Leslie Baynes
@lesliebaynes.bsky.social
Assoc. prof of New Testament and Second Temple Judaism at Missouri State University. My new book forthcoming from Eerdmans: Between Interpretation and Imagination: C. S. Lewis and the Bible (2025). #academicbluesky
David Bentley Hart's endorsement of my new book Between Interpretation and Imagination, which is now available on Amazon:
October 27, 2025 at 11:39 PM
David Bentley Hart's endorsement of my new book Between Interpretation and Imagination, which is now available on Amazon:
I so enjoyed getting to know Nadya Williams, host of the Christians Reading Classics podcast @mereorthodoxy. We talked about C. S. Lewis's The Great Divorce and my new book from Eerdmans on Lewis and the Bible. The podcast is available on Apple and Spotify. #booksky sites.libsyn.com/587875/cs-le...
Christians Reading Classics
Christians Reading Classics is a podcast about classic books being read through a distinctly Christian lens. Hosted by author and classicist, Nadya Williams, Christians Reading Classics introduces—or ...
sites.libsyn.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I so enjoyed getting to know Nadya Williams, host of the Christians Reading Classics podcast @mereorthodoxy. We talked about C. S. Lewis's The Great Divorce and my new book from Eerdmans on Lewis and the Bible. The podcast is available on Apple and Spotify. #booksky sites.libsyn.com/587875/cs-le...
My forthcoming book on C. S. Lewis and the Bible is now the #1 top new release in its category! Wow!
October 7, 2025 at 3:39 PM
My forthcoming book on C. S. Lewis and the Bible is now the #1 top new release in its category! Wow!
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
Two kinds of people don’t get why we study religion: people who think religion is bad and not studying it will make it go away and people who think religion is good—but just their own—so keep your critical hands off it. Both are wrong about what religious studies is. (See first comments on op.)
Virginia Tech, the University of Oregon, Indiana University have all proposed cuts to religious studies programs. Why?
Why Religious Studies Is in Trouble
As colleges plan to make cuts, departments in this field are finding themselves on the chopping block.
www.chronicle.com
September 9, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Two kinds of people don’t get why we study religion: people who think religion is bad and not studying it will make it go away and people who think religion is good—but just their own—so keep your critical hands off it. Both are wrong about what religious studies is. (See first comments on op.)
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
“It is a hallmark of failing societies, I’ve learned, this requirement that one always be in possession of a valid reason to exist.” -Omar El Akkad
August 30, 2025 at 1:05 PM
“It is a hallmark of failing societies, I’ve learned, this requirement that one always be in possession of a valid reason to exist.” -Omar El Akkad
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
Voor de CS Lewis - fans: in november verschijnt "Between Interpretation and Imagination
C. S. Lewis and the Bible" van @lesliebaynes.bsky.social www.eerdmans.com/978146746970...
C. S. Lewis and the Bible" van @lesliebaynes.bsky.social www.eerdmans.com/978146746970...
Between Interpretation and Imagination
A New Testament scholar illuminates C. S. Lewis’s writings on the BibleIn this highly original study, New Testament scholar Leslie Baynes illuminates C. S....
www.eerdmans.com
August 30, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Voor de CS Lewis - fans: in november verschijnt "Between Interpretation and Imagination
C. S. Lewis and the Bible" van @lesliebaynes.bsky.social www.eerdmans.com/978146746970...
C. S. Lewis and the Bible" van @lesliebaynes.bsky.social www.eerdmans.com/978146746970...
Body-clipped my horse for the third time ever today. The first time I was afraid the other horses would make fun of him. Today he looks almost decent.
A thing that fucks people up is the refusal to take babysteps in doing something they suck at.
Instead of starting where they can, and gradually improving, they just get frustrated that they're not already good at it and never even start.
Instead of starting where they can, and gradually improving, they just get frustrated that they're not already good at it and never even start.
August 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Body-clipped my horse for the third time ever today. The first time I was afraid the other horses would make fun of him. Today he looks almost decent.
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
Berger's three laws of chatbotics:
1) The bot should never express emotions.
2) The bot should never praise the user.
3) The bot should never say it understands the user's mental state.
There's no use case for these things, and they're obviously problematic.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/t...
1) The bot should never express emotions.
2) The bot should never praise the user.
3) The bot should never say it understands the user's mental state.
There's no use case for these things, and they're obviously problematic.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/t...
Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here’s How It Happens.
www.nytimes.com
August 10, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Berger's three laws of chatbotics:
1) The bot should never express emotions.
2) The bot should never praise the user.
3) The bot should never say it understands the user's mental state.
There's no use case for these things, and they're obviously problematic.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/t...
1) The bot should never express emotions.
2) The bot should never praise the user.
3) The bot should never say it understands the user's mental state.
There's no use case for these things, and they're obviously problematic.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/t...
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
You know how people called women hysterical for predicting the right wing would take down Roe v. Wade (which they've done) and then attack access to birth control (which they're doing)?
Hear me when I say that women's very right to vote is next.
www.npr.org/2025/08/09/n...
Hear me when I say that women's very right to vote is next.
www.npr.org/2025/08/09/n...
August 11, 2025 at 5:15 PM
You know how people called women hysterical for predicting the right wing would take down Roe v. Wade (which they've done) and then attack access to birth control (which they're doing)?
Hear me when I say that women's very right to vote is next.
www.npr.org/2025/08/09/n...
Hear me when I say that women's very right to vote is next.
www.npr.org/2025/08/09/n...
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
A chief executive publicly cheering for the firing of a critical media personality is a common feature of authoritarian states.
I hate to break it to everyone, especially since it’s been evident for a couple of months, but…
America is an authoritarian state.
I hate to break it to everyone, especially since it’s been evident for a couple of months, but…
America is an authoritarian state.
'I love that Colbert got fired:' Trump cheers show cancellation amid CBS 'bribe'
'I love that Colbert got fired:' Trump cheers show cancellation amid CBS 'bribe'
President Donald Trump took to social media Friday to celebrate the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” a move critics allege was retaliation for Colbert's accusation that parent company Paramount paid Trump in a settlement to secure support for a merger.“I absolutely love that Col...
bit.ly
July 18, 2025 at 4:14 PM
A chief executive publicly cheering for the firing of a critical media personality is a common feature of authoritarian states.
I hate to break it to everyone, especially since it’s been evident for a couple of months, but…
America is an authoritarian state.
I hate to break it to everyone, especially since it’s been evident for a couple of months, but…
America is an authoritarian state.
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
It is really really sinking in for me the degree to which LLMs are the ultimate expression of right wing anti-intellectualism. Its proponents are literally mocking the idea that anyone would ever want to learn anything, know anything, develop any actual skill, or have a thought of their own.
June 15, 2025 at 4:51 PM
It is really really sinking in for me the degree to which LLMs are the ultimate expression of right wing anti-intellectualism. Its proponents are literally mocking the idea that anyone would ever want to learn anything, know anything, develop any actual skill, or have a thought of their own.
Yes, and my inner George Tyrrell, who anticipated Bultmann in his 1910 Christianity at the Cross-Roads. C. S. Lewis attacked Tyrrell on the Ascension to poor effect in his essay "Modern Theology and Biblical Criticism," which I critique in my book on Lewis and the Bible (I hope to better effect).
Does anyone else find that Ascension brings out their inner Bultmann?
June 1, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Yes, and my inner George Tyrrell, who anticipated Bultmann in his 1910 Christianity at the Cross-Roads. C. S. Lewis attacked Tyrrell on the Ascension to poor effect in his essay "Modern Theology and Biblical Criticism," which I critique in my book on Lewis and the Bible (I hope to better effect).
Its wonderful to see my forthcoming book on C. S. Lewis and the Bible (Eerdmans, Nov. 4) already sitting at #43 in Amazon's "Best Sellers in Religious Literature Criticism"! Go take a look, check out the great endorsements, and pre-order!
May 25, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Its wonderful to see my forthcoming book on C. S. Lewis and the Bible (Eerdmans, Nov. 4) already sitting at #43 in Amazon's "Best Sellers in Religious Literature Criticism"! Go take a look, check out the great endorsements, and pre-order!
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
Some sad confirmation from @bcgl.bsky.social while I was at UW last week—the National Digital Newspaper Program—which builds Chronicling America—has been shut down
Historical newspapers are probably the archival material most used by the general public—for genealogy, local history—it’s such a loss
Historical newspapers are probably the archival material most used by the general public—for genealogy, local history—it’s such a loss
About this Collection | Chronicling America | Digital Collections | Library of Congress
Search America's Historic Newspaper Pages through 1963 Please Note: The Library of Congress has transitioned the longstanding Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers website to this new digi...
www.loc.gov
May 12, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Some sad confirmation from @bcgl.bsky.social while I was at UW last week—the National Digital Newspaper Program—which builds Chronicling America—has been shut down
Historical newspapers are probably the archival material most used by the general public—for genealogy, local history—it’s such a loss
Historical newspapers are probably the archival material most used by the general public—for genealogy, local history—it’s such a loss
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
“And so the Greeks send me this horse, we’re talking about one of the most beautiful horses you’ve ever seen. So big. So strong. Normally they keep this kind of horse for themselves but they were such big fans they said sir, please take our big wonderful horse we’ll even bring it to your house”
May 12, 2025 at 12:03 PM
“And so the Greeks send me this horse, we’re talking about one of the most beautiful horses you’ve ever seen. So big. So strong. Normally they keep this kind of horse for themselves but they were such big fans they said sir, please take our big wonderful horse we’ll even bring it to your house”
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
The cost of the 4 F-18 planes lost in the Red Sea ($240 million) is now greater than the 2025 NEH Budget ($200 million)
May 11, 2025 at 1:38 AM
The cost of the 4 F-18 planes lost in the Red Sea ($240 million) is now greater than the 2025 NEH Budget ($200 million)
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
Having zero clue what the Declaration of Independence means, Trump told ABC’s Terry Moran it stands for “unity and love.”
No. It’s the exact opposite.
Here’s an actual excerpt from the document.
Who does it remind you of?
#NoKings #Voices4Victory
No. It’s the exact opposite.
Here’s an actual excerpt from the document.
Who does it remind you of?
#NoKings #Voices4Victory
May 3, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Having zero clue what the Declaration of Independence means, Trump told ABC’s Terry Moran it stands for “unity and love.”
No. It’s the exact opposite.
Here’s an actual excerpt from the document.
Who does it remind you of?
#NoKings #Voices4Victory
No. It’s the exact opposite.
Here’s an actual excerpt from the document.
Who does it remind you of?
#NoKings #Voices4Victory
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
Just a reminder that most of Trump's executive orders are nothing more than press releases.
After he ordered the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to pull funding for NPR and PBS, the CPB responded that it is authorized and funded by Congress and is not subject to the president's authority.
After he ordered the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to pull funding for NPR and PBS, the CPB responded that it is authorized and funded by Congress and is not subject to the president's authority.
![WASHINGTON, D.C, (May 2, 2025) — Patricia Harrison, President and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), issued the following statement today regarding the President’s Executive Order on public media:
“CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President’s authority. Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government.
“In creating CPB, Congress expressly forbade ‘any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting, or over [CPB] or any of its grantees or contractors…’ 47 U.S.C. § 398(c).”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:kjjhbsc3pp3vkqjsivk6z2yd/bafkreie7ky7hw4h6fcaqa6fkkqdyhg6czlebc2udp6fbbsjah4eoj7qg2y@jpeg)
May 2, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Just a reminder that most of Trump's executive orders are nothing more than press releases.
After he ordered the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to pull funding for NPR and PBS, the CPB responded that it is authorized and funded by Congress and is not subject to the president's authority.
After he ordered the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to pull funding for NPR and PBS, the CPB responded that it is authorized and funded by Congress and is not subject to the president's authority.
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
I think the worm in RFK’s brain is planning to make sure we all have brain worms via food borne illnesses. This is an invasion.
April 25, 2025 at 11:24 AM
I think the worm in RFK’s brain is planning to make sure we all have brain worms via food borne illnesses. This is an invasion.
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
DHS has admitted in court it doesn’t have authority to terminate student non-immigrant status, even when it changes or terminates their SEVIS status, contrary to the info provided by unis to affected students.
This admission, a tactic to evade a lawsuit, is grounds for schools to defend students.
This admission, a tactic to evade a lawsuit, is grounds for schools to defend students.
April 21, 2025 at 1:27 AM
DHS has admitted in court it doesn’t have authority to terminate student non-immigrant status, even when it changes or terminates their SEVIS status, contrary to the info provided by unis to affected students.
This admission, a tactic to evade a lawsuit, is grounds for schools to defend students.
This admission, a tactic to evade a lawsuit, is grounds for schools to defend students.
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
I urge faculty members to join the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). We have few organizations that represent us and offer us collective power. #Yale has a new chapter. You can start one if your campus doesn't have one yet. And you can join now too.
www.aaup.org/membership/d...
www.aaup.org/membership/d...
Join
See dues rates categories based on your annual academic income. Show your support with a lifetime membership! Please contact membershipservices@aaup.org with any questions.
www.aaup.org
March 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM
I urge faculty members to join the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). We have few organizations that represent us and offer us collective power. #Yale has a new chapter. You can start one if your campus doesn't have one yet. And you can join now too.
www.aaup.org/membership/d...
www.aaup.org/membership/d...
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
Other countries are fully targeting US academics with social media ads now, basically of the form "we still have inclusive liberal democracy and academic freedom here"
March 13, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Other countries are fully targeting US academics with social media ads now, basically of the form "we still have inclusive liberal democracy and academic freedom here"
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
Absolute must read. Wired kicking so much ass.
Today we're publishing a monster feature that dives deep into the initial six weeks over Elon Musk's government takeover. Our entire newsroom came together to help make this story happen. Read this culmination of our blood, sweat, and tears:
Inside Elon Musk’s ‘Digital Coup’
Musk’s loyalists at DOGE have infiltrated dozens of federal agencies, pushed out tens of thousands of workers, and siphoned millions of people’s most sensitive data. The next step: Unleash the AI.
www.wired.com
March 13, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Absolute must read. Wired kicking so much ass.
Reposted by Leslie Baynes
Spotted on campus this morning. Thanks to the person who posted this.
March 5, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Spotted on campus this morning. Thanks to the person who posted this.