Joey Cochran
@jtcochran.bsky.social
Historian at Purdue University Northwest. Jonathan Edwards and Hebrews (V&R, 2025). Brand Evangelicals (Brazos Press, forthcoming 2027). Columnist Anxious Bench.
Pinned
Joey Cochran
@jtcochran.bsky.social
· Feb 17
This morning was a surreal and sacred moment, where I quietly entered my study and added my own contribution to the shelf with the other works on Edwards.
My Best Books of 2025 List, and my thanks to all these stellar authors that enriched my soul this year. May you have many good conversations about your work around the Thanksgiving table this week.
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
Best Books Of 2025
In keeping with past tradition since joining the illustrious team of historian at the Anxious Bench, I am once again sharing my best books...
www.patheos.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:07 PM
My Best Books of 2025 List, and my thanks to all these stellar authors that enriched my soul this year. May you have many good conversations about your work around the Thanksgiving table this week.
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
Tomorrow at the Anxious Bench I will be sharing my best books of 2025. I had an incredible year of reading, & I hope you find something for yourself to read as well. Expect to see books from @brazospress.bsky.social @eerdmansbooks.bsky.social @ivpress.bsky.social @yalepress.bsky.social & more.
November 23, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Tomorrow at the Anxious Bench I will be sharing my best books of 2025. I had an incredible year of reading, & I hope you find something for yourself to read as well. Expect to see books from @brazospress.bsky.social @eerdmansbooks.bsky.social @ivpress.bsky.social @yalepress.bsky.social & more.
Hey Friends. My son has joined the High School wrestling team. He is trying to get at least 20 emails to earn equipment and uniform. Please help him out by sharing your email and/or making a donation.
app.verticalraise.com/fundraiser/r...
app.verticalraise.com/fundraiser/r...
Click here to support Asher Cochran and the RBHS Wrestling Fundraiser 2026
Fundraising is vital for the success of our program. The funds will aid us in purchasing new uniforms, equipment and other pertinent expenses. Each participant has a monetary goal, please consider don...
app.verticalraise.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Hey Friends. My son has joined the High School wrestling team. He is trying to get at least 20 emails to earn equipment and uniform. Please help him out by sharing your email and/or making a donation.
app.verticalraise.com/fundraiser/r...
app.verticalraise.com/fundraiser/r...
The pump behind me was wide open at Costco the entire time I filled my tank. There were literally 6-10 cars in immediate proximity that were just doom scrolling missing this opportunity to fill up.
Don’t waste your life on a screen.
Don’t waste your life on a screen.
November 17, 2025 at 11:29 PM
The pump behind me was wide open at Costco the entire time I filled my tank. There were literally 6-10 cars in immediate proximity that were just doom scrolling missing this opportunity to fill up.
Don’t waste your life on a screen.
Don’t waste your life on a screen.
All Americans should be embarrassed by this juvenile response from a government account to peaceful protest by faith leaders and other responsible citizens.
November 16, 2025 at 3:09 AM
All Americans should be embarrassed by this juvenile response from a government account to peaceful protest by faith leaders and other responsible citizens.
My son just baked at home the same cookies you can buy at Target and they taste even better.
November 16, 2025 at 2:18 AM
My son just baked at home the same cookies you can buy at Target and they taste even better.
It was a beautiful day to get outside Christmas decorations done and put up the tree. May this upcoming season of Advent fill you with anticipation and joy!
November 16, 2025 at 2:05 AM
It was a beautiful day to get outside Christmas decorations done and put up the tree. May this upcoming season of Advent fill you with anticipation and joy!
Happy first snow of 2025! I’m currently enjoying coffee and Christmas music in my kitchen while I watch the snow fall. Yay for remote learning days!
November 10, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Happy first snow of 2025! I’m currently enjoying coffee and Christmas music in my kitchen while I watch the snow fall. Yay for remote learning days!
Reposted by Joey Cochran
Today at the Anxious Bench, Lynneth Miller Renberg helps us enter into the sacred space of Trondenes Kirke, the northernmost surviving medieval church.
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
Trondenes Kirke: The Northernmost Medieval Church
It’s a stunning stone church, painted white and towering over the surrounding landscape, with the sparkling waters of the fjord and snow-covered peaks of
www.patheos.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Today at the Anxious Bench, Lynneth Miller Renberg helps us enter into the sacred space of Trondenes Kirke, the northernmost surviving medieval church.
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
Reposted by Joey Cochran
Thrilled and honored that my book Religion for Realists was given the 2025 Distinguished Book Award by @sssreligion.bsky.social last night.
It’s vital that we understand religion and religious people. The social sciences are remiss to ignore either.
Hire more religion specialists.
It’s vital that we understand religion and religious people. The social sciences are remiss to ignore either.
Hire more religion specialists.
November 2, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Thrilled and honored that my book Religion for Realists was given the 2025 Distinguished Book Award by @sssreligion.bsky.social last night.
It’s vital that we understand religion and religious people. The social sciences are remiss to ignore either.
Hire more religion specialists.
It’s vital that we understand religion and religious people. The social sciences are remiss to ignore either.
Hire more religion specialists.
Reposted by Joey Cochran
“They kettle protesters, mark citizens with paint, launch bean bags, pepper balls and tear gas, so that when it is time to use lethal force, they will already have built the muscle memory to look upon their neighbors as targets, . . . And think nothing else as they fire live ammunition into crowds.”
I recently gave my own account of what it’s been like living through Operation Midway Blitz and the terror us Chicagoans have experienced.
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors
Historians talk about the danger of presentist history. They rarely talk about what happens when presentist history is unavoidable.
www.patheos.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:58 AM
“They kettle protesters, mark citizens with paint, launch bean bags, pepper balls and tear gas, so that when it is time to use lethal force, they will already have built the muscle memory to look upon their neighbors as targets, . . . And think nothing else as they fire live ammunition into crowds.”
On Halloween, ‘state-sponsored terror’ in Chicago and the north suburbs
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/31/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/31/c...
On Halloween, ‘state-sponsored terror’ in Chicago and the north suburbs
Despite pleas from Gov. JB Pritzker to pause federal immigration enforcement operations while children celebrate Halloween, Border Patrol agents tore through Chicago and the suburbs.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:33 AM
On Halloween, ‘state-sponsored terror’ in Chicago and the north suburbs
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/31/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/31/c...
In position. Maybe the first time to be tasked to be the candy man in years. I’ve missed this role. Halloween is one of my favorite nights of the year because it’s one of those times where all of us neighbors get to be neighborly with little effort.
October 31, 2025 at 9:49 PM
In position. Maybe the first time to be tasked to be the candy man in years. I’ve missed this role. Halloween is one of my favorite nights of the year because it’s one of those times where all of us neighbors get to be neighborly with little effort.
Happy Halloween to all who celebrate from our little witch to you!
October 31, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Happy Halloween to all who celebrate from our little witch to you!
My latest at the Anxious Bench!
What is happening in Chicago? Historian Joey Cochran documents some of the recent protests and talks about how Chicagoans have responded to Operation Midway Blitz.
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors
Historians talk about the danger of presentist history. They rarely talk about what happens when presentist history is unavoidable.
www.patheos.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:24 PM
My latest at the Anxious Bench!
Reposted by Joey Cochran
OAKLAND. come see me
October 29, 2025 at 3:58 PM
OAKLAND. come see me
Reposted by Joey Cochran
Over 71 million Americans are paid less than a living wage, and are forced into social safety nets like SNAP.
If you think too many people are receiving SNAP benefits, don’t shame them.
Shame their employers paying them poverty wages and forcing taxpayers to subsidize the rest.
If you think too many people are receiving SNAP benefits, don’t shame them.
Shame their employers paying them poverty wages and forcing taxpayers to subsidize the rest.
October 29, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Over 71 million Americans are paid less than a living wage, and are forced into social safety nets like SNAP.
If you think too many people are receiving SNAP benefits, don’t shame them.
Shame their employers paying them poverty wages and forcing taxpayers to subsidize the rest.
If you think too many people are receiving SNAP benefits, don’t shame them.
Shame their employers paying them poverty wages and forcing taxpayers to subsidize the rest.
“I dreamt that camouflage, unidentified, armed and masked men had forced their way into our home and were trying to drag me out of bed. The dream felt so vivid that I bodily responded…Recent geopolitical events had come to dominate and haunt our lives.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors
Historians talk about the danger of presentist history. They rarely talk about what happens when presentist history is unavoidable.
www.patheos.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:40 AM
“I dreamt that camouflage, unidentified, armed and masked men had forced their way into our home and were trying to drag me out of bed. The dream felt so vivid that I bodily responded…Recent geopolitical events had come to dominate and haunt our lives.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
The U.S. used to be an intl humanitarian leader.
Now we won’t even feed our own hungry.
Now we won’t even feed our own hungry.
October 28, 2025 at 7:08 PM
The U.S. used to be an intl humanitarian leader.
Now we won’t even feed our own hungry.
Now we won’t even feed our own hungry.
“This overly detailed eye-witness account of one historian’s experiences in Chicago has been for my neighbors nationwide who are frozen and uncertain about what if anything they can do. It’s also for those who would rather look away…”
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors
Historians talk about the danger of presentist history. They rarely talk about what happens when presentist history is unavoidable.
www.patheos.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:49 PM
“This overly detailed eye-witness account of one historian’s experiences in Chicago has been for my neighbors nationwide who are frozen and uncertain about what if anything they can do. It’s also for those who would rather look away…”
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
“Historians talk about the danger of presentist history. They rarely talk about what happens when presentist history is unavoidable. I cannot avoid what is happening to my neighbors.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors
Historians talk about the danger of presentist history. They rarely talk about what happens when presentist history is unavoidable.
www.patheos.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:53 AM
“Historians talk about the danger of presentist history. They rarely talk about what happens when presentist history is unavoidable. I cannot avoid what is happening to my neighbors.”
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
My column today at the Anxious Bench:
“Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors”
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
“Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors”
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors
“And who are my neighbors?” (Luke 10:29b)
www.patheos.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
My column today at the Anxious Bench:
“Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors”
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
“Everyday Evangelical Resistance For My Chicago Neighbors”
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
My Anxious Bench column drops tomorrow. It’s a long form essay w/2 substantial photo galleries documenting the past month of Operation Midway Blitz.
A teaser of the title:
“Everyday Evangelical Resistance for My Chicago Neighbors”
Find it here tomorrow:
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
A teaser of the title:
“Everyday Evangelical Resistance for My Chicago Neighbors”
Find it here tomorrow:
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
October 26, 2025 at 11:33 PM
My Anxious Bench column drops tomorrow. It’s a long form essay w/2 substantial photo galleries documenting the past month of Operation Midway Blitz.
A teaser of the title:
“Everyday Evangelical Resistance for My Chicago Neighbors”
Find it here tomorrow:
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
A teaser of the title:
“Everyday Evangelical Resistance for My Chicago Neighbors”
Find it here tomorrow:
www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...
Had a great night with my wife seeing @waltermasterson.bsky.social at The Den Theatre #Chicago. Fantastic show!
October 20, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Had a great night with my wife seeing @waltermasterson.bsky.social at The Den Theatre #Chicago. Fantastic show!
Reposted by Joey Cochran
