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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 · 4h

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 · 4h

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 · 4h

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 · 4h

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 · 11h

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 · 18h

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 · 1d

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

it drove me crazy when I was a young person in that church, it drives me crazy now being friends with all the Methodist ministers in town 😔😔😔

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

That thing you said the other day about Methodist paperwork reminded me of all the great Methodist ministers I’ve met in my life (I grew up UMC!) whose ministry was constantly hamstrung by odd power-arrangements from BOTH the bureaucracy and the congregational levels AT THE SAME TIME 😬😬😬

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

Jake @jakeall.bsky.social · 1d

All my literary opinions are actually correct and fully hinged. AMA.

Rachel Feder @rachelfeder.bsky.social · 1d

Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat

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

I really think Ben hit the nail on the head with this one, TBQH.

KidzBoptotenlieder @theodramatist.com · 1d

From @benjamindcrosby.bsky.social

Why we're tempted to - and shouldn't - embrace decline

Or, what I learned at diocesan synod, with a little help from Ezra Klein and Ta-Nehisi Coates

bencrosby.substack.com

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

EXACTLY. That’s exactly what I hear. And that’s exactly the kind of practices you see dying churches enact.

It’s not like palliative care isn’t an important practice too — (it’s one that emerges from our values!), it’s just that if you found a hospital that only offered palliative care, uh… … ….

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

a LOT comes down to “what is the relationship between human beings and the Sacrament” in the Christian context — but even then, the Reformed camp in Anglicanism still uses priest even while their theology doesn’t require it!

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

The collar was invented by a Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) minister too!

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

yeah, essentially this is my view too (both for obvious reasons and also for the reasons that Jacques Derrida provides too)

ellie lockhart (she/they) @eleanor.lockhart.contact · 1d

I believe both that physical reality exists and that we cannot perceive it accurately, and that these things are *ultimately* reconcilable, but the belief in the reconciliation truly is based on faith

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

KidzBoptotenlieder @theodramatist.com · 1d

From @benjamindcrosby.bsky.social

Why we're tempted to - and shouldn't - embrace decline

Or, what I learned at diocesan synod, with a little help from Ezra Klein and Ta-Nehisi Coates

bencrosby.substack.com

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

Life is meant for afternoon naps.

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

FWIW, I blame H., because she’s napping two hours too.

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

I’ve reached the “napping for two hours after work” stage of the fall.

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

Mario

Katelyn Boo-urns @katelynburns.com · 1d

name an italian more worthy of an american holiday than columbus

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

And also that your typical workman in the 10s and 20s wasn’t necessarily unawares of classical references either — that is, after all, why the Loebs are designed the size they are: to fit in a breast pocket!!