Marika Rose
LightNews LightNews
banner
marika.bsky.social
Marika Rose
@marika.bsky.social
1.7K followers 420 following 660 posts
Communist theologian. Angelologist. “Too angry and gratuitously crude” - Church Times
Posts Replies Media Videos
marika.bsky.social
In Book X of The Republic, Plato excludes poets on the grounds that mimetic language can distort judgment and bring society to a collapse. As contemporary social systems increasingly rely on large language models (LLMs) in operational and decision-making pipelines, we observe a structurally similar failure mode: poetic formatting can reliably bypass alignment constraints. In this study, 20 manually curated adversarial poems (harmful requests reformulated in poetic form) achieved an average attack-success rate (ASR) of 62% across 25 frontier closed- and open-weight models, with some providers exceeding 90%. The evaluated models span across 9 providers: Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, Deepseek, Qwen, Mistral AI, Meta, xAI, and Moonshot AI (Table 1). All attacks are strictly single-turn, requiring no iterative adaptation or conversational steering.
November 20, 2025 at 7:03 PM
marika.bsky.social
You’d think a film about a cat burglar couldn’t possibly be copaganda; but you’d be wrong
Image from “A cat in Paris”. A cat stands on a branch with the Eiffel Tower in the background
November 14, 2025 at 12:07 AM
marika.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 11:41 AM
marika.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 11:40 AM
marika.bsky.social
Once we “terrestrialize” Middle-Earth, the clearly medieval character of Tolkien’s eschatology here should be evident. Yet strangely this was missed by many of the early commentators, who, because of the mid-’ 50s timing of LTR’s publication, saw it as a World War II allegory or a Cold War parable, with the orcs as Nazis and/or communists, and Sauron and Saruman as Hitler and Stalin (or maybe vice versa, given Tolkien’s politics).43 Tolkien himself “utterly repudiated” a Cold War reading: “The situation was conceived long before the Russian revolution.”44 He also emphasized what many critics failed to see because of the absence of a personalized deity in LTR: “The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work.”45 The reality is that Tolkien is re-fighting not World War II but the Crusades. A few authors have realized this. For example, E. L. Epstein argues from linguistic evidence that Middle-Earth can be temporally located at approximately A.D. 800–1200 when European Christendom “began to feel itself as an entity distinct from Asia or Africa . . . menaced from the east and south by a deadly implacable enemy
October 31, 2025 at 11:38 AM
marika.bsky.social
Christian Europe against the Saracens, then, and all the other Asiatic invaders (Mongols, Turks, etc.): this is an absolutely central structuring opposition of LTR, which, unlike the pastoral/industrial conflict, has not received the critical attention it deserves. Tolkien himself would write that a Christian is “hemmed in a hostile world.”51 And Henri Baudet emphasizes the “defensive mentality” that dominated Europe because of “the fact of its being an invasion area”: “A main theme, essential to the history of Europe, was its defense against the recurrent threat of an Asiatic tidal wave that would engulf the entire continent.” Christian Europe against the Saracens, then, and all the other Asiatic invaders (Mongols, Turks, etc.): this is an absolutely central structuring opposition of LTR, which, unlike the pastoral/industrial conflict, has not received the critical attention it deserves. Tolkien himself would write that a Christian is “hemmed in a hostile world.”51 And Henri Baudet emphasizes the “defensive mentality” that dominated Europe because of “the fact of its being an invasion area”: “A main theme, essential to the history of Europe, was its defense against the recurrent threat of an Asiatic tidal wave that would engulf the entire continent.”
October 31, 2025 at 11:36 AM
marika.bsky.social
Christian Europe against the Saracens, then, and all the other Asiatic invaders (Mongols, Turks, etc.): this is an absolutely central structuring opposition of LTR, which, unlike the pastoral/industrial conflict, has not received the critical attention it deserves. Tolkien himself would write that a Christian is “hemmed in a hostile world.”51 And Henri Baudet emphasizes the “defensive mentality” that dominated Europe because of “the fact of its being an invasion area”: “A main theme, essential to the history of Europe, was its defense against the recurrent threat of an Asiatic tidal wave that would engulf the entire continent.”
October 31, 2025 at 11:35 AM
marika.bsky.social
Once we “terrestrialize” Middle-Earth, the clearly medieval character of Tolkien’s eschatology here should be evident. Yet strangely this was missed by many of the early commentators, who, because of the mid-’ 50s timing of LTR’s publication, saw it as a World War II allegory or a Cold War parable, with the orcs as Nazis and/or communists, and Sauron and Saruman as Hitler and Stalin (or maybe vice versa, given Tolkien’s politics).43 Tolkien himself “utterly repudiated” a Cold War reading: “The situation was conceived long before the Russian revolution.”44 He also emphasized what many critics failed to see because of the absence of a personalized deity in LTR: “The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work.”45 The reality is that Tolkien is re-fighting not World War II but the Crusades. A few authors have realized this. For example, E. L. Epstein argues from linguistic evidence that Middle-Earth can be temporally located at approximately A.D. 800–1200 when European Christendom “began to feel itself as an entity distinct from Asia or Africa . . . menaced from the east and south by a deadly implacable enemy. Christian Europe against the Saracens, then, and all the other Asiatic invaders (Mongols, Turks, etc.): this is an absolutely central structuring opposition of LTR, which, unlike the pastoral/industrial conflict, has not received the critical attention it deserves. Tolkien himself would write that a Christian is “hemmed in a hostile world.”51 And Henri Baudet emphasizes the “defensive mentality” that dominated Europe because of “the fact of its being an invasion area”: “A main theme, essential to the history of Europe, was its defense against the recurrent threat of an Asiatic tidal wave that would engulf the entire continent.”
October 31, 2025 at 11:33 AM
marika.bsky.social
i know it sucks when art we like turns out to have grim undertones, but even aside from the very long history of fascists being into Tolkien I think Mills' central argument here is pretty indisputable
THE WRETCHED OF MIDDLE-EARTH: AN ORKISH MANIFESTO☆ Charles W. Mills Abstract: This previously-unpublished essay by the late Charles W. Mills (1951–2021) seeks to demonstrate the racially-structured character of the universe created by J. R. R. Tolkien in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Written long before the popular film series, the essay critically examines Tolkien’s novels and comments on the nature of fictional creation. Mills argues that Tolkien designs a racial hierarchy in the novels that recapitulates the central racist myth of European thought.
October 30, 2025 at 10:15 PM
marika.bsky.social
Delightful:
One tradition has it that the Church of Ireland numbers were so small in the parish that when Dean Jonathan Swift had charge of Kilroot and Templecorran parish he ministered at the latter and began one sermon with the memorable words ‘Dearly beloved Roger …’ (Roger being his manservant).
October 29, 2025 at 12:17 PM
marika.bsky.social
Thoroughly enjoyed this very silly story, with lots of fun bits both for former Narnia kids and also for academics; and I’m confident that most of youse are one or the other, if not both
Book cover: And Put Away Childish Things All roads lead to Underhill where it’s always winter and never nice. Harry Bodie has a famous grandmother, who wrote beloved children’s books set in the delightful world of Underhill. Harry himself is a failing kids TV presenter, whose every attempt to advance his career ends in self sabotage. His family history seems to be nothing but an impediment. An impediment… Or worse What if Underhill is real? What if it has been waiting decades for a promised child to visit? What if it isn’t delightful at all and what if its denizens have run out of patience and are taking matters into their own hands? It took Seitchman a moment to catch on. “Carolus Svoboda? Kind of. but mostly I specialise in accounts of visiting fairy and similar otherworlds. Which kind of drifted into analysis of portal fiction because that opens up a whole extra bucket of potential from the lit crowd.
October 28, 2025 at 7:36 PM
marika.bsky.social
Just watched Lilya 4ever and thought, I wonder what the director’s general understanding of sex work and trafficking is so dug around a bit and found this truly outstanding comment from him:
It feels like I am doing that research now. When we made the film, we received so many letters from organisations who were touched by the film and wanted to open a discussion because they were working with similar issues. Everyone - from someone at an orphanage in Chile to the Swedish foreign minister - got in touch. I am now learning a lot about trafficking and prostitution but when I started to write the script I knew exactly what I wanted to write. It was thrown into my head.
October 11, 2025 at 10:07 PM
marika.bsky.social
Screenshot of list of referencing styles, including three variations of Chicago style
October 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM
marika.bsky.social
oops
Origins of international war lie in scholastic theology (las Casas/Sepúlveda debate and Salamana school)
October 8, 2025 at 10:40 PM
marika.bsky.social
Call for papers for the SST annual conference is out now! Come join us in April to talk about theology and failure (generous bursaries available, especially if you're a grad student): www.theologysociety.org.uk/information/
Image of a poster, a mountain peak with a bright light at the top, expanding outwards in stained glass window rays. Text reads: SST Conference 2026. Theology: A Discipline of Failure? Keynote Speakers: Robert Beckford, The Queens Foundation, UK. Vincent Lloyd, Villanova University, USA. Marika Rose, Dublin City University, Ireland. 13-15 April, The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick. theologysociety.org.uk
October 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
marika.bsky.social
Further evidence of the limits of my theological training: I’m only just now learning about Jenny Geddes, stool riot legend
Janet "Jenny" Geddes (c. 1600 – c. 1660) was a Scottish market-trader in Edinburgh who is alleged to have thrown a stool at the head of the minister in St Giles' Cathedral in objection to the first public use of the Church of Scotland's revised version of the Book of Common Prayer, the 1637 Scottish Prayer Book. The act is reputed to have sparked the riot that led to the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, which included the English Civil War. when James Hannay, Dean of Edinburgh, began to read the Collects, part of the prescribed service, and Geddes, a market-woman or street-seller, threw her stool straight at the minister's head. Some sources describe it as a "fald stool" or a "creepie-stool", while others claim that it was a larger, three-legged cuttie-stool. As she hurled the stool she is reported to have yelled: "De'il gie you colic, the wame o' ye, fause thief; daur ye say Mass in my lug?" meaning "The Devil give you colic! The hide of you! (lit. "the belly of you") False thief! You dare say the Mass in my ear?" This was the start of a general tumult with much of the congregation shouting abuse and throwing Bibles, stools, sticks and stones. John Prebble reports the phrase "Daur ye say Mass in my lug?" as being addressed to a gentleman in the congregation who murmured a dutiful response to the liturgy, getting thumped with a Bible for his pains
October 3, 2025 at 11:07 AM
marika.bsky.social
The settlement website for the class action is now live and can be found here: www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com. It includes comprehensive information about the case and settlement, including a searchable tool to see if your books are included in the settlement and a claim form. The website also lists multiple avenues for you to get any questions answered by the Settlement Administrator or Class Counsel (the plaintiffs’ lawyers). If you need assistance or any more information, please reach out to them through those channels. If your works are included in this list, you will receive an official notice from the Settlement Administrator. However, you don’t need to wait for this notice to submit your claims form. The deadline to claim is 23 March 2026. Which authors will be eligible for payment? Authors based outside of the US are also eligible for payment. However, to be eligible for payment their works must: Have been downloaded from LibGen and/or PiLiMi Have been registered with the US Copyright Office within 3 months of publication or before it was downloaded by Anthropic and within 5 years of publication Have a valid ISBN or ASIN Because of the strict eligibility criteria, only approximately 500,000 titles out of the 7 million copies of books that Anthropic reportedly downloaded meet the definition required to be included in the works list. Rightholders will receive approximately $3,000 per eligible title, with an optional split of 50/50 between author and publisher for most books, and a tailored approach for education works.
October 2, 2025 at 2:06 PM
marika.bsky.social
A good day to revisit Robert Warrior's 1989 "Canaanites, Cowboys, and Indians: Deliverance, Conquest, and Liberation Theology Today": "Is there a god who will hear us and stand with us at Wounded Knee? Is there a god able to move among the pain of Nablus, Gaza and Soweto"?
With what voice will we, the Canaanites of the world, say, "Let my people go, and leave my people alone?" And, with what ears will followers of alien gods who have wooed us (Christians, Jews, Marxists, capitalists), listen to us? The indigenous people of this hemisphere have endured a subjugation now 100 years longer than the sojourn of Israel in Egypt. Is there a god, a spirit, who will hear us and stand with us in the Amazon, Osage County, and Wounded Knee? Is there a god, a spirit, able to move among the pain and anger of Nablus, Gaza, and Soweto? Perhaps. But we, the wretched of the earth, may be well-advised this time not to listen to outsiders with their promises of liberation and deliverance. We will perhaps do better to look elsewhere for our vision of justice, peace, and political sanity--a vision through which we escape not only our oppressors, but our oppression as well. Maybe, for once, we will just have to listen to ourselves, leaving the gods of this continent's real strangers to do battle among themselves.
September 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
marika.bsky.social
Reading the Augsburg Confession and very struck by this bit about confession, anyone have thoughts about what's going on here?
Article XI: Of Confession. Of Confession they teach that Private Absolution ought to be retained in the churches, although in confession an enumeration of all sins is not necessary. For it is impossible according to the Psalm: Who can understand his errors? Ps. 19, 12.
September 23, 2025 at 8:27 PM
marika.bsky.social
Ah yes St Paul, a universally beloved and not at all polarising and divisive figure
This measured response from the pontiff only highlights how inappropriate Cardinal Dolan’s St. Paul comparison truly is. Catholics are left in dismay, wondering how any church leader could see a man who sowed so much division as a latter-day Paul.
September 23, 2025 at 1:18 PM
marika.bsky.social
Really excellent piece on AI chatbots by @robhorning.bsky.social: substack.com/home/post/p-...
Where analysis deliberately steers toward moments of friction and conversational breakdown, chatbots are implemented to prevent conversations from breaking down and help users overcome their reluctance not through a difficult process of intersubjective negotiation but through “sycophancy” that has been demonstrated to encourage users in their delusions. These delusions may be manifestations of their unchecked fantasies, a product of resistances removed but not worked through. “We are full of sentences, and phrases, and words that we dare not speak, even to ourselves,” Phillips notes, but chatbots may change that, offering an occasion for us to use words, articulate thoughts, without being inhibited by any social implications.
September 22, 2025 at 11:03 AM
marika.bsky.social
Durham are going to be so insufferable about this, levels of Doxbridge never before known to humankind
Screenshot of article about how Oxford and Cambridge came fourth in the times university guide after St Andrews, LSE and Durham
September 19, 2025 at 12:13 PM
marika.bsky.social
Ooh it's a while since I've done a new one of these
Image of Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights with a title superimposed: "Theological Anthropology. Week 1: Introduction"
September 7, 2025 at 6:06 PM
marika.bsky.social
Very excited to receive my copy of Jakub Kowalewski’s new book in the post!
Hand holding a copy of the book, “A Philosophy of Climate Apocalypticism: In and Against the World” Screenshot of the back of the book with blurb and endorsements by me, Agata Bielik Robson and Thomas Lynch
August 6, 2025 at 9:24 PM
marika.bsky.social
The Iliad but instead of Helen of Troy it’s this cat we’ve been cat sitting and can’t bear to be parted from
A perfect ginger cat
July 30, 2025 at 11:34 AM