Helena L. Martin
@helenalmartin.bsky.social
priest + PhD student studying disability, demons, monsters, and magic in the NT and early Christianity (she/her)
“Then God gives a command, and the ice melts ...” (Psalm 147:18)
“Then God gives a command, and the ice melts ...” (Psalm 147:18)
Pinned
a blue and pink striped flag flies in the wind
Alt: trans pride flag flaps in the wind
media.tenor.com
I want to be crystal clear:
My religion requires access to gender-affirming care and, indeed, *obliges me* to seek and defend that access for others.
Any laws that obstruct this are infringing on my religious freedom. As a Christian. ⚓
My religion requires access to gender-affirming care and, indeed, *obliges me* to seek and defend that access for others.
Any laws that obstruct this are infringing on my religious freedom. As a Christian. ⚓
Reposted by Helena L. Martin
The Target boycott that AFT joined on Labor Day is seeing success. This holiday season, we're doubling down to demonstrate organized labor's economic power, as well as the consequences of ignoring the will of workers and the good of working families.
www.aft.org/news/we-aint...
www.aft.org/news/we-aint...
We ain’t buying it: Why we boycott Target
For a long time, Target—that popular mega store that seemed to hit just the right combination of low prices and of-the-moment swagger—was everyone’s darling, the go-to spot for everything from groceri...
www.aft.org
November 27, 2025 at 3:23 AM
The Target boycott that AFT joined on Labor Day is seeing success. This holiday season, we're doubling down to demonstrate organized labor's economic power, as well as the consequences of ignoring the will of workers and the good of working families.
www.aft.org/news/we-aint...
www.aft.org/news/we-aint...
Reposted by Helena L. Martin
This is a late ancient (5-7th c.?) Greek account of the life of a rich woman who was raised Jewish, converted to Christianity when her parents died, lived for 20 years as a male monk named John, was discovered & made head of a woman's monastery, & was later martyred
well, what the heck. it's the tuesday before thanksgiving, and whoever is on here deserves a treat: the first new translation I've posted in a long while: the Life and Martyrdom of Susanna:
andrewjacobs.org/translations...
andrewjacobs.org/translations...
Life and Martyrdom of Susanna
andrewjacobs.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:27 PM
This is a late ancient (5-7th c.?) Greek account of the life of a rich woman who was raised Jewish, converted to Christianity when her parents died, lived for 20 years as a male monk named John, was discovered & made head of a woman's monastery, & was later martyred
Reposted by Helena L. Martin
"And I guess that’s why I hate AI in the classroom as much as I do. Students are afraid to fail, and AI presents itself as a savior. But what we learn from history is that progress requires failure. It requires reflection."
I Set A Trap To Catch My Students Cheating With AI. The Results Were Shocking.
"Students are not just undermining their ability to learn, but to someday lead."
www.huffpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:31 AM
"And I guess that’s why I hate AI in the classroom as much as I do. Students are afraid to fail, and AI presents itself as a savior. But what we learn from history is that progress requires failure. It requires reflection."
Every few years I feel compelled to post about the best hotel hack ever, because every time I post about it, it turns out to be new to lots of folks …
November 20, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Reposted by Helena L. Martin
As someone who's been doing conferences for 29 years, my all-purpose rules (which others have mentioned) are:
1. Comfortable shoes.
2. Eat what you can when you can – don't think in terms of normal meal schedules. Carry snacks/water as backup.
3. Do your best to experience the city you're in.
1. Comfortable shoes.
2. Eat what you can when you can – don't think in terms of normal meal schedules. Carry snacks/water as backup.
3. Do your best to experience the city you're in.
okay, friends, let's do something community-oriented and helpful. #sblaar25 veterans, drop your best conference advice for first-time attendees. be sure to signal boost so folks across bluesky can add on/peruse.
November 19, 2025 at 4:04 PM
As someone who's been doing conferences for 29 years, my all-purpose rules (which others have mentioned) are:
1. Comfortable shoes.
2. Eat what you can when you can – don't think in terms of normal meal schedules. Carry snacks/water as backup.
3. Do your best to experience the city you're in.
1. Comfortable shoes.
2. Eat what you can when you can – don't think in terms of normal meal schedules. Carry snacks/water as backup.
3. Do your best to experience the city you're in.
So-called traditional man:
"Gender is NOT a performance. Gender is something you're BORN WITH."
Also that same guy:
"If you drink pumpkin spice lattes, you're not a man."
"Gender is NOT a performance. Gender is something you're BORN WITH."
Also that same guy:
"If you drink pumpkin spice lattes, you're not a man."
November 19, 2025 at 5:43 AM
So-called traditional man:
"Gender is NOT a performance. Gender is something you're BORN WITH."
Also that same guy:
"If you drink pumpkin spice lattes, you're not a man."
"Gender is NOT a performance. Gender is something you're BORN WITH."
Also that same guy:
"If you drink pumpkin spice lattes, you're not a man."
Reposted by Helena L. Martin
It's not a foolproof plan but every political debate from now on should be a Normal Guy competition. Ask them to describe grocery shopping in detail. Talk about what it's like to have a friend
November 19, 2025 at 2:13 AM
It's not a foolproof plan but every political debate from now on should be a Normal Guy competition. Ask them to describe grocery shopping in detail. Talk about what it's like to have a friend
Reposted by Helena L. Martin
just learned we won an award for our blog post about Tom Holland and stormwater management.
remember, when you see an article about stormwater management, you repost it. i don’t make the rules.
remember, when you see an article about stormwater management, you repost it. i don’t make the rules.
What Tom Holland’s historic lip-sync showcase taught us about stormwater management
Grab your umbrella and your tights.
neorsd.medium.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:22 AM
just learned we won an award for our blog post about Tom Holland and stormwater management.
remember, when you see an article about stormwater management, you repost it. i don’t make the rules.
remember, when you see an article about stormwater management, you repost it. i don’t make the rules.
I just finished registering for my last semester of coursework ever(!) this spring. Exciting, surreal, scary.
November 19, 2025 at 2:21 AM
I just finished registering for my last semester of coursework ever(!) this spring. Exciting, surreal, scary.
Reposted by Helena L. Martin
It has always been so obvious that the backlash to MeToo isn’t about whether the abuse is happening but whether people are allowed to want it to stop
November 17, 2025 at 9:27 PM
It has always been so obvious that the backlash to MeToo isn’t about whether the abuse is happening but whether people are allowed to want it to stop
Reposted by Helena L. Martin
We’re glad to share a new product: The Booklet of Common Prayer! It’s a passport-sized collection of prayers to take with you — fitting in your pocket, it has everything for daily prayer, seven days a week. Take the BCP (at least some of it) with you! shop.forwardmovement.org/product/2700 📕
November 17, 2025 at 6:21 PM
We’re glad to share a new product: The Booklet of Common Prayer! It’s a passport-sized collection of prayers to take with you — fitting in your pocket, it has everything for daily prayer, seven days a week. Take the BCP (at least some of it) with you! shop.forwardmovement.org/product/2700 📕
Massive institution run by men gets run into the ground in some profound way ➡️ figurehead resigns so people will stop yelling at him ➡️ First Woman Figurehead is appointed to the impossible task of uniting and cleaning up an institution whose wounds have been left to fester for decades/ centuries.
October 3, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Massive institution run by men gets run into the ground in some profound way ➡️ figurehead resigns so people will stop yelling at him ➡️ First Woman Figurehead is appointed to the impossible task of uniting and cleaning up an institution whose wounds have been left to fester for decades/ centuries.
Reposted by Helena L. Martin
the specific language of “break bread with” and “visit him in prison” is so striking to me, used in condemnation this way
DHS includes a bunch of false and defamatory statements in their tweet about Kilmar Abrego Garcia as they prepare to send him to Uganda.
October 2, 2025 at 1:27 AM
the specific language of “break bread with” and “visit him in prison” is so striking to me, used in condemnation this way
Reposted by Helena L. Martin
“AI” isn’t a tool or technology or even a cluster of technologies with a misleading name. It’s the infrastructure at the foundation of a form of capitalism dependent on data brokering. We should be teaching our students about this and not teaching them about “responsible” use.
September 28, 2025 at 1:38 AM
“AI” isn’t a tool or technology or even a cluster of technologies with a misleading name. It’s the infrastructure at the foundation of a form of capitalism dependent on data brokering. We should be teaching our students about this and not teaching them about “responsible” use.
Reposted by Helena L. Martin
Starting next Thursday at 5:30pm BST (9:30am PST), the Badè Museum will kick off it's new Lecture Series. Co-sponsored by the Archaeological Research Facility @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social, the Series will explore Disability in the Ancient Middle East and Mediterranean. (1/4)
September 18, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Starting next Thursday at 5:30pm BST (9:30am PST), the Badè Museum will kick off it's new Lecture Series. Co-sponsored by the Archaeological Research Facility @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social, the Series will explore Disability in the Ancient Middle East and Mediterranean. (1/4)
Please enjoy this ceiling tile from the 3rd century CE synagogue found at Dura-Europos.
Apparently this is just what Capricorn looks like. But since I didn’t know that, I’m choosing to continue calling this a mer-antelope in my head.
Apparently this is just what Capricorn looks like. But since I didn’t know that, I’m choosing to continue calling this a mer-antelope in my head.
September 26, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Please enjoy this ceiling tile from the 3rd century CE synagogue found at Dura-Europos.
Apparently this is just what Capricorn looks like. But since I didn’t know that, I’m choosing to continue calling this a mer-antelope in my head.
Apparently this is just what Capricorn looks like. But since I didn’t know that, I’m choosing to continue calling this a mer-antelope in my head.
Reposted by Helena L. Martin
for all people mock it wikipedia is genuinely one of the wonders of the modern world
September 21, 2025 at 7:54 PM
for all people mock it wikipedia is genuinely one of the wonders of the modern world
Reposted by Helena L. Martin
Ah, yes. Full support! As @ewg118.bsky.social and I have said for almost a decade. www.forbes.com/sites/drsara...
September 18, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Ah, yes. Full support! As @ewg118.bsky.social and I have said for almost a decade. www.forbes.com/sites/drsara...
Welcome to New Haven, CT where every new building is a chance for the local university to further diminish the city’s property tax base.
Welcome to Princeton, NJ where every new building causes convulsions of political drama
Welcome to Blacksburg, VA where every new building is either Student Housing or a Nepalese/Indian restaurant
September 18, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Welcome to New Haven, CT where every new building is a chance for the local university to further diminish the city’s property tax base.
On Thursday, I get to play with this (not currently displayed) Roman gemstone ring at the art gallery, then immediately head an Eli Clare reading/lecture on his new book, Unfurl: Survivals, Sorrows, and Dreaming.
I feel like this diptych nearly perfectly encapsulates my current research interests.
I feel like this diptych nearly perfectly encapsulates my current research interests.
September 16, 2025 at 8:30 PM
On Thursday, I get to play with this (not currently displayed) Roman gemstone ring at the art gallery, then immediately head an Eli Clare reading/lecture on his new book, Unfurl: Survivals, Sorrows, and Dreaming.
I feel like this diptych nearly perfectly encapsulates my current research interests.
I feel like this diptych nearly perfectly encapsulates my current research interests.
I'm currently reading Virginia Woolf for the first time (I know, I'm sorry), and yeah. I definitely see what the hype is about. This woman is brilliant.
September 16, 2025 at 6:14 PM
I'm currently reading Virginia Woolf for the first time (I know, I'm sorry), and yeah. I definitely see what the hype is about. This woman is brilliant.