4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson
@4astevej.bsky.social
360 followers 78 following 1K posts
Recently retired theologian. Interested in science fiction and fantasy. Concerned about ecology and climate change. Supporter of National Parks and NASA. Worried about the welfare of the poor and other marginalized people. I take Jesus seriously.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 22m
She was pretty clear. Her children face huge increases in health insurance premiums. It hit home at last because it affected her directly. I'm not holding my breath, but there may be hope for her after all. (Unlike Nancy Mace.)
1
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 2h
I am reading Katabasis by RF Kuang, a curious story of magic students in Hell. One of them reflected on the Ever Better Wine Paradox. The longer you wait, the better the wine. If you wait for perfection, you never drink the wine at all. Perfection becomes the enemy of the good, even the better.
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 5h
The contrast of culture and policy is interesting. Certainly, that is how it appears. Republicans highlight culture with policy in service of cultural goals. Dems highlight policy, often with no clear cultural end. But it also about messaging. Reps are excellent at defining the issues.
1
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 17h
On Bluesky there seems to be an assumption that there are "more of us." But when I hear about polls that continue to say people who voted in the last election still prefer Republicans to Democrats by a significant margin, I have to wonder. Are we deceiving ourselves?
1
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 18h
I see no downside to killing the AI industry. It is simply meant to consolidate power and wealth in the hands of ever fewer people.
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 22h
There is a danger in summarizing, thus the book. But here goes: racism is a mind-set of a group in power who identify and marginalize others based on superficial characteristics, usually skin color. They use that power to put limits on these others for the benefit of their own group
1 1
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 22h
I suggest everyone read A New American Justice by Daniel Maguire. Yes, it is an old book, but so am I, but it has the best definition of racism I have encountered and a thorough explanation of the reasons for that definition
1
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 23h
I don't know if AI will be the great enemy of humanity it is pictured in SciFi, but I do know it is going to concentrate even more wealth in the hands of a very few individuals while driving up costs for the rest of us.
1
Reposted by Steve Johnson
unitedchurch.bsky.social
United Church of Christ @unitedchurch.bsky.social · 1d
🙌🏾 In a moment where history related to slavery in the United States has been targeted for removal from national parks, national websites, and Smithsonian museums, a United Church of Christ congregation located in the heart of Washington, D.C., is determined to remember.

📰 👇🏾 Read more
‘We must tell the story’: D.C. church art installation honors people enslaved on their land - United Church of Christ
In a moment where history related to slavery in the United States has been targeted for removal from national parks, national websites, and Smithsonian
ow.ly
3 11
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 1d
I often confuse the bowling league with gang members myself.
1
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 2d
What possible difference could his ability as an athlete have with a sentence for rape?
1 5
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 2d
Yep, looks just like Gaza.
1
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 2d
When you initiate the combat, of course you can find it every night. If ICE would keep their hands to themselves ( I know, it sounds like kindergarten, but that's how they behave) there wouldn't be hand to hand combat.
1 1 2
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 2d
Wish he'd never leave the golf course.
1
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 3d
Have to disagree with many posts. Trump is looking for every civil rights violation against white people he can possibly find so that he can sell all the reverse discrimination lies. That means there have to be at least a handful in the office.
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 4d
I have been told that people on the left and right simply don't understand one another. Must be true, because the truth of almost every statement I make is blindingly obvious. Therefore, those who don't agree with me must misunderstand.
1
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 4d
Personally, I would make climate change as the primary idea because it has the most profound impact. But as a Christian, the focus must be on the welfare of the poor. But then there is racism and homophobia and child-care and health care and LGBTQ+ and - you get the point
1 2
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 4d
They actually had the debate in Virginia. Patrick Henry proposed that Christianity be declared the official religion of the state of Virginia. Madison (Jefferson was in France) argued that it was immoral to establish any religion, that there has to be both freedom of and freedom from religion.
1
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 4d
The problem is that those of us on the left have a diverse set of ideas. We don't agree on everything. The right has a more cohesive ideology. We end up fighting with one another for intellectual and ideological reasons. Conservatives rarely do so.
1 2
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 4d
My bad. That's the problem with this sort of list. Always leave someone out.
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 4d
I'd prefer Medicare for all as well, but I am a big fan of the ACA. It has provided health insurance for millions. The grudging support Bernie and company give the ACA is very disheartening.
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 4d
Yep, medical professionals should just let them die (or at least suffer). Even though Ronald Reagan signed a law making that illegal. This is the "moral majority" alright.
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 4d
Great, but will that stop Trump and Miller? After all, we are a budding terrorist organization. I don't own a gun, but I might try to give water to a protestor somewhere. Trump hasn't shown a proclivity for obeying court orders.
1
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 4d
Or black. I'm surprised they haven't come out and said it was antifa.
1 4
4astevej.bsky.social
Steve Johnson @4astevej.bsky.social · 4d
If it had been an immigrant, they would have led with that.
1 4