I wonder: what’s it like to be Pope Francis, waking up each morning in the Vatican knowing he’s surrounded by people praying fervently, and that many of them are begging God to make him die before noon? Not everyone around him wants him dead, of course. Francis has fans and supporters too. And even … Continue reading Pope Francis: Wanted Dead, Or If Alive, Then Retired & Silent
How Southern California helped birth white Christian nationalism Part memoir, part history of Southern California’s formative role in the rise of the religious right, Bradley Onishi’s new book traces his growing estrangement from the faith he once zealously championed. “Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism and What Comes Next” and … Continue reading Breaking from Evangelical Quakerism/Christian Nationalism: Two Survivors’ Stories
[NOTE: At the end of this set of excerpts, Silk closes with a declaration that goes well past enthusiasm, and surpasses loyalty, to become an effusion of sheer devotion that sounds more religious than political. The clinical phrase “personality cult” hardly does justice to it. For outsiders, it should be food for thought: they are facing … Continue reading “Diamond” of “Diamond & Silk” – Black Super-Trump Stars, Passes Away
[NOTE: one scholar cited here says that the number of tenured professors ballooned after World War II, when more Amerians, especially veterans, went to college, got advanced degrees and stayed on to teach. Today, student body numbers are falling, but grad schools keep churning out new PhDs. So there’s a glut, too many carrying … Continue reading Academic Tenure Will Soon Be Gone — Unless . . .
“Defend Them Fiercely”: Adrian Fontes plans to protect Arizona’s elections from ‘Maga fascists’ The Democrat who defeated a hard-right extremist in the midterms to be the next secretary of state doesn’t mince words. The Guardian — Ed Pilkington — Mon 2 Jan 2023