Isaac Arten
@drisaacactually.bsky.social
Theologian and cultural historian of theology
My university now provides Microsoft's AI tools to all of its faculty and staff. We're a Jesuit school: we care about formation for the whole *person*. Not a single philosopher, ethicist, or theologian was involved in drafting the new AI usage policies. It's malpractice to promote this nonsense.
November 15, 2025 at 3:56 AM
My university now provides Microsoft's AI tools to all of its faculty and staff. We're a Jesuit school: we care about formation for the whole *person*. Not a single philosopher, ethicist, or theologian was involved in drafting the new AI usage policies. It's malpractice to promote this nonsense.
Reposted by Isaac Arten
Grateful to @truahrabbis.bsky.social for teaching this important classical midrash:
"God created the first human being out of dust from the four corners of the earth [because], every place a person goes, a part of them is from there and a part of them is returning there.”
"God created the first human being out of dust from the four corners of the earth [because], every place a person goes, a part of them is from there and a part of them is returning there.”
![Thanks to @truahrabbis.bsky.social for teaching me this midrash (Yalkut Shimoni 13:2):
God created the 1st human from dust from the 4 corners of earth so “if one comes from the east to the west [near death], the land will not say, ‘The dust of your body isn’t mine. Go back to where you were created!’ Rather, every place a person goes, a part of them is from there and a part of them is returning there.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4eedw4y6ei2dqjgspjeskzlk/bafkreia6rjx3ljwgy6z5jjiqxxk7a3kd24zkt7gf76sdfx7h6q3f36r2hm@jpeg)
June 13, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Grateful to @truahrabbis.bsky.social for teaching this important classical midrash:
"God created the first human being out of dust from the four corners of the earth [because], every place a person goes, a part of them is from there and a part of them is returning there.”
"God created the first human being out of dust from the four corners of the earth [because], every place a person goes, a part of them is from there and a part of them is returning there.”
"You read books, eh?" A 1949 red scare Herblock cartoon about pressures on teachers that hits hard once again.
May 21, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Past Isaac was fond of writing "A bit more here..." in comments, then leaving the revisions long enough that he forgot what the "more" was supposed to elaborate on...
There are not words to describe what I think of Past Dean right now... Well there are, but I try not to use those words online.
May 15, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Past Isaac was fond of writing "A bit more here..." in comments, then leaving the revisions long enough that he forgot what the "more" was supposed to elaborate on...
As an historian, I just feel like more people should know about this 1831 cartoon of a tyrant gorging on tax money and pooping out favors for his rich friends...
April 9, 2025 at 1:02 PM
As an historian, I just feel like more people should know about this 1831 cartoon of a tyrant gorging on tax money and pooping out favors for his rich friends...
Reposted by Isaac Arten
Every day should be trans day of visibility--
for those of you who are out, shine big, gorgeous ones. 💖
and for those of you for whom it's not safe, now-- please stay safe and know how loved you are. 💜
And for everyone in solidarity, here's a great way to show up with cash dollars:
for those of you who are out, shine big, gorgeous ones. 💖
and for those of you for whom it's not safe, now-- please stay safe and know how loved you are. 💜
And for everyone in solidarity, here's a great way to show up with cash dollars:
Trans Youth Emergency Project: Supporting Families of Trans Youth
Supporting families of trans youth nationwide through the logistical and financial burdens of navigating bans on gender-affirming care.
southernequality.org
March 31, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Every day should be trans day of visibility--
for those of you who are out, shine big, gorgeous ones. 💖
and for those of you for whom it's not safe, now-- please stay safe and know how loved you are. 💜
And for everyone in solidarity, here's a great way to show up with cash dollars:
for those of you who are out, shine big, gorgeous ones. 💖
and for those of you for whom it's not safe, now-- please stay safe and know how loved you are. 💜
And for everyone in solidarity, here's a great way to show up with cash dollars:
Reposted by Isaac Arten
This seems like a good time to remind folks of what Hannah Arendt once wrote:
March 25, 2025 at 1:32 AM
This seems like a good time to remind folks of what Hannah Arendt once wrote:
Reposted by Isaac Arten
When I said "read Orwell" I meant "Politics and the English Language" and "What is Fascism?"
intellectualtakeout.org/2015/12/geor...
www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-f...
intellectualtakeout.org/2015/12/geor...
www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-f...
Politics and the English Language | The Orwell Foundation
"Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."
www.orwellfoundation.com
March 21, 2025 at 9:04 PM
When I said "read Orwell" I meant "Politics and the English Language" and "What is Fascism?"
intellectualtakeout.org/2015/12/geor...
www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-f...
intellectualtakeout.org/2015/12/geor...
www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-f...
Ironic professor life: I'm writing a lecture on the intellectual virtue of curiosity and realize I need to look up some basic fact; immediately get distracted by three social media tabs and forget what I needed to find out and now I've become the negative example in my own lecture...
March 21, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Ironic professor life: I'm writing a lecture on the intellectual virtue of curiosity and realize I need to look up some basic fact; immediately get distracted by three social media tabs and forget what I needed to find out and now I've become the negative example in my own lecture...
Historian of Christianity here: the term for a prophet who asks for money for prophecy is "false prophet."
"And an apostle at his departure should accept nothing but as much provisions as will last him to his next night's lodging. If he asks for money, he is a false prophet." (The Didache)
"And an apostle at his departure should accept nothing but as much provisions as will last him to his next night's lodging. If he asks for money, he is a false prophet." (The Didache)
White House faith adviser Paula White says there is a narrow "prophetic season" for God to bless you, but only if you give her $133, so act now.
March 11, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Historian of Christianity here: the term for a prophet who asks for money for prophecy is "false prophet."
"And an apostle at his departure should accept nothing but as much provisions as will last him to his next night's lodging. If he asks for money, he is a false prophet." (The Didache)
"And an apostle at his departure should accept nothing but as much provisions as will last him to his next night's lodging. If he asks for money, he is a false prophet." (The Didache)
I think a workshop full of project parts is the woodworker's equivalent of the academic's desk covered in books (so naturally I have both!)
March 4, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I think a workshop full of project parts is the woodworker's equivalent of the academic's desk covered in books (so naturally I have both!)
Let's have a cute rabbit picture to start with! I call this one "Hazel Augustus."
March 4, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Let's have a cute rabbit picture to start with! I call this one "Hazel Augustus."