky.social
Center for the Study of Religion & American Culture @csraac.bsky.social · 18d
Lilly Endowment invites organizations to submit proposals to its new Exploring Christian Practices Initiative. This opportunity aims to help individuals address their spiritual interests and questions, find and build community with others, and nourish their religious lives.

Find out more below!
Exploring Christian Practices Initiative - Lilly Endowment
This new initiative aims to increase access to settings that help individuals explore and engage in Christian practices.
lillyendowment.org

tomtweed.bsky.social
Thomas Tweed @tomtweed.bsky.social · 18d
More of this coming…if Amazon wants to do the right thing—or just get a PR win—announce instead a new program to help 16,000 employees find affordable housing.

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 18d
Breaking News: Amazon said it would cut 16,000 jobs to reduce bureaucracy and free up money to spend in “strategic areas” like A.I.
Amazon to Cut 16,000 Jobs in Latest Round of Layoffs
The e-commerce giant has been cutting costs in part to redirect money into building data centers to compete in the race to dominate artificial intelligence.
nyti.ms

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

wsj.com
The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 25d
Escalating tensions over Greenland are supercharging a dynamic that was already under way: a shift in the world economic order that had put the U.S. at the center of the global economy.
Greenland Clash Risks Undermining America’s Place in World Economic Order
The U.S. has long been a beacon of safety when uncertainty reigns. That is changing.
on.wsj.com

Reposted by Mark D. White, Thomas A. Tweed

philosofemme.bsky.social
Kate Kirkpatrick @philosofemme.bsky.social · 27d
It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the USA, so here's his handwritten index card on existentialism and a little thread on why Dr. King thought Jean-Paul Sartre was wrong about freedom. 1/ ⬇️
Handwritten index card by Martin Luther King, Jr., on 'Existentialism'

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

wsj.com
The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 27d
Spending on data-center construction is expected to rise by 23% in 2026, while the building of offices, hotels and apartments is seen declining slightly. on.wsj.com/3ZgqVM2
Commercial Builders Are Losing Their Appetite to Build Anything but Data Centers
Spending on data-center construction is expected to rise by 23% in 2026, while the building of offices, hotels and apartments is seen declining slightly.
on.wsj.com

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

aaslh.org
American Association for State and Local History @aaslh.org · 28d
The rare level of confidence and trust that the public gives museums is an opportunity and a responsibility. As debates over science, history, and art intensify, museums are being called upon to do something more fundamental: to model how people might think and listen together.
How museums can help rebuild trust in a divided America
As social divisions grow, museums provide forums for civic connection and discourse across political and cultural lines.
theconversation.com

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

wsj.com
The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 28d
About 1,500 active-duty soldiers have been placed on alert for a potential deployment to Minnesota in response to widespread protests over immigration enforcement in the state, according to four defense officials.
Pentagon Places 1,500 Soldiers on Alert for Possible Minnesota Deployment, Officials Say
The move comes as President Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to widespread protests.
on.wsj.com

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

judithweisenfeld.com
Judith Weisenfeld @judithweisenfeld.com · Jan 16
My department at Princeton is hiring a full-time lecturer in Asian Religions. Deadline: February 18.

Expertise in Buddhism in East and Southeast Asia and ability to teach undergraudate courses on Chinese religions and on Great Books in Buddhism of interest.
apply.interfolio.com/180148
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

indianacitizen.org
The Indiana Citizen @indianacitizen.org · Jan 15
Civically engaged Hoosiers subscribe to The Indiana Citizen.

The latest news and insightful commentary from across the state. Delivered directly to your inbox each Friday evening.

What are you waiting for?

indianacitizen.org/newsletter/?...

#hoosiersky #christiannationalism
Newsletter - THE INDIANA CITIZEN
Stay informed about the latest news from across the Hoosier state with The Indiana Citizen's free weekly newsletter. Once subscribed, you will need to confirm your email address before you will…
indianacitizen.org

Reposted by Nicholas Birns, Thomas A. Tweed

kawulf.bsky.social
Karin Wulf @kawulf.bsky.social · Jan 15
Deadline today but please if you're interested drop us a line! Conference on Religions and Freedoms c 1776 (really, VERY broadly circa), joint @jcblibrary.bsky.social and the Danforth Center for Religion and Politics at Wash U.

TIMELY STUFF. More info and link here: jcblibrary.org/events/confe...
Screenshot of CFP text: On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the John Carter Brown Library and the John C. Danforth Center for Religion and Politics at Washington University invite proposals for participation in a major conference to be held in Providence, Rhode Island, June 4-6, 2026, on the broad topic of religions and freedom c. 1776. "

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

relmedcentre.bsky.social
Religion Media Centre @relmedcentre.bsky.social · Jan 14
Is the politicisation of religion on the rise in Britain? Our latest briefing explores a new report from Good Faith Partnership & @hopenothate.org.uk on how faith narratives are being used for both division and the common good. Find out more and watch the full briefing:
RMC Briefing: Religion, identity and division in Britain
In our first briefing of 2026, we look at a new report which explores the reasons why faith narratives are being mobilised for causes of division in Britain
religionmediacentre.org.uk

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

reuters.com
Reuters @reuters.com · Jan 14
Greenlanders, such as tour guide Casper Frank Moller, said they hoped for a diplomatic solution, ahead of the January 14 meeting in Washington between the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers and U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

ncronline.bsky.social
National Catholic Reporter @ncronline.bsky.social · Jan 12
Pope Leo XIV strongly condemned the Church's failure to welcome survivors of sexual abuse, calling it a "scandal" that deepens their suffering, even though the issue was not a main topic at the Jan. 7-8 extraordinary consistory in Rome.
Survivors praise pope's words during consistory that not welcoming abuse victims is 'scandal'
Pope Leo XIV strongly condemned the Church's failure to welcome survivors of sexual abuse, calling it a "scandal" that deepens their suffering, even though the issue was not a main topic at the Jan. 7...
bit.ly

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

achahistory.bsky.social
American Catholic Historical Association @achahistory.bsky.social · Jan 10
Happening now, Gavin Moulton presents his paper "The Slavic Church System: The Architecture and Political Economy of Slavic Churches in Industrial America" at our Eastern European Catholicism in America panel. #ACHA26 #AHA26 @historians.org @aschurchhistory.bsky.social

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

judithweisenfeld.com
Judith Weisenfeld @judithweisenfeld.com · Jan 10
2-yr Visiting Assistant Professor in Religion in the US at Middlebury College. Deadline 2/7/2026

"Among the courses expected from the candidate will be an introductory course on religion in America and a course on the intersections of religion and politics in the contemporary United States."
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

burnidge.bsky.social
Cara Burnidge @burnidge.bsky.social · Jan 6
So much to explore and analyze when it comes to religion, Jan 6, and our memories of it.

@miketheprofessor.bsky.social and @petermanseau.bsky.social did us all a service by creating the Uncivil Religion digital resource.

uncivilreligion.org/home/about-t...
Uncivil Religion: About Uncivil Religion
A collaborative digital resource
uncivilreligion.org

Reposted by Vincent Tiberj, Robert C. Richards, Thomas A. Tweed , and 1 more

renatakeller.bsky.social
Renata Keller @renatakeller.bsky.social · Jan 4
Looking to understand the long history behind the US attack on Venezuela? Here are a few introductory-level reading recommendations from a professor and historian of US-Latin American Relations: (1/5)
🗃️ #history
1. Kyle Longley's "In the Eagle's Shadow: The United States and Latin America"
Book cover of In the Eagle's Shadow

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

newrepublic.com
The New Republic @newrepublic.com · Jan 2
Stephen Miller isn’t just closing borders. He is trying to overturn decades of American history and progress.

Let’s stop pretending this is normal.
trib.al/ABOQ90r
Inside Stephen Miller’s Dark Plot to Build a MAGA Terror State
He is descended from Russian Jews—you know, the kind of people who were once denounced as alien and unassimilable. Today, his project is to unleash government persecution of those he deems alien and unassimilable. How far will Miller’s sadistic designs go?
trib.al

Reposted by Thomas A. Tweed

unep.org
UN Environment Programme @unep.org · Jan 1
From plant leaves to oceans, nature's designs remind us of life's balance.

But nature is in crisis. Biodiversity loss is accelerating at an unprecedented rate. One million animal & plant species are threatened with extinction.

Take action #ForNature today & every day: www.unep.org/topics/natur...

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Richard Price, Steve Peers , and 11 more

jlazarus.bsky.social
Jeff Lazarus @jlazarus.bsky.social · Dec 27
All of the money that changed hands in the Teapot Dome scandal totaled less than $10 million after adjusting for inflation, and it was considered so corrupt we still teach it in high school government classes a century later.
bgrueskin.bsky.social Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · Dec 27
Corruption so pungent, it wafts right off the page:

Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”

Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Inside the New Fast Track to a Presidential Pardon
Even some of the president’s closest advisers have been surprised by a number of the recent series of pardons.
www.wsj.com