It lives!!

Church History cover

Thank you to @randalljstephens.bsky.social, Joao Chaves, @johnmaiden.bsky.social, and David Stowe for critically engaging God Gave Rock & Roll to You: a History of Contemporary Christian Music - honored doesn't begin to cover it!

Great to see this in print, celebrating @drleahpayne.bsky.social 's excellent book, with @randalljstephens.bsky.social and friends.

What an honor to think about CCM and its many meanings with some of my favorite scholar colleagues!

Today's by-election is another illustration of the problems with FPTP.

The result may tell us less about what voters want to happen than whether they can game the system effectively to stop a result most *don't* want.

The electoral system should not be an obstacle that voters have to work around.

Seems somewhat relevant to current politics around building use...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

To add to this fascinating discussion...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

This GOOD BOY ran onto the course during the Women’s Cross-Country Skiing Team Sprint event, crossing the finish line and being automatically recorded by OMEGA’s photofinish camera 😆

I've written to Manchester United telling them what I think of Jim Ratcliffe. I first went to Manchester United when I was 8 years old. My mum, my granddad, great-granddad all supporters. What an embarrassment he is.

Embarrassed to be a Manchester United supporter this morning.

Modern Religious History Seminar

www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
#Skystorians ! This term the @ihr.bsky.social @ihrmodernrelighist.bsky.social
Speakers include David Feldman (@bisa-bkk.bsky.social ), Priscilla Pope-Levison and John Coffey.

Check out this blog piece by my OU colleague Stefanie Sinclair on the future of #ReligiousEducation curriculum in England. This is an important moment and opportunity for the subject area.

www.open.ac.uk/blogs/religi...

@openuniversity.bsky.social
#RE
@culhamstgabriel.bsky.social

Radiohead
Manic Street Preachers
Rush
Sigur Ros
Robert Plant

How religious groups support peacebuilding in the UK What contribution can religious groups make to community relations and peacebuilding?

Some films I was involved in making about religion and peacebuilding: on the #Corrymeela Community and the St Philip's Centre, #Leicester
www.open.edu/openlearn/hi...

Thanks to Riaz Ravat and Alex Wimberly for their interviews.
#peacebuilding
@openuniversity.bsky.social

Charismatic Renewal and the Troubles on the island of Ireland

www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

I'll be talking about new research on charismatic Christianity and the Troubles at @ihrmodernrelighist.bsky.social on Weds 26 Nov (please note this talk is online only). Booking via the link.

@ihr.bsky.social
#skystorians

Well this was an unexpected opportunity while visiting Notre Dame! This audio archive is going to be an incredible resource for research on liberation theology.

www.reonline.org.uk/2025/11/06/a...
"a once-in-a-generation opportunity"
"I urge the religion and worldviews community-educators, faith and belief groups and policymakers – to come together for the common good"
Very much endorse @kathrynfenlodge.bsky.social on this.
@culhamstgabriel.bsky.social

Thanks Josh Cass and @culhamstgabriel.bsky.social for this review of our book on teaching religious diversity, past and present.

www.reonline.org.uk/2025/11/03/t...

Digital Storytelling for Local History (London) Are you interested in local history? Do you have photographs, stories, archival material, memories about somewhere - perhaps a local pub, church, school, or area. In this workshop you will be taught h...

Have you researched a place’s history? Would you like support to turn your research material into a video? Check out these 2 free events in @beinghumanfest.bsky.social with @ihr.bsky.social & @vch-home.bsky.social www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/digit... www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/digit...

Sex, Health and the Anglo-Jewish Body This paper will explore the history of discourses around sexual health in Britain's Jewish community across the 20th century.

👋 Historians! The IHR Modern Religious History Seminar is now on Bluesky. Follow us for updates on our 2025-6 programme. Up next:

Aleph Ross (Birmingham) on Sex, Health and the Anglo-Jewish Body.

🗓️ 15 OCT 2025 5:30pm
📍 @ihr.bsky.social and online

Sign up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Rush reform for first time since drummer Neil Peart’s death Canadian prog-rockers will play seven concerts in summer 2026 in the US, Canada and Mexico, after hiring new drummer Anika Nilles

Move over #Oasis. This is the reunion tour that matters. And I’m a Manc.
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...
#rush

Sex, Health and the Anglo-Jewish Body This paper will explore the history of discourses around sexual health in Britain's Jewish community across the 20th century.

Our first @ihr.bsky.social Modern Religious History seminar of the year is 15 October at 17.30 UK time. Our speaker is @alephross.bsky.social .

To book:
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

#Skystorians #history @hannahelias.bsky.social @dralanagharris.bsky.social @graceheaton.bsky.social

Synagogue attack: the Manchester I know – by antisemitism researcher and Mancunian Jew Manchester Jewry has maintained an extraordinarily strong local identity, but is notable in its diversity.

"Synagogue attack: the Manchester I know – by antisemitism researcher and Mancunian Jew" by Tony Kushner, James Parkes Professor of Jewish/non-Jewish Relations theconversation.com/synagogue-at...

Great first session of #Evangelical Studies Program conference with Bruce Hindmarsh, Kerrie Handasyde, Priscilla Pope-Levison & Thomas Kidd. Join us tomorrow for David Bebbington, Andrew Atherstone, Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, John Amalraj & Allison Kach-Yawnghwe. #ESP2025

events.baylorisr.org

You can get 30% off the new @oxfordacademic.bsky.social paperback edition of Age of the Spirit using the promo code below. 😀

Just visit global.oup.com/academic and use code AUFLY30

Please help me spread the word! 👍 #skystorians #religiousstudies #religioushistory #pentecostalism

Supporting Manchester United is making me miserable.

Age of the Spirit by John G. Maiden | Waterstones Buy Age of the Spirit by John G. Maiden from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.

Excited to announce that the paperback edition of Age of the Spirt, a #history of #charismatic #Christianity, is out on 26 September (on my birthday no less!). Pre-order here or at your preferred retailer! Thanks to OUP for making this happen.
www.waterstones.com/book/age-of-...

Contributing Editors at The Herefordshire Victoria County History Trust An opportunity for an academic position as a Contributing Editors is available, as advertised on jobs.ac.uk. Apply now and explore other academic job openings.

New #Skystorians job alert!

The impressive VCH Herefordshire project have been fundraising hard for some time and are now able to advertise two contributing editor roles which will work towards completing work histories of Ledbury and the Malvern Hills.

Details in the link below. 1/2

Safeguarding Theology & Religious Studies in higher education: an open letter As students receive their A–Level results today, Theos have put together this open letter highlighting the importance of religious education in higher education. 14/08/2025

www.theosthinktank.co.uk/in-the-news/...

For those who missed this in August, an important open letter on the value of #Theology and #ReligiousStudies in UK #highereducation.

But I’m on my way to a conference…!?