Tuomas Äystö
@aystotuomas.bsky.social
Associate Professor & University Lecturer in Study of Religion, University of Helsinki.
https://sites.google.com/view/tuomasaysto/page
https://sites.google.com/view/tuomasaysto/page
Pinned
Tuomas Äystö
@aystotuomas.bsky.social
· Dec 16
Religious literacy and its discontents: a critical review
Religious literacy is a ‘hot’ topic in twenty-first century study of religion and more broadly. But what do we talk about when we talk about religious literacy? To answer this question, we conducte...
www.tandfonline.com
Our criticism of religious literacy is out.
Open access.
Took some time (hence, data stops at 2023) and not everyone was happy, but here we are.
We do not advocate for the concept of religious literacy, but we do suggest a way forward *if* one would like to consider it as a viable concept.
Open access.
Took some time (hence, data stops at 2023) and not everyone was happy, but here we are.
We do not advocate for the concept of religious literacy, but we do suggest a way forward *if* one would like to consider it as a viable concept.
Rubio's colonialist far right 101 speech in Munich also included a reference to global warming policies as a "climate cult".
www.state.gov/releases/off...
Hence, I'm again linking our article on what people try to do with such language.
www.state.gov/releases/off...
Hence, I'm again linking our article on what people try to do with such language.
“The Cult of Greta Thunberg”: De-legitimating Climate Activism with “Religion” - Jere Kyyrö, Tuomas Äystö, Titus Hjelm, 2023
Contemporary climate activism has often been called a “religion” or a “cult.” We investigate what is done with climate religion discourse (CRD), by whom, and to...
journals.sagepub.com
February 15, 2026 at 6:42 AM
Rubio's colonialist far right 101 speech in Munich also included a reference to global warming policies as a "climate cult".
www.state.gov/releases/off...
Hence, I'm again linking our article on what people try to do with such language.
www.state.gov/releases/off...
Hence, I'm again linking our article on what people try to do with such language.
Reposted by Tuomas Äystö
Consider submitting a paper or a closed session to our critical symposium on religious literacy.
Deadline is on April 1, and the the symposium itself is on 21-23 October 2026, Helsinki, Finland.
Deadline is on April 1, and the the symposium itself is on 21-23 October 2026, Helsinki, Finland.
Religious Literacy and Religious Pluralism: New Directions for Research | University of Helsinki
21-23 October 2026, Helsinki, Finland
www.helsinki.fi
January 14, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Consider submitting a paper or a closed session to our critical symposium on religious literacy.
Deadline is on April 1, and the the symposium itself is on 21-23 October 2026, Helsinki, Finland.
Deadline is on April 1, and the the symposium itself is on 21-23 October 2026, Helsinki, Finland.
This whole teenager social media ban is a distraction. The actual topic is the regulation of large social media companies in a way that actually does something.
Social media time does not increase teenagers’ mental health problems – study
Research finds no evidence heavier social media use or more gaming increases symptoms of anxiety or depression
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2026 at 5:10 AM
This whole teenager social media ban is a distraction. The actual topic is the regulation of large social media companies in a way that actually does something.
You see lot's of support for ICE among the European far right, if you follow individual MPs in social media.
Of course they support him -- even if his foreign policy has been a disaster for their respective countries. Trump does a lot of things at home they can only dream of.
Of course they support him -- even if his foreign policy has been a disaster for their respective countries. Trump does a lot of things at home they can only dream of.
January 27, 2026 at 7:41 AM
You see lot's of support for ICE among the European far right, if you follow individual MPs in social media.
Of course they support him -- even if his foreign policy has been a disaster for their respective countries. Trump does a lot of things at home they can only dream of.
Of course they support him -- even if his foreign policy has been a disaster for their respective countries. Trump does a lot of things at home they can only dream of.
Reposted by Tuomas Äystö
The fact that people in my field look at theory as unrigorous will never cease to irk me, even if I agree that knowing the sources backward and forward is the ultimate foundation. More is more.
January 24, 2026 at 10:54 PM
The fact that people in my field look at theory as unrigorous will never cease to irk me, even if I agree that knowing the sources backward and forward is the ultimate foundation. More is more.
"We will make our own Bluesky with..."
January 24, 2026 at 10:59 AM
"We will make our own Bluesky with..."
Reposted by Tuomas Äystö
Our criticism of religious literacy is out.
Open access.
Took some time (hence, data stops at 2023) and not everyone was happy, but here we are.
We do not advocate for the concept of religious literacy, but we do suggest a way forward *if* one would like to consider it as a viable concept.
Open access.
Took some time (hence, data stops at 2023) and not everyone was happy, but here we are.
We do not advocate for the concept of religious literacy, but we do suggest a way forward *if* one would like to consider it as a viable concept.
Religious literacy and its discontents: a critical review
Religious literacy is a ‘hot’ topic in twenty-first century study of religion and more broadly. But what do we talk about when we talk about religious literacy? To answer this question, we conducte...
www.tandfonline.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Our criticism of religious literacy is out.
Open access.
Took some time (hence, data stops at 2023) and not everyone was happy, but here we are.
We do not advocate for the concept of religious literacy, but we do suggest a way forward *if* one would like to consider it as a viable concept.
Open access.
Took some time (hence, data stops at 2023) and not everyone was happy, but here we are.
We do not advocate for the concept of religious literacy, but we do suggest a way forward *if* one would like to consider it as a viable concept.
Consider submitting a paper or a closed session to our critical symposium on religious literacy.
Deadline is on April 1, and the the symposium itself is on 21-23 October 2026, Helsinki, Finland.
Deadline is on April 1, and the the symposium itself is on 21-23 October 2026, Helsinki, Finland.
Religious Literacy and Religious Pluralism: New Directions for Research | University of Helsinki
21-23 October 2026, Helsinki, Finland
www.helsinki.fi
January 14, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Consider submitting a paper or a closed session to our critical symposium on religious literacy.
Deadline is on April 1, and the the symposium itself is on 21-23 October 2026, Helsinki, Finland.
Deadline is on April 1, and the the symposium itself is on 21-23 October 2026, Helsinki, Finland.
You dream of EU leaders standing up to the US.
EU leaders cannot even leave X.
EU leaders cannot even leave X.
January 8, 2026 at 1:37 PM
You dream of EU leaders standing up to the US.
EU leaders cannot even leave X.
EU leaders cannot even leave X.
Reposted by Tuomas Äystö
This is basically the view of the world that Plato sets out to refute in the Republic. One of the core questions asked therein is: why do powerful people think the mere fact of them exercising dominion makes it good for them to do so? Sure, you *can* get away with stuff if you're powerful - so what?
Here is the Trump Doctrine, as articulated by Stephen Miller in his truly frightening interview with Jake Tapper this afternoon. It is very much like the doctrine of the dictators we fought and defeated in World War II and of Putin today. It is un-American at its very core.
January 6, 2026 at 10:37 AM
This is basically the view of the world that Plato sets out to refute in the Republic. One of the core questions asked therein is: why do powerful people think the mere fact of them exercising dominion makes it good for them to do so? Sure, you *can* get away with stuff if you're powerful - so what?
Attacking other countries is bad, actually.
January 3, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Attacking other countries is bad, actually.
Online betting is going to places.
Will Jesus Christ return in 2025? Predictions & Odds | Polymarket
Real-time odds on "Will Jesus Christ return in 2025?" as of January 2, 2026.
polymarket.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Online betting is going to places.
Center vs. periphery is a key political division, and one ignores it at one's peril.
For example, it is *very* common for big cities to be more progressive, diverse, and wealthy than the rest of the country. This is, then, often mobilized in politics through the rhetoric of authenticity.
For example, it is *very* common for big cities to be more progressive, diverse, and wealthy than the rest of the country. This is, then, often mobilized in politics through the rhetoric of authenticity.
Do other countries have this weird notion that you’re not a “real” representative of the nation if you live in an urban center? Like do the French say Parisians aren’t really French? Are you considered not a real German if you live in Berlin? Or is this mainly a weird American thing?
January 1, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Center vs. periphery is a key political division, and one ignores it at one's peril.
For example, it is *very* common for big cities to be more progressive, diverse, and wealthy than the rest of the country. This is, then, often mobilized in politics through the rhetoric of authenticity.
For example, it is *very* common for big cities to be more progressive, diverse, and wealthy than the rest of the country. This is, then, often mobilized in politics through the rhetoric of authenticity.
This is why we always get our own copies of data asap.
BREAKING: At least 16 files from the Epstein release disappeared from DOJ's webpage, including a photo of Trump, with no explanation.
At least 16 files have disappeared from the DOJ webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein
The Justice Department’s webpage for documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is missing at least 16 of its files a day after they were released.
bit.ly
December 21, 2025 at 5:39 AM
This is why we always get our own copies of data asap.
Short comments from me in The Guardian. Regarding the one Finnish Christian you might have actually heard about, her trial, and her international support from ADF and the like.
Conservative legal group aims to export its rightwing Christian mission beyond US borders
Alliance Defending Freedom has ramped up its global spending on litigation and other campaigns to push its ultra conservative Christian values
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Short comments from me in The Guardian. Regarding the one Finnish Christian you might have actually heard about, her trial, and her international support from ADF and the like.
If you ever feel the AI tempting you to generate some research paper text for you, thinking that you'll get away with it, consider this.
It will probably be easy to detect an LLM from 2025 in 2030, when someone mass-scans all scientific publications. You will be caught eventually.
It will probably be easy to detect an LLM from 2025 in 2030, when someone mass-scans all scientific publications. You will be caught eventually.
December 19, 2025 at 3:05 PM
If you ever feel the AI tempting you to generate some research paper text for you, thinking that you'll get away with it, consider this.
It will probably be easy to detect an LLM from 2025 in 2030, when someone mass-scans all scientific publications. You will be caught eventually.
It will probably be easy to detect an LLM from 2025 in 2030, when someone mass-scans all scientific publications. You will be caught eventually.
Our criticism of religious literacy is out.
Open access.
Took some time (hence, data stops at 2023) and not everyone was happy, but here we are.
We do not advocate for the concept of religious literacy, but we do suggest a way forward *if* one would like to consider it as a viable concept.
Open access.
Took some time (hence, data stops at 2023) and not everyone was happy, but here we are.
We do not advocate for the concept of religious literacy, but we do suggest a way forward *if* one would like to consider it as a viable concept.
Religious literacy and its discontents: a critical review
Religious literacy is a ‘hot’ topic in twenty-first century study of religion and more broadly. But what do we talk about when we talk about religious literacy? To answer this question, we conducte...
www.tandfonline.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Our criticism of religious literacy is out.
Open access.
Took some time (hence, data stops at 2023) and not everyone was happy, but here we are.
We do not advocate for the concept of religious literacy, but we do suggest a way forward *if* one would like to consider it as a viable concept.
Open access.
Took some time (hence, data stops at 2023) and not everyone was happy, but here we are.
We do not advocate for the concept of religious literacy, but we do suggest a way forward *if* one would like to consider it as a viable concept.
If you're curious about the extremely racist Finnish far right politicians, who you might've seen in the news shoving fingers in their eyes, I've written about them in a couple of places.
For example, in this anthology:
For example, in this anthology:
The Routledge Handbook of Islam and Race
Given the intense scrutiny of Muslims, The Routledge Handbook of Islam and Race is an outstanding reference to key topics related to Islam and racialization. Comprising over 40 chapters by nearly 50 i...
www.routledge.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:04 AM
If you're curious about the extremely racist Finnish far right politicians, who you might've seen in the news shoving fingers in their eyes, I've written about them in a couple of places.
For example, in this anthology:
For example, in this anthology:
This new White House publication about Europe echoes European far-right talking points almost verbatim.
🚨 BREAKING: Donald Trump has warned that Europe faces “civilizational erasure” in an explosive new document.
Read the story: www.politico.eu/article/dona...
Read the story: www.politico.eu/article/dona...
December 5, 2025 at 10:13 AM
This new White House publication about Europe echoes European far-right talking points almost verbatim.
I was thinking about this meme from 2014.
It became viral due to its tonal blunder. A standard video game mechanic of prompting "press button to do X" did not fit a funeral scene.
In general: is the difficulty of "gamifying the sacred" a reason why there's e.g. so few mainstream Bible games?
It became viral due to its tonal blunder. A standard video game mechanic of prompting "press button to do X" did not fit a funeral scene.
In general: is the difficulty of "gamifying the sacred" a reason why there's e.g. so few mainstream Bible games?
Press F to pay respects - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 3, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I was thinking about this meme from 2014.
It became viral due to its tonal blunder. A standard video game mechanic of prompting "press button to do X" did not fit a funeral scene.
In general: is the difficulty of "gamifying the sacred" a reason why there's e.g. so few mainstream Bible games?
It became viral due to its tonal blunder. A standard video game mechanic of prompting "press button to do X" did not fit a funeral scene.
In general: is the difficulty of "gamifying the sacred" a reason why there's e.g. so few mainstream Bible games?
New thematic issue of Approaching Religion is out, open access.
It's titled "The Witching of Art History—How to Approach Women, Art and Esotericism."
It's titled "The Witching of Art History—How to Approach Women, Art and Esotericism."
Approaching Religion Vol. 15 No. 2 (2025): The Witching of Art History—How to Approach Women, Art and Esotericism
journal.fi
December 2, 2025 at 1:36 PM
New thematic issue of Approaching Religion is out, open access.
It's titled "The Witching of Art History—How to Approach Women, Art and Esotericism."
It's titled "The Witching of Art History—How to Approach Women, Art and Esotericism."
I guess this is an example of political secularization. Whereas in the 80s, the US conservative stance on D&D was to critique it as devil worship (often by students on liberal campuses), now D&D needs to be "defended" from liberals wanting to make it more inclusive. Demons no longer the issue.
December 1, 2025 at 9:23 AM
I guess this is an example of political secularization. Whereas in the 80s, the US conservative stance on D&D was to critique it as devil worship (often by students on liberal campuses), now D&D needs to be "defended" from liberals wanting to make it more inclusive. Demons no longer the issue.
Ex-Evangelical influencer Promise Backlund aka "Eva Was Framed", who moved to Finland from the US, made the local news.
Some context: atheist celebrities aren't really a thing over here, so her case is interesting.
Her socials: linktr.ee/eve_wasframed
Some context: atheist celebrities aren't really a thing over here, so her case is interesting.
Her socials: linktr.ee/eve_wasframed
Uskonto | Salatussa paikassa Suomessa elää amerikkalaisvaikuttaja, jonka mukaan USA on tuhon tiellä
Promise Backlundista piti tulla evankelikaalinen vaikuttaja Yhdysvalloissa. Sitten hän teki täyskäännöksen ja muutti Suomeen.
www.hs.fi
November 29, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Ex-Evangelical influencer Promise Backlund aka "Eva Was Framed", who moved to Finland from the US, made the local news.
Some context: atheist celebrities aren't really a thing over here, so her case is interesting.
Her socials: linktr.ee/eve_wasframed
Some context: atheist celebrities aren't really a thing over here, so her case is interesting.
Her socials: linktr.ee/eve_wasframed
Great episode from a great podcast. They can't buy the death of the author thesis, and neither can I.
Carl Schmitt with Jonathan Fine *Unlocked*
YouTube video by This Guy Sucked
youtu.be
November 1, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Great episode from a great podcast. They can't buy the death of the author thesis, and neither can I.
Reposted by Tuomas Äystö
The Kabbalistic Tree of Baking
Whereby divine Volume emanates to the lower vessels & is differentiated into units
Whereby divine Volume emanates to the lower vessels & is differentiated into units
September 21, 2025 at 12:21 AM
The Kabbalistic Tree of Baking
Whereby divine Volume emanates to the lower vessels & is differentiated into units
Whereby divine Volume emanates to the lower vessels & is differentiated into units