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James Bielo

@secondhandsacred.bsky.social

430 followers 400 following 160 posts

Associate Professor, Dept. of Religious Studies, Northwestern University

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James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · Nov 24

Hi Bluesky! I’m James Bielo, an anthropologist of religion. Secondhand Sacred is my current work, exploring the circulation of Christian material culture thru 2nd economies. This includes a series of public exhibits, like Domestic Devotion & (Ir)Reverent Fun. Follow along for project updates!

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James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · 14h

View-Master premiered at the 1939 NY World’s Fair. Descendant of the stereoscope, ancestor of the VR headset. They are still made, though they stopped producing travel reels in 2008. These were found at an Evanston antiques store #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · 4d

What happens when you follow the traces and trails of a bible comic? Read the latest 'Collecting Religion' essay by Christina Pasqua and find out. It's a *really* good one!! collectingreligion.wordpress.com/2025/10/06/o...

Old Forgotten Children’s Books?

by Christina Pasqua Archival Collections When visiting the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at the Ohio State University in spring 2025, I pulled an item from the collection called “The S…

collectingreligion.wordpress.com

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James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · 4d

Thrifted this scarf on Friday for the Wearing & Carrying exhibit #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · 8d

Three tracts found this week: two from little free libraries, one on a campus sidewalk (complete with/ shoeprint) #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · 11d

Thrifted. #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · 14d

Goodwill find yesterday. #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · 16d

Thanks to Kristin Balzer for contributing this tract to the collection. Found on the ground in Evanston, IL #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · 21d

Last rites kits are a relatively common secondhand find. More often than not, they are incomplete. Here, ephemera remained #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · 25d

Two Jesus-themed dexterity palm puzzles. New #ebaymethod addition to the Playful Devotion exhibit. What’s that? Curious about the history of these patience games? No problem, Barbara Levine & Jessica Helfand have got you: www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/45/le... #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · 28d

What links this cassette to these two books? I follow the trail in a new essay, written for an exciting project hosted by Valentina Gamberi - valentinagamberi.eu/the-ringmast... #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · Sep 9

An #ebaymethod find: Christian Science card set from 1964-65 NY World’s Fair. Front sticker is from a previous sale. Was happy seller accepted my $6 offer. This Fair had multiple religious exhibitions: www.jstor.org/stable/10.57... #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · Sep 1

Went to my first estate sale in ~3 months on Sat. Home of a 92-year old man, 9 years a widower, who relocated to VA to live w/ his son. He was a longtime member of a local Assemblies of God church, & had amassed a large collection. Here’s a small sample from my $30 haul. #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · Aug 29

Found this 1950 Book of Mormon last week at an antiques store in Hartford. The fourth edition now in the collection. I often daydream about a Mountain West research trip where I hit secondhand stores from Boise to Provo. One day! #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · Aug 28

Just reviewed chapter proofs and looking forward to seeing this out in the world. It’s part of a really great volume edited by Petra Kuppinger: books.google.com/books/about/... #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · Aug 28

1976, gospel LP #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · Aug 27

Thrifted this 1970 paperback. First I’ve learned about this cycling ministry/performance of evangelical masculinity. Hear a short interview with the founder here: indianapublicradio.org/indianaweeke... #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · Aug 26

A Hartford antiques store find. Hand painted Polish icon, c.1989 #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · Aug 25

Belt buckle. First one thrifted: two others in the collection are eBay and estate sale finds. #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · Aug 21

Just thrifted these three chalk ware statues. St Martha stands 26 inches tall. #secondhandsacred

James Bielo @secondhandsacred.bsky.social · Aug 19

A few recent additions to the in-progress End Times exhibit. Some collectors want materials in pristine condition. Not me. This bent, torn, creased, taped cover is value-added, for the trace it offers of a life in circulation #secondhandsacred