Benjamin Park
@benjaminepark.bsky.social
Historian, professor, author. Author/editor of 5 books, including AMERICAN ZION: A NEW HISTORY OF MORMONISM. views = my own
https://linktr.ee/benjaminepark
https://linktr.ee/benjaminepark
Pinned
I guess I should do a more formal intro, too.
I teach US history in Texas & write on intersections of religion, politics, & culture. I’ve authored 3 books & edited 2 more. My most recent is AMERICAN ZION: A NEW HISTORY OF MORMONISM. I’m currently working on Theodore Parker, religion, & abolition.
I teach US history in Texas & write on intersections of religion, politics, & culture. I’ve authored 3 books & edited 2 more. My most recent is AMERICAN ZION: A NEW HISTORY OF MORMONISM. I’m currently working on Theodore Parker, religion, & abolition.
It took about six hours, but I finally dug myself out of the holiday avalanche of emails.
Please nobody send me anything for a few weeks.
Please nobody send me anything for a few weeks.
January 5, 2026 at 8:54 PM
It took about six hours, but I finally dug myself out of the holiday avalanche of emails.
Please nobody send me anything for a few weeks.
Please nobody send me anything for a few weeks.
There are few texts I enjoy dissecting with students more than COMMON SENSE. So, happy 250th birthday to that book later this week. Here's some fun digging into when it actually appeared.
The first great American 250th anniversary date of the year arrives this Friday: the publication of Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, which occurred on January 9, 1776.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
January 5, 2026 at 6:16 PM
There are few texts I enjoy dissecting with students more than COMMON SENSE. So, happy 250th birthday to that book later this week. Here's some fun digging into when it actually appeared.
Warning: gag-worthy promotion thread.
First, if you're interested in Mormonism's approach to scripture, don't miss my YouTube Live discussion on the topic this Wednesday at 7pm MT. I'll be joined by the wonderful Bible scholar @maklelan.bsky.social. It should be a lot of fun.
First, if you're interested in Mormonism's approach to scripture, don't miss my YouTube Live discussion on the topic this Wednesday at 7pm MT. I'll be joined by the wonderful Bible scholar @maklelan.bsky.social. It should be a lot of fun.
January 5, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Warning: gag-worthy promotion thread.
First, if you're interested in Mormonism's approach to scripture, don't miss my YouTube Live discussion on the topic this Wednesday at 7pm MT. I'll be joined by the wonderful Bible scholar @maklelan.bsky.social. It should be a lot of fun.
First, if you're interested in Mormonism's approach to scripture, don't miss my YouTube Live discussion on the topic this Wednesday at 7pm MT. I'll be joined by the wonderful Bible scholar @maklelan.bsky.social. It should be a lot of fun.
Reposted by Benjamin Park
Rubio's description of the Venezuela operation as a "law enforcement action" recalls Truman's decision to frame the Korean War as a "police action," and it further blurs the boundaries between "war-making" and "domestic policing."
January 3, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Rubio's description of the Venezuela operation as a "law enforcement action" recalls Truman's decision to frame the Korean War as a "police action," and it further blurs the boundaries between "war-making" and "domestic policing."
Suddenly all those dem strategists that said focusing on Trump’s mental decline was a losing issue are looking even more foolish.
(They always looked foolish. Now just tragically so.)
(They always looked foolish. Now just tragically so.)
January 3, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Suddenly all those dem strategists that said focusing on Trump’s mental decline was a losing issue are looking even more foolish.
(They always looked foolish. Now just tragically so.)
(They always looked foolish. Now just tragically so.)
Somewhere John Bolton is shedding a tear and wishing he could have hung on just a little longer.
January 3, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Somewhere John Bolton is shedding a tear and wishing he could have hung on just a little longer.
“We’re going to run the country.” -Trump on Venezuela
My course on modern US always includes a lecture on “Imperialism At Home & Abroad.” The two always feed into each other. Even MAGA’s isolationist impulses can’t evade the pull of domestic authoritarianism leading to foreign entanglements.
My course on modern US always includes a lecture on “Imperialism At Home & Abroad.” The two always feed into each other. Even MAGA’s isolationist impulses can’t evade the pull of domestic authoritarianism leading to foreign entanglements.
January 3, 2026 at 5:02 PM
“We’re going to run the country.” -Trump on Venezuela
My course on modern US always includes a lecture on “Imperialism At Home & Abroad.” The two always feed into each other. Even MAGA’s isolationist impulses can’t evade the pull of domestic authoritarianism leading to foreign entanglements.
My course on modern US always includes a lecture on “Imperialism At Home & Abroad.” The two always feed into each other. Even MAGA’s isolationist impulses can’t evade the pull of domestic authoritarianism leading to foreign entanglements.
Reposted by Benjamin Park
"By proceeding without any semblance of international legitimacy, valid legal authority or domestic endorsement, Mr. Trump risks providing justification for authoritarians in China, Russia and elsewhere who want to dominate their own neighbors."
NYT Editorial Board
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
NYT Editorial Board
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
Opinion | Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 1:25 PM
"By proceeding without any semblance of international legitimacy, valid legal authority or domestic endorsement, Mr. Trump risks providing justification for authoritarians in China, Russia and elsewhere who want to dominate their own neighbors."
NYT Editorial Board
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
NYT Editorial Board
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
Reposted by Benjamin Park
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Reposted by Benjamin Park
Happy New Year! UVA Mormon Studies has plenty of exciting events and initiatives planned for 2026. Be sure to subscribe to our email announcements to stay up to date: mormonstudies.as.virginia.edu/subscribe/
January 2, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Happy New Year! UVA Mormon Studies has plenty of exciting events and initiatives planned for 2026. Be sure to subscribe to our email announcements to stay up to date: mormonstudies.as.virginia.edu/subscribe/
Really excited for ASCH next week. Always fun to hang out with religious history nerds.
New Year's Day means we are officially ONE WEEK away from our annual conference!
Don't forget to check out the conference program, featuring dozens of panels covering a wide range of Church History.
virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/e/ASCH2026/p...
Don't forget to check out the conference program, featuring dozens of panels covering a wide range of Church History.
virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/e/ASCH2026/p...
January 2, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Really excited for ASCH next week. Always fun to hang out with religious history nerds.
Your annual reminder that during the magical week between Christmas and New Year's, calories don't count and peanut butter fudge counts as a protein supplement.
December 31, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Your annual reminder that during the magical week between Christmas and New Year's, calories don't count and peanut butter fudge counts as a protein supplement.
Only highlight of my 24-hour travel home yesterday was re-watching Casino Royale. I forgot what an absolute banger that movie is. It’s so intimate and so distinct from the spectacle of the franchise’s later movies.
December 30, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Only highlight of my 24-hour travel home yesterday was re-watching Casino Royale. I forgot what an absolute banger that movie is. It’s so intimate and so distinct from the spectacle of the franchise’s later movies.
Celebrated Christmas by touring Rome and ate pizza & gelato for Christmas dinner. Not too shabby.
Be happy & merry, y’all.
Be happy & merry, y’all.
December 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Celebrated Christmas by touring Rome and ate pizza & gelato for Christmas dinner. Not too shabby.
Be happy & merry, y’all.
Be happy & merry, y’all.
The opening and closing scenes of the PLURIBUS finale, as well as much in between, were phenomenal.
What a season of television.
What a season of television.
a woman in a yellow jacket is talking on a phone
ALT: a woman in a yellow jacket is talking on a phone
media.tenor.com
December 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The opening and closing scenes of the PLURIBUS finale, as well as much in between, were phenomenal.
What a season of television.
What a season of television.
I really enjoyed WAKE UP DEAD MAN. I also thought it was a brilliant exploration of central fault lines in modern American religion, including the evangelical embrace of Trump. So like any nerd, I did a YouTube video on the topic. youtu.be/txZ9GQzF_gU
Wake Up Dead Man EXPOSES American Religion (Knives Out Analysis)
YouTube video by Benjamin Park, Historian
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 3:21 PM
I really enjoyed WAKE UP DEAD MAN. I also thought it was a brilliant exploration of central fault lines in modern American religion, including the evangelical embrace of Trump. So like any nerd, I did a YouTube video on the topic. youtu.be/txZ9GQzF_gU
Happy Smithmas!
To commemorate Joseph Smith’s 220th birthday, I have a YouTube video that uses a new @illinoispress.bsky.social book to explore the complexities of Mormons still singing “Praise to the Man” to such a complicated figure.
For fun, here’s Missionary Ben studying Smith’s teachings.
To commemorate Joseph Smith’s 220th birthday, I have a YouTube video that uses a new @illinoispress.bsky.social book to explore the complexities of Mormons still singing “Praise to the Man” to such a complicated figure.
For fun, here’s Missionary Ben studying Smith’s teachings.
December 23, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Happy Smithmas!
To commemorate Joseph Smith’s 220th birthday, I have a YouTube video that uses a new @illinoispress.bsky.social book to explore the complexities of Mormons still singing “Praise to the Man” to such a complicated figure.
For fun, here’s Missionary Ben studying Smith’s teachings.
To commemorate Joseph Smith’s 220th birthday, I have a YouTube video that uses a new @illinoispress.bsky.social book to explore the complexities of Mormons still singing “Praise to the Man” to such a complicated figure.
For fun, here’s Missionary Ben studying Smith’s teachings.
Reposted by Benjamin Park
Today is Joseph Smith's birthday. Check out the articles from our Mormon Studies reading list that are FREE until Dec 31 from @jmormonhist.bsky.social , @dialoguejournal.bsky.social , + Mormon Studies Review
cc: @benjaminepark.bsky.social @jstuart.bsky.social
www.press.uillinois.edu/wordpress/re...
cc: @benjaminepark.bsky.social @jstuart.bsky.social
www.press.uillinois.edu/wordpress/re...
December 23, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Today is Joseph Smith's birthday. Check out the articles from our Mormon Studies reading list that are FREE until Dec 31 from @jmormonhist.bsky.social , @dialoguejournal.bsky.social , + Mormon Studies Review
cc: @benjaminepark.bsky.social @jstuart.bsky.social
www.press.uillinois.edu/wordpress/re...
cc: @benjaminepark.bsky.social @jstuart.bsky.social
www.press.uillinois.edu/wordpress/re...
ICYMI: I highlighted some of my favorite history books from 2025.
While it’s certainly dark times, I found lots of joy from brilliant scholars last year. So to celebrate & promote them, I’m counting down my “Ten Favorite Books in US History from 2025.”
Caveats: I’m not claiming these as “best,” as I’m just one biased voice. Plus, I haven’t read everything. /1
Caveats: I’m not claiming these as “best,” as I’m just one biased voice. Plus, I haven’t read everything. /1
December 23, 2025 at 1:43 PM
ICYMI: I highlighted some of my favorite history books from 2025.
While it’s certainly dark times, I found lots of joy from brilliant scholars last year. So to celebrate & promote them, I’m counting down my “Ten Favorite Books in US History from 2025.”
Caveats: I’m not claiming these as “best,” as I’m just one biased voice. Plus, I haven’t read everything. /1
Caveats: I’m not claiming these as “best,” as I’m just one biased voice. Plus, I haven’t read everything. /1
December 22, 2025 at 9:01 PM
While it’s certainly dark times, I found lots of joy from brilliant scholars last year. So to celebrate & promote them, I’m counting down my “Ten Favorite Books in US History from 2025.”
Caveats: I’m not claiming these as “best,” as I’m just one biased voice. Plus, I haven’t read everything. /1
Caveats: I’m not claiming these as “best,” as I’m just one biased voice. Plus, I haven’t read everything. /1
For those interested in such things, here's a link to my latest newsletter, which includes links to all my recent videos, announcements of upcoming events, and other nerdy odds-and-ends. This one includes my ten favorite Mormon history books from 2025. benjaminpark.kit.com/posts/top-te...
My Top Ten Favorite Books in Mormon History from 2025: The Nerd's Newsletter for 12/20/25
benjaminpark.kit.com
December 21, 2025 at 7:34 PM
For those interested in such things, here's a link to my latest newsletter, which includes links to all my recent videos, announcements of upcoming events, and other nerdy odds-and-ends. This one includes my ten favorite Mormon history books from 2025. benjaminpark.kit.com/posts/top-te...
A #histgym complaint: Planet Fitness bought our local gym a couple months ago but promised to keep the weightlifting equipment. Well, the new power racks arrived & they’re horrible. Much worse quality and laughably low weight-bearing limits.
I feel my temple of refuge was desecrated!
I feel my temple of refuge was desecrated!
December 21, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A #histgym complaint: Planet Fitness bought our local gym a couple months ago but promised to keep the weightlifting equipment. Well, the new power racks arrived & they’re horrible. Much worse quality and laughably low weight-bearing limits.
I feel my temple of refuge was desecrated!
I feel my temple of refuge was desecrated!
Reposted by Benjamin Park
Absolutely right.
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
Not a historian but like to research. The AI might summarize what I'm looking for, but it doesn't find what I'm *not* looking for. The book on the shelf next to the one I wanted. The insight in chapter 6 based on the quote I needed from chapter 4.
December 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Absolutely right.
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
Oh gee, it's a good thing the CFP committee didn't take a chance on teams like Notre Dame and BYU, and instead went with the traditional powerhouse Alabama who are surely better than their 3-loss record indicates.
December 20, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Oh gee, it's a good thing the CFP committee didn't take a chance on teams like Notre Dame and BYU, and instead went with the traditional powerhouse Alabama who are surely better than their 3-loss record indicates.
People about to be diving into these records with the zeal of history grad students embarking on their first archive trip.
Breaking news: The Justice Department released a huge trove of documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
The materials could include grand jury testimony, investigative records, immunity deals, sealed settlements and more.
The materials could include grand jury testimony, investigative records, immunity deals, sealed settlements and more.
Justice Department releases huge trove of Jeffrey Epstein documents
The documents’ release would mark the culmination of a bipartisan push to force Trump and his administration to disclose more materials related to Epstein.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:31 PM
People about to be diving into these records with the zeal of history grad students embarking on their first archive trip.