James Bielo
@secondhandsacred.bsky.social
430 followers 400 following 160 posts

Associate Professor, Dept. of Religious Studies, Northwestern University

James S. Bielo is an American socio-cultural anthropologist, specializing in the Anthropology of Religion, the Anthropology of Christianity, American Religion, Urban Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and the study of Material Religion. He is an associate professor of Religious Studies at Northwestern University. He was awarded his Ph.D. in anthropology in 2007 from Michigan State University. With Carrie M. Lane, he is the series founder and co-editor of the “Anthropology of Contemporary North America" book series at the University of Nebraska Press. He is one of the founders of the AnthroCyBib, an online bibliographic resource for the anthropology of Christianity that is hosted by the University of Edinburgh. He is also a founder and co-curator of Materializing the Bible, an interactive, curated a catalogue of biblical themed environments that covers "Protestant, Catholic and, to a lesser extent Jewish and Latter-Day Saints sites, that in different ways transforms the Bible into physical, interactive and choreographed environments, for purposes of immersion, personal piety, religious education and conversion." .. more

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secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Hi Bluesky! I’m James Bielo, an anthropologist of religion. Secondhand Sacred is my current work, exploring the circulation of Christian material culture thru 2nd economies. This includes a series of public exhibits, like Domestic Devotion & (Ir)Reverent Fun. Follow along for project updates!

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
View-Master premiered at the 1939 NY World’s Fair. Descendant of the stereoscope, ancestor of the VR headset. They are still made, though they stopped producing travel reels in 2008. These were found at an Evanston antiques store #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Thrifted this scarf on Friday for the Wearing & Carrying exhibit #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Three tracts found this week: two from little free libraries, one on a campus sidewalk (complete with/ shoeprint) #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Thrifted. #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Goodwill find yesterday. #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Thanks to Kristin Balzer for contributing this tract to the collection. Found on the ground in Evanston, IL #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Last rites kits are a relatively common secondhand find. More often than not, they are incomplete. Here, ephemera remained #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Two Jesus-themed dexterity palm puzzles. New #ebaymethod addition to the Playful Devotion exhibit. What’s that? Curious about the history of these patience games? No problem, Barbara Levine & Jessica Helfand have got you: www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/45/le... #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
What links this cassette to these two books? I follow the trail in a new essay, written for an exciting project hosted by Valentina Gamberi - valentinagamberi.eu/the-ringmast... #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
An #ebaymethod find: Christian Science card set from 1964-65 NY World’s Fair. Front sticker is from a previous sale. Was happy seller accepted my $6 offer. This Fair had multiple religious exhibitions: www.jstor.org/stable/10.57... #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Went to my first estate sale in ~3 months on Sat. Home of a 92-year old man, 9 years a widower, who relocated to VA to live w/ his son. He was a longtime member of a local Assemblies of God church, & had amassed a large collection. Here’s a small sample from my $30 haul. #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Found this 1950 Book of Mormon last week at an antiques store in Hartford. The fourth edition now in the collection. I often daydream about a Mountain West research trip where I hit secondhand stores from Boise to Provo. One day! #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Just reviewed chapter proofs and looking forward to seeing this out in the world. It’s part of a really great volume edited by Petra Kuppinger: books.google.com/books/about/... #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
1976, gospel LP #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Thrifted this 1970 paperback. First I’ve learned about this cycling ministry/performance of evangelical masculinity. Hear a short interview with the founder here: indianapublicradio.org/indianaweeke... #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
A Hartford antiques store find. Hand painted Polish icon, c.1989 #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Belt buckle. First one thrifted: two others in the collection are eBay and estate sale finds. #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Just thrifted these three chalk ware statues. St Martha stands 26 inches tall. #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
A few recent additions to the in-progress End Times exhibit. Some collectors want materials in pristine condition. Not me. This bent, torn, creased, taped cover is value-added, for the trace it offers of a life in circulation #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
1984 game thrifted last week #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Thrifted, 1996 Bible board game. #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Thrifted these two devotional boards, made in New Mexico. Read the obit of their maker: www.legacy.com/us/obituarie... #secondhandsacred

Reposted by James S. Bielo

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Thrifted. Velvet Jesus. Made in Mexico. #secondhandsacred #jesus #velvetjesus #velvetpainting

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Thrifted. 2004 puzzle addition to the in-progress End Times exhibit… #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
Thrifted. An unwanted Etsy gift? #secondhandsacred

secondhandsacred.bsky.social
1959 Bible comic #secondhandsacred