Hanna Tervanotko

Why centuries-old astrology and tarot cards still appeal to us Divinatory practices like tarot card readings are on the rise. What may seem like harmless fun can also serve as a serious response to a chaotic world.

It is not surprising that 30% of Americans consult divinatory methods. In times of insecurity, people have always turned to different ways to make sense of the world. theconversation.com/why-centurie...

CSR Visiting Scholar Program – Call for Applications Visiting Scholar – Call for ApplicationsThe Center for the Study of Religion at The Ohio State University is pleased to announce the continuation of our short-term visiting scholar program.

Applications are due in two weeks for a visiting scholar at Ohio State's Center for the Study of Religion. Open only to scholars who are not in tenured or tenure-track positions. I look forward to being involved in the CSR in my new position at OSU and to welcoming this visiting scholar!

Many of Dead Sea scrolls may be older than thought, experts say Researchers enlisted help of AI along with radiocarbon dating to produce new insights into ancient texts

Very interesting new study dating the Dead Sea Scrolls.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

A trio of women, silhouetted against a sunset sky, lift their arms up in salutation.

On our WIHE microsite: @hannatervanotko.bsky.social, associate professor in Religious Studies, McMaster University, on the topic of "Women, Knowledge, and ‘the Wicked’—Deserving a Chance to Fly"

Wow, we are now being officially advised against travel to the USA by the Canadian Association of University Teachers. I never thought I'd see the day. ☹️ #AcademicChatter

How religion’s brand became unpopular in Canada Religion has been on the decline in Canada for years. Understanding how religion is viewed in society can help explain why.

Religion in the country where refugees from Gilead seek asylum

theconversation.com/how-religion...

Lecturer in Hebrew Bible

Lecture in Hebrew Bible

We are searching for a Scholar-in-Residence in Jewish Studies and Jewish-Christian Relations for the 2025-2026 academic year at Providence College www.schooljobs.com/careers/prov...

York University has announced the temporary suspension of admission in 20 programs, including Religious Studies (in which I teach). The administration cannot shut down programs directly but they can starve them, which is clearly the intention. (1/5)

York University recently announced that admissions to the Classics and Classical Studies programs have been suspended for Fall 2025. Classical Studies colleagues and students at York would be grateful for letters of support.

How you can help: www.cac-scec.ca/2025/02/supp...

AncientBluesky

Send some abstracts our way

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ancient Studies at the University of Bergen (275792) | University of Bergen Job title: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ancient Studies at the University of Bergen (275792), Employer: University of Bergen, Deadline: Monday, March 17, 2025

Postdoc position @UiB for project on material religion or religion of place with a focus on power, networks and sacrality in the ancient world. #Ancientbluesky #Acrel #archaeology #religiousstudies #materialreligion

Kosher—The History of Forbidden Foods Podcast Episode · Biblical Time Machine · 02/10/2025 · 54m

New podcast interview about the pig book: urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...

Are non-US academics changing any travel plans that involve the USA? E.g. reconsidering non-essential conferences, turning down invites, or is it business as usual? #AcademicSky

Esther holds up a salmon-pink hardcover book titled “Unruly Books: Rethinking Ancient and Academic Imaginations of Religious Texts,” edited by Esther Brownsmith, Liv Ingeborg Lied, and Marianne Bjelland Kartzow.

It’s all shiny and real now!

Cartoon of a conference setting, with the moderator telling the audience, "We have time for just one more long-winded, self-indulgent question that relates to nothing we've been talking about."

Academics: if you know, you know

Might be a good time to reread this book.

We're launching the Bluesky account of the Revue de Qumrân, hoping to find here a nice echo from the scientific community. 😊

Assistant / Associate professor or Professor of Latin language and Roman literature Assistant / Associate professor or Professor of Latin language and Roman literature

University of Helsinki looks for an Assistant/Associate Professor or Professor in Latin and Roman Literature #AncientBluesky ⚱️🦋
jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...

A sure sign that divination is a thing in 2025 is that there is a beer called "Tarot".

Will it provide you insights for your life remains to be tested (tasted) 🔮

4QHappy

Did I just read another endorsement letter where a male professor describes a female applicant as "hard-working," "caring," and "emotionally intelligent" as if these adjectives should convince the evaluator about their academic excellence? 🤦‍♀️ It is 2025. Please stop.

The New Rasputins Anti-science mysticism is enabling autocracy around the globe.

About esoteric religiosity: " In its new incarnation, the far right began to resemble the old far left. In some places, the two began to merge." www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

First academic read of the new year is a superb one by @sacrobosco.bsky.social—essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how historical ideas about reproductive bodies (as well as the misapprehension of these ideas) continue to inform our present, often in infuriating ways.

I'm thrilled to share my first peer-reviewed #Disney /religion publication, which is open-access in Religion Compass! "Exploring Disney's World's Through Religious Studies." compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #AmRel #AcRel Immense thanks to reviewers; all errors mine <g>

"There’s this myth that men’s lives are ruined when they’re accused of sexual violence—it isn’t just untrue, it becomes the justification for giving them benefits to compensate for that notion.”

file under: why shaily gets upset every time social media profs berate colleagues who set boundaries with students or who aren’t endlessly accommodating.

yes, we should do our best to meet students where they are. no, this work is not equally distributed.

My favorite #nativity scene, which honors local fishing village traditions, in #Puglia this year. 🎣☀️

Magazine article with photo of latkes with the headline potato latkes, an invented tradition, byline Rachel B. Gross

Second page of article about the history of potato latkes

I wrote about the shockingly recent history of potato latkes and teaching about the development of holiday traditions for @jewishsf.bsky.social, included in a recipe booklet sent out to donors

PDF: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fu583...