Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
@marlenagraves.bsky.social
Asst. Prof of Spiritual Formation-AOS: U.S. cultural history; religion, politics, and inequality in Am. history; Christian nationalism; public memory; political/public theology historical trauma. Seeking our flourishing Rochester, NY๐ต๐ท
Pinned
The truth here is so ever relevant, is so simple and profound. I think I might pop it into my next book. Sharing yet again:
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
Peaceful, easy feeling.
January 6, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Peaceful, easy feeling.
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
"Secret police" is often misunderstood to mean a force that operates covertly, with all their operations secret.
But a secret police force's actions are often public. The secret part is hiding their identities, because they're breaking laws to hurt politically disfavored people, and fear reprisals.
But a secret police force's actions are often public. The secret part is hiding their identities, because they're breaking laws to hurt politically disfavored people, and fear reprisals.
January 7, 2026 at 9:09 PM
"Secret police" is often misunderstood to mean a force that operates covertly, with all their operations secret.
But a secret police force's actions are often public. The secret part is hiding their identities, because they're breaking laws to hurt politically disfavored people, and fear reprisals.
But a secret police force's actions are often public. The secret part is hiding their identities, because they're breaking laws to hurt politically disfavored people, and fear reprisals.
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
January 7, 2026 at 4:49 AM
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
In a nutshell.
January 4, 2026 at 9:15 AM
In a nutshell.
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
Hereโฆin the familiar texture of your daysโฆLove has come to stay. (2/2)
January 5, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Hereโฆin the familiar texture of your daysโฆLove has come to stay. (2/2)
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
May you sense, in the marrow of your being, that God has chosen to dwell within the ordinary rooms of the world: the kitchens filled with quiet conversations, the long corridors of worry and weariness, the tender spaces of laughter and tears. (1/2)
January 5, 2026 at 2:18 AM
May you sense, in the marrow of your being, that God has chosen to dwell within the ordinary rooms of the world: the kitchens filled with quiet conversations, the long corridors of worry and weariness, the tender spaces of laughter and tears. (1/2)
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
Rubio is claiming that they did not need Congress permission because it was a law enforcement mission. The US is behaving as a global police state, extending its own arbitrary legal decisions to the whole world.
This is not a problem just for Venezuela.
This is not a problem just for Venezuela.
January 3, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Rubio is claiming that they did not need Congress permission because it was a law enforcement mission. The US is behaving as a global police state, extending its own arbitrary legal decisions to the whole world.
This is not a problem just for Venezuela.
This is not a problem just for Venezuela.
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
One thing that bothers me about world leaders and governments is that they play with our lives and throw the whole country under the bus.
A lot of us just want to live peacefully. There are at least 75m people who wanted none of what is happening.
A lot of us just want to live peacefully. There are at least 75m people who wanted none of what is happening.
January 4, 2026 at 5:39 PM
One thing that bothers me about world leaders and governments is that they play with our lives and throw the whole country under the bus.
A lot of us just want to live peacefully. There are at least 75m people who wanted none of what is happening.
A lot of us just want to live peacefully. There are at least 75m people who wanted none of what is happening.
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
It's an old and obvious pattern. An unpopular president - failing on the economy and losing his grip on power at home - decides to launch a war for regime change abroad.
The American people donโt want to โrunโ a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
The American people donโt want to โrunโ a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
January 3, 2026 at 5:08 PM
It's an old and obvious pattern. An unpopular president - failing on the economy and losing his grip on power at home - decides to launch a war for regime change abroad.
The American people donโt want to โrunโ a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
The American people donโt want to โrunโ a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
If you are a foreign president who commits crimes overseas, America will come get you, arrest you, and lock you up.
But if you are a US president who commits crimes here in the United States, America will give you immunity from prosecution, reelect you, and bribe you with billions of dollars.
But if you are a US president who commits crimes here in the United States, America will give you immunity from prosecution, reelect you, and bribe you with billions of dollars.
January 4, 2026 at 12:26 AM
If you are a foreign president who commits crimes overseas, America will come get you, arrest you, and lock you up.
But if you are a US president who commits crimes here in the United States, America will give you immunity from prosecution, reelect you, and bribe you with billions of dollars.
But if you are a US president who commits crimes here in the United States, America will give you immunity from prosecution, reelect you, and bribe you with billions of dollars.
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
Good morning, BlueSky. It's hard to feel like posting much right now, but here is a shot from the Great Falls National Park (MD side) for #stunday
#greatfalls #md #water #potomac #river #nature #eastcoastkin #photography
#greatfalls #md #water #potomac #river #nature #eastcoastkin #photography
January 4, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Good morning, BlueSky. It's hard to feel like posting much right now, but here is a shot from the Great Falls National Park (MD side) for #stunday
#greatfalls #md #water #potomac #river #nature #eastcoastkin #photography
#greatfalls #md #water #potomac #river #nature #eastcoastkin #photography
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
It would be so cool if the United States Congress still existed.
January 4, 2026 at 5:04 AM
It would be so cool if the United States Congress still existed.
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
โI walked along the river until I came to another corner. I went around the corner to look for spring.โ
January 4, 2026 at 5:37 PM
โI walked along the river until I came to another corner. I went around the corner to look for spring.โ
I think Max is right.
Pro-Trump billionaires like Musk and Ellison didnโt buy media outlets to maximize the companyโs profits.
They bought media companies to maximize their powerโand minimize the oppositionโs ability to disseminate the truth.
They bought media companies to maximize their powerโand minimize the oppositionโs ability to disseminate the truth.
I still donโt really understand who this is supposed to be for. If you want the unabashedly pro-America news you know where to get it and are already receiving it, CBS is for people who still want regular reporting in a non-24/7 format. Do you think they wonโt notice and turn it off?
January 2, 2026 at 11:27 PM
I think Max is right.
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
Norbert Wiener, "The Human Use of Human Beings", 1950. Wiener is considered the father of the field of cybernetics and he wrote about what happens when people assign agency to complex machines.
January 2, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Norbert Wiener, "The Human Use of Human Beings", 1950. Wiener is considered the father of the field of cybernetics and he wrote about what happens when people assign agency to complex machines.
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
โWe only have empty pockets when it comes to the morally right things to do. But when it comes to tax cuts for billionaires or unlimited war, we seem to be able to invent that money very easily. To me it belies a lack of moral priorities that people have right now.โ ๐
January 2, 2026 at 11:22 PM
โWe only have empty pockets when it comes to the morally right things to do. But when it comes to tax cuts for billionaires or unlimited war, we seem to be able to invent that money very easily. To me it belies a lack of moral priorities that people have right now.โ ๐
Oh, I am so sorry, Sarah. Mercy. Hugs to you.
January 2, 2026 at 3:47 AM
Oh, I am so sorry, Sarah. Mercy. Hugs to you.
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
Bernie Sanders publicly swears in Zohran Mamdani as NYC mayor
January 1, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Bernie Sanders publicly swears in Zohran Mamdani as NYC mayor
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
Kukuck's Falls on the Slate River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula for #WaterfallWednesday!
December 31, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Kukuck's Falls on the Slate River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula for #WaterfallWednesday!
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
December 31, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
Happy New Year. May everything fall into place for you in 2026.
January 1, 2026 at 4:09 AM
Happy New Year. May everything fall into place for you in 2026.
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
Trump has done so much damage to democratic institutions not via clever, well executed strategy, but by acting on authoritarian/bigoted/corrupt impulse, then stubbornly barging ahead if he meets pushback.
Manufacturing charges against Abrego Garcia only after deportation failed is a good microcosm.
Manufacturing charges against Abrego Garcia only after deportation failed is a good microcosm.
Newly unsealed docs show DOJ moved to prosecute Kilmar Abrego Garcia for smuggling only after it became clear Trump might not be able to deport him. Sure looks driven by a desire to punish him for fighting back against Trump/Miller lawlessness. Trump had to be right.
www.cbsnews.com/news/abrego-...
www.cbsnews.com/news/abrego-...
December 30, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Trump has done so much damage to democratic institutions not via clever, well executed strategy, but by acting on authoritarian/bigoted/corrupt impulse, then stubbornly barging ahead if he meets pushback.
Manufacturing charges against Abrego Garcia only after deportation failed is a good microcosm.
Manufacturing charges against Abrego Garcia only after deportation failed is a good microcosm.
Reposted by Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD
illustration by the Austrian artist Felicitas Kuhn (1926-2022)
December 29, 2025 at 9:37 AM
illustration by the Austrian artist Felicitas Kuhn (1926-2022)