Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

John W. Martens @jwmartens.bsky.social · 1d

It turns out that I enjoyed this show a lot, especially when I could keep straight who were synths, hybrids, and cyborgs. I think those were the categories.

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John W. Martens @jwmartens.bsky.social · 2d

podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/w...
It’s an honour to host the great Paula Fredriksen on the podcast. We discussed her most recent book, Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years, and her deep knowledge of Christianity and Judaism. Come and learn about “high frequency combat theology”!

Ancient Christianities, or How the God of Israel Conquered the West: A Conversation with Dr. Paula Fredriksen

Podcast Episode · What Matters Most · 2025-10-08 · 1h 12m

podcasts.apple.com

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Anne M. Carpenter @catholickungfu.bsky.social · 1d

They’ve lost the plot on tradition and therefore what is “traditional,” it’s very frustrating. Read ANY pope discussing THE POOR.

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 1d

As Pope Leo begins to reveal some of his views on divisive issues, some conservative critics of his predecessor are rejecting the possible rise of another “liberal pope.”

As Pope Leo riles conservatives, some say ‘just focus on the church’

Conservatives who hoped that Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, would be more of a traditionalist instead hear echoes of his predecessor, Francis, in his public statements.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 1d

🧵RFK "HIV-doesn't-cause-AIDS" Jr. is now linking circumcision with autism.

This nonsense was posted by his anti-vax group Children's Health Defense years ago, and I looked into it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS9D...

SHOCK CLAIM: RFK Jr. Says Children Circumcised Early Have Twice The Autism Rate Due To Tylenol Use

YouTube video by Forbes Breaking News

www.youtube.com

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John W. Martens @jwmartens.bsky.social · 1d

I should say, too, it was more a response to the newspaper.

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John W. Martens @jwmartens.bsky.social · 1d

Sorry I missed it in the thread!

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John W. Martens @jwmartens.bsky.social · 1d

It’s even possible it might have its basis in Scripture, both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament!

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John W. Martens @jwmartens.bsky.social · 2d

podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/w...
It’s an honour to host the great Paula Fredriksen on the podcast. We discussed her most recent book, Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years, and her deep knowledge of Christianity and Judaism. Come and learn about “high frequency combat theology”!

Ancient Christianities, or How the God of Israel Conquered the West: A Conversation with Dr. Paula Fredriksen

Podcast Episode · What Matters Most · 2025-10-08 · 1h 12m

podcasts.apple.com

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Reposted by John W. Martens

Rich Raho @richraho.bsky.social · 2d

The Texas bishop on the front lines of the U.S. immigration crackdown met Wednesday with Pope Leo and brought him a packet of letters from immigrant families “terrorized” by fear that they and their loved ones will be rounded up and deported. apnews.com/article/vati...

El Paso bishop brings Pope Leo XIV desperate letters from migrants in crosshairs of US crackdown

The Texas bishop on the front lines of the U.S. immigration crackdown has met with Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican.

apnews.com

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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 4d

Another tragic accident.

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Grudgie the Whale @grudgie.bsky.social · 5d

Look. Invading our own country is about as straightforward a case as you can have for impeachment. The GOP abandoning the Constitution is kind of the only story there is and it gets no coverage.

Seth Cotlar @sethcotlar.bsky.social · 5d

Guys. I just had a crazy idea. What if the President DIDN’T deploy troops in American cities. Just a thought. Have we tried that before?

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Governor Gavin Newsom @governor.ca.gov · 5d

This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States.

America is on the brink of martial law.

Do not be silent.

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 5d

This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.

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Laguna Beach Democratic Club @lagunabeachdems.bsky.social · 5d

Judge Goodstein's husband and 2 others were rushed to the hospital. Domestic terrorism?

BREAKING: South
Carolina Judge
Diane Goodstein's home is burning to the ground after an apparent explosion.
@spencerhakimian

Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini)
@AdamKinzinger
The judge blocked the Trump admin.

Steven Miller tweeted this:
Stephen Miller
@StephenM
The issue before is now is very simple and clear. There is a large and growing movement of leftwing terrorism in this country. It is well organized and funded. And it is shielded by far-left Democrat judges, prosecutors and attorneys general. The only remedy is to use legitimate state power to dismantle terrorism and terror networks.
1:59 PM • Oct 4, 2025 • 1M Views

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Gregk Foley @gregk.co.uk · 5d

I've never considered myself particularly religious, but I've become increasingly convinced of the truth of a thing we might call a soul; primarily through my reading and study, but also from being made to bear witness to the behaviours of people whose have clearly deposed and abandoned their own.

Eli Clifton @eliclifton.com · 6d

Van Jones repeats “dead Gaza baby” as a punch line. New York Times columnistThomas Friedman laughs along.

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Vita Breva🇻🇦🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸🇺🇦🇦🇲🇨🇦🇲🇽🇬🇱🇵🇦 @vitabreva.bsky.social · 7d

*taps sign*

Simone Weil quote with photo of her: “Imaginary evil is romantic and varied; real evil is gloomy, monotonous, barren, boring.
Imaginary good is boring; real good is always new, marvelous, intoxicating.”

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ACLU @aclu.org · 8d

BREAKING: Our client Mario Guevara, an Emmy-winning journalist detained by ICE in retaliation for livestreaming law enforcement activity, will be deported tomorrow to El Salvador.

Mario and his family are being punished for his reporting. This cruelty is meant to stifle our free press.

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Adam Rasmussen @chrysologus.bsky.social · 7d

"This episode has brought to light a serious rupture in the US Church. Collegiality and fraternity have given way to hostility and open conflict."
wherepeteris.com/bishops-agai...

Bishops against Cardinal: The Plan to Censure Cupich

The controversy surrounding the Archdiocese of Chicago’s plan to honor Senator Dick Durbin has rapidly escalated from a local dispute into a revealing test of the internal dynamics of the U.S. hierarc...

wherepeteris.com

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StrictlyChristo 🦋🇺🇦🌻❌👑 @strictlychristo.bsky.social · 11d

This is the President explicitly threatening to withhold federal funds from New York City if voters elect a candidate he opposes.

This is an unlawful attempt to coerce voters through federal financial threats and a textbook example of voter intimidation to influence the outcome of a local election.

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Florence Ashley @floralashes.bsky.social · 11d

"Why would it bow to antidemocratic pressures by placing a professor on leave without their request, consent, or involvement? That any university would do this is beyond comprehension and is cause for alarm about the future of academic freedom in Canada."

What Happened to the University’s Commitment to Free Expression? Charley Kirk, uAlberta, and Me | Centre for Free Expression

I was shocked when the University of Alberta administration informed me, one of its law professors, that I was being placed on non-disciplinary leave for my social media comments in the wake of Charli...

cfe.torontomu.ca

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John W. Martens @jwmartens.bsky.social · 12d

Got it. Wow.

John W. Martens @jwmartens.bsky.social · 12d

I can only think of Trump. Who’s the other?

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John W. Martens @jwmartens.bsky.social · 13d

Who needs legal precedent when it’s inconvenient? The law is what I say it is.

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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 13d

“They’re, they’re animals anyway. That’s what I would tell my kids all the time,” said the ICE agent, according to body cam footage. spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-...

Man detained in Cato ICE raid wrongfully deported, separated from his family

Body camera footage released from the raid shows agents referring to immigrants as 'animals.'

spectrumlocalnews.com

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John W. Martens @jwmartens.bsky.social · 14d

www.instagram.com/stmarkscce?i...
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John W. Martens @jwmartens.bsky.social · 16d

open.spotify.com/episode/3PVW...

The new President of Regent College in Vancouver, my friend Paul Spilsbury, and I had a conversation about theological education in 2025. A great conversation as to how he was drawn to biblical studies, his work on Josephus, and the task of a theological college.

"Fostering the tradition of wisdom:" A Conversation with Dr. Paul Spilsbury

open.spotify.com

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