Jonathan Heaps
@jonathanrheaps.bsky.social
Director, Lonergan Institute at Seton Hall University // *The Ambiguity of Being: Lonergan and the Problems of the Supernatural* (CUA Press)
Pinned
CFP: "Belief: Still Today's Issue," The International Institute for Method in Theology's Spring Colloquium. March 6-7, 2026 at Marquette University.
Submissions due Dec. 1
Submissions due Dec. 1
If you were thinking of submitting a proposal to this but didn't get around to it by the deadline, I can extend it to *this Friday, Dec 12*
Reposted by Jonathan Heaps
the other important to keep in mind here is that psychological research pretty consistently indicates that empathy — once activated — tends to be parochial rather than universal in terms of who it encourages use to be prosocial toward compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
January 10, 2026 at 12:11 AM
the other important to keep in mind here is that psychological research pretty consistently indicates that empathy — once activated — tends to be parochial rather than universal in terms of who it encourages use to be prosocial toward compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Oskar (10) was just hypothesizing that Bluey takes place in the Mad Max universe, but even farther in the post-nuclear Aussie future. Humans are extinct, dogs have evolved, etc.
three cartoon dogs are sitting in a truck
ALT: three cartoon dogs are sitting in a truck
media.tenor.com
January 9, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Oskar (10) was just hypothesizing that Bluey takes place in the Mad Max universe, but even farther in the post-nuclear Aussie future. Humans are extinct, dogs have evolved, etc.
Beyond my religious commitments, this is a big reason that I think principles and practices of non-violence are so important to commit ourselves to; bc—maybe counter-intuitively—our biology inclines the morally sensitive towards violence.
Something to keep in mind about empathy, compassion, & any other form of “feeling with” those who suffer:
Pain, in mammals, produces aggression.
And whatever else you are, you’re not less than a mammal.
Pain, in mammals, produces aggression.
And whatever else you are, you’re not less than a mammal.
January 9, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Beyond my religious commitments, this is a big reason that I think principles and practices of non-violence are so important to commit ourselves to; bc—maybe counter-intuitively—our biology inclines the morally sensitive towards violence.
Something to keep in mind about empathy, compassion, & any other form of “feeling with” those who suffer:
Pain, in mammals, produces aggression.
And whatever else you are, you’re not less than a mammal.
Pain, in mammals, produces aggression.
And whatever else you are, you’re not less than a mammal.
January 9, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Something to keep in mind about empathy, compassion, & any other form of “feeling with” those who suffer:
Pain, in mammals, produces aggression.
And whatever else you are, you’re not less than a mammal.
Pain, in mammals, produces aggression.
And whatever else you are, you’re not less than a mammal.
I’m on the AI skeptical side, but Whoop’s AI coaching bot is pretty great.
January 9, 2026 at 9:33 PM
I’m on the AI skeptical side, but Whoop’s AI coaching bot is pretty great.
Definitely moving The Martyrdom of Perpetua & Felicity up as early as I can justify in my syllabus this semester. Probably right after The Crito.
January 9, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Definitely moving The Martyrdom of Perpetua & Felicity up as early as I can justify in my syllabus this semester. Probably right after The Crito.
Reposted by Jonathan Heaps
Also note that if you're one of those weirdos who checks bsky on the web, these settings turn themselves back on every time you log in...
January 9, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Also note that if you're one of those weirdos who checks bsky on the web, these settings turn themselves back on every time you log in...
“This is why the Son of God became man, suffered, died, & was raised again: bc divine wisdom has ordained & divine goodness has willed, not to do away w/ the evils of the human race thru power, but to convert those same evils into a supreme good according to the just & mysterious law of the cross.”
I wrote a book about ancient Christian martyrdom and this is really sticking with me
the stories of martyrs emphasized their righteousness and self-control in the face of state authorities who lacked both
early Christians sought to train themselves to replicate that way of being from the stories
the stories of martyrs emphasized their righteousness and self-control in the face of state authorities who lacked both
early Christians sought to train themselves to replicate that way of being from the stories
January 9, 2026 at 7:58 PM
“This is why the Son of God became man, suffered, died, & was raised again: bc divine wisdom has ordained & divine goodness has willed, not to do away w/ the evils of the human race thru power, but to convert those same evils into a supreme good according to the just & mysterious law of the cross.”
👇
to turn off autoplaying video on the bluesky mobile app
select the icon in the top left corner
go to settings
go to content and media
make sure "autoplay videos and gifs" is toggled off
select the icon in the top left corner
go to settings
go to content and media
make sure "autoplay videos and gifs" is toggled off
January 9, 2026 at 7:18 PM
👇
Belief: Still Today’s Issue
like at some point you have to be able to recognize you are no longer in the realm of doxa/opinion
January 9, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Belief: Still Today’s Issue
Reposted by Jonathan Heaps
As @justinlevitt.bsky.social told me in August, "The president passing an executive order that purports to tell state election officials how to do their jobs is the same as me writing a note to a state election official on a Burger King receipt." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
More from the party of federalism: "the states are merely an agent for the federal government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the federal government, as represented by the president of the United States, tells them, for the good of the country, to do."
January 9, 2026 at 6:16 PM
As @justinlevitt.bsky.social told me in August, "The president passing an executive order that purports to tell state election officials how to do their jobs is the same as me writing a note to a state election official on a Burger King receipt." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by Jonathan Heaps
It sounds like these goondas are being told that 18 U.S.C. 111 means they can arrest anyone who protests or “opposes” them. They seem to have missed the “forcibly” part. Also, not for nothing, but this crime is a misdemeanor www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/...
January 9, 2026 at 4:58 PM
It sounds like these goondas are being told that 18 U.S.C. 111 means they can arrest anyone who protests or “opposes” them. They seem to have missed the “forcibly” part. Also, not for nothing, but this crime is a misdemeanor www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/...
Reposted by Jonathan Heaps
so yeah, it can be extremely scary but it's important to know your rights
I think it is probably a bad idea to put clearly unhinged, angry psychopaths in federal law enforcement positions.
January 9, 2026 at 3:42 PM
so yeah, it can be extremely scary but it's important to know your rights
Reposted by Jonathan Heaps
Hello Bluesky: if you are a reporter who would be interested in covering an upcoming memorial prayer service for victims of ICE outside of the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, NJ, please DM me so I can put you in contact with organizers.
January 9, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Hello Bluesky: if you are a reporter who would be interested in covering an upcoming memorial prayer service for victims of ICE outside of the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, NJ, please DM me so I can put you in contact with organizers.
Reposted by Jonathan Heaps
NEW: In the wake of Renee Nicole Good's killing, and as part of the Permanent Subcmte on Investigations' ongoing inquiry into DHS use of excessive force against US citizens, Sen. Blumenthal sent a letter to Secretary Noem demanding information on ICE training policies by Jan 23.
January 9, 2026 at 5:46 PM
NEW: In the wake of Renee Nicole Good's killing, and as part of the Permanent Subcmte on Investigations' ongoing inquiry into DHS use of excessive force against US citizens, Sen. Blumenthal sent a letter to Secretary Noem demanding information on ICE training policies by Jan 23.
On the one hand, I find it difficult to see how any argument that contingent being is intelligible but doesn’t need sufficient reason to exist can avoid being self-defeating. Hence suspicion.
On the other, I think there’s an enormous range of possible answers to what that sufficient reason is.
On the other, I think there’s an enormous range of possible answers to what that sufficient reason is.
Similarly & somewhat to my own surprise, I find myself of the view that, insofar as the university in general is predicated on the intelligibility of reality, within its ambit, atheism should be a minority view treated w/ suspicion.
The trick, of course, is you have to persuade people of that.
The trick, of course, is you have to persuade people of that.
I am not sure how good I am at concealing my complete disdain for whether or not it's awkward to discuss Catholicism in a theology course required by a Catholic school. "Of course it is," I always think, "and I don't care that it is." Which I think shows on my face.
January 9, 2026 at 5:29 PM
On the one hand, I find it difficult to see how any argument that contingent being is intelligible but doesn’t need sufficient reason to exist can avoid being self-defeating. Hence suspicion.
On the other, I think there’s an enormous range of possible answers to what that sufficient reason is.
On the other, I think there’s an enormous range of possible answers to what that sufficient reason is.
Similarly & somewhat to my own surprise, I find myself of the view that, insofar as the university in general is predicated on the intelligibility of reality, within its ambit, atheism should be a minority view treated w/ suspicion.
The trick, of course, is you have to persuade people of that.
The trick, of course, is you have to persuade people of that.
I am not sure how good I am at concealing my complete disdain for whether or not it's awkward to discuss Catholicism in a theology course required by a Catholic school. "Of course it is," I always think, "and I don't care that it is." Which I think shows on my face.
January 9, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Similarly & somewhat to my own surprise, I find myself of the view that, insofar as the university in general is predicated on the intelligibility of reality, within its ambit, atheism should be a minority view treated w/ suspicion.
The trick, of course, is you have to persuade people of that.
The trick, of course, is you have to persuade people of that.
Reposted by Jonathan Heaps
I really firmly believe that getting on with normal good work done to the best of our abilities is a valid form of resistance to the death and despair dealing powers of our world.
I have seen a lot of people say “what’s the point?” of doing their academic work in particular, and I get that. It’s like grief: the inbox, the day to day, doesn’t reflect any of the feelings.
But, gosh, a part of me stubbornly thinks: they want us to never think, they want it so badly.
But, gosh, a part of me stubbornly thinks: they want us to never think, they want it so badly.
January 9, 2026 at 2:16 PM
I really firmly believe that getting on with normal good work done to the best of our abilities is a valid form of resistance to the death and despair dealing powers of our world.
My forthcoming Commonweal piece addresses this in Lonergan’s terms. The shorter cycles of decline are shorter bc they create crises that grab our attention. But the longer cycle unfolds bc we let those crises monopolize our attention, making us just thoughtless enough not to address the deep issues.
I have seen a lot of people say “what’s the point?” of doing their academic work in particular, and I get that. It’s like grief: the inbox, the day to day, doesn’t reflect any of the feelings.
But, gosh, a part of me stubbornly thinks: they want us to never think, they want it so badly.
But, gosh, a part of me stubbornly thinks: they want us to never think, they want it so badly.
January 9, 2026 at 2:18 PM
My forthcoming Commonweal piece addresses this in Lonergan’s terms. The shorter cycles of decline are shorter bc they create crises that grab our attention. But the longer cycle unfolds bc we let those crises monopolize our attention, making us just thoughtless enough not to address the deep issues.
Reposted by Jonathan Heaps
Also, being married with 3 kids is wild bc you can be in the same room with your partner for *long* stretches without *really* talking to each other.
Annie has been in trial all this week so we finally got to have a conversation about what happened in MN & OR this morning & now I’m beside myself all over again. If/When Dems take Congress at the midterm, the only business has to be impeaching & removing corrupt executive branch officers.
January 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Also, being married with 3 kids is wild bc you can be in the same room with your partner for *long* stretches without *really* talking to each other.
Annie has been in trial all this week so we finally got to have a conversation about what happened in MN & OR this morning & now I’m beside myself all over again. If/When Dems take Congress at the midterm, the only business has to be impeaching & removing corrupt executive branch officers.
January 9, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Annie has been in trial all this week so we finally got to have a conversation about what happened in MN & OR this morning & now I’m beside myself all over again. If/When Dems take Congress at the midterm, the only business has to be impeaching & removing corrupt executive branch officers.
Annie asked me to grow my beard out and the girls asked me to grow my hair out. I’m in the middle of meeting both requests and the vibe is distinctly “mid-tier US Civil War general”
January 9, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Annie asked me to grow my beard out and the girls asked me to grow my hair out. I’m in the middle of meeting both requests and the vibe is distinctly “mid-tier US Civil War general”
Reposted by Jonathan Heaps
Since this was Border Patrol there should be body camera video, and there is no bystander video so its very important that it be preserved and released oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/01/08/f...
Federal agents shoot two people in Portland, police say • Oregon Capital Chronicle
Federal agents shot and injured two people in east Portland on Thursday afternoon, according to the Portland Police Bureau.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Since this was Border Patrol there should be body camera video, and there is no bystander video so its very important that it be preserved and released oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/01/08/f...