Aaron Franzen
@abfranzen.bsky.social
professional student, sociologist, hobby hopper
So sad to see Calvin cutting sociology (and some other programs as well) due to budget problems.
Budget cuts slash programs and faculty: Students react with grief and frustration
On Nov. 13, Calvin University President Greg Elzinga announced sweeping changes to the academic portfolio, including program discontinuations and a 12.5-percent reduction in faculty headcount over the...
calvinchimes.org
November 18, 2025 at 2:02 AM
So sad to see Calvin cutting sociology (and some other programs as well) due to budget problems.
Reposted by Aaron Franzen
The percentage of Americans who say religion is an important part of their lives declined from 66% in 2015 to 49% in 2025. Among the fastest declines in the world.
news.gallup.com/poll/697676/...
news.gallup.com/poll/697676/...
November 13, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The percentage of Americans who say religion is an important part of their lives declined from 66% in 2015 to 49% in 2025. Among the fastest declines in the world.
news.gallup.com/poll/697676/...
news.gallup.com/poll/697676/...
Highly recommend. Really thinking about this line through the lens of Habermas’ communal meaning making:
“This is the work at hand: to tend to cultural memory not as something to manipulate for power but to steward for healing.”
“This is the work at hand: to tend to cultural memory not as something to manipulate for power but to steward for healing.”
“This is the invitation of holy dissidence: to become stewards, not warriors.”
@iamfujimura.bsky.social and Haejin Shim Fujimura on “Kyoto” and the art of beholding.
@iamfujimura.bsky.social and Haejin Shim Fujimura on “Kyoto” and the art of beholding.
Negotiating the Invisible
The Fujimuras review "Kyoto," a play that shows the complexities and complicities of climate policy.
comment.org
October 26, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Highly recommend. Really thinking about this line through the lens of Habermas’ communal meaning making:
“This is the work at hand: to tend to cultural memory not as something to manipulate for power but to steward for healing.”
“This is the work at hand: to tend to cultural memory not as something to manipulate for power but to steward for healing.”
Reposted by Aaron Franzen
Pediatrics has long endured a workforce shortage. Now the Trump administration’s crackdown on vaccines is turning a difficult profession into an impossible one. @katherinejwu.com spoke with pediatricians about the looming crisis their jobs may face:
Pediatricians Are Rapidly Losing Incentives to Offer Vaccines
The Trump administration’s crackdown is turning a difficult profession into an impossible one for some doctors.
bit.ly
October 5, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Pediatrics has long endured a workforce shortage. Now the Trump administration’s crackdown on vaccines is turning a difficult profession into an impossible one. @katherinejwu.com spoke with pediatricians about the looming crisis their jobs may face:
Reposted by Aaron Franzen
Important article from @andrew-whitehead.bsky.social integrating research on how Christian nationalism threatens democracy. Check it out.
The NY Times says this administration considers diversity "taboo."
A healthy democracy includes a robust appreciation f/ diversity & widespread civic participation.
Research from the last 10+ years shows Christian nationalism threatens democracy in at least 3 ways:
kettering.org/how-christia...
A healthy democracy includes a robust appreciation f/ diversity & widespread civic participation.
Research from the last 10+ years shows Christian nationalism threatens democracy in at least 3 ways:
kettering.org/how-christia...
How Christian Nationalism Weakens Democracy and What Can Be Done about It
Social scientific research provides evidence of how Christian nationalism and, by extension, initiatives like Project 2025 pose a threat to any pluralistic, democratic society.
kettering.org
August 21, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Important article from @andrew-whitehead.bsky.social integrating research on how Christian nationalism threatens democracy. Check it out.
In the end, it turns out community matters quite a bit.
“Whatever else it might be, authoritarianism is a solution to the problem of - the absence of - solidarity.” (James D Hunter, 2024)
“Whatever else it might be, authoritarianism is a solution to the problem of - the absence of - solidarity.” (James D Hunter, 2024)
August 20, 2025 at 11:44 AM
In the end, it turns out community matters quite a bit.
“Whatever else it might be, authoritarianism is a solution to the problem of - the absence of - solidarity.” (James D Hunter, 2024)
“Whatever else it might be, authoritarianism is a solution to the problem of - the absence of - solidarity.” (James D Hunter, 2024)
“My generation and I are also children of this Anthropocene, this biosphere of broken promises. Like this forest, we are creatures of legacy, the wounds of the past echoing through us.” (How to Love a Forest) @howtoloveaforest.bsky.social
August 11, 2025 at 8:34 PM
“My generation and I are also children of this Anthropocene, this biosphere of broken promises. Like this forest, we are creatures of legacy, the wounds of the past echoing through us.” (How to Love a Forest) @howtoloveaforest.bsky.social
Reading How to Love a Forest from @howtoloveaforest.bsky.social … really good.
August 11, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Reading How to Love a Forest from @howtoloveaforest.bsky.social … really good.
Reposted by Aaron Franzen
With spending cuts poised to hit medical providers, Medicaid recipients and Affordable Care Act enrollees, here's how the bill will affect health care access for millions in the U.S.
5 ways Trump's tax bill will limit health care access
With spending cuts poised to hit medical providers, Medicaid recipients and Affordable Care Act enrollees, here's how the bill will affect health care access for millions in the U.S.
n.pr
July 2, 2025 at 10:46 AM
With spending cuts poised to hit medical providers, Medicaid recipients and Affordable Care Act enrollees, here's how the bill will affect health care access for millions in the U.S.
Maybe Trump could watch some Daniel Tiger to learn more about fairness… oh wait…
In an executive order, President Trump directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding NPR and PBS, the nation's primary public broadcasters.
Trump orders end to federal funding for NPR and PBS
In an executive order, President Trump directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding NPR and PBS, the nation's primary public broadcasters.
www.npr.org
May 2, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Maybe Trump could watch some Daniel Tiger to learn more about fairness… oh wait…
So many questions.
Roughly 3 months into President Donald Trump’s 2nd term, White evangelical Protestants continue to be among his strongest supporters:
72% job approval
69% rate Trump officials’ ethics as excellent or good
57% say they trust what Trump says more than previous presidents
www.pewresearch.org/...
72% job approval
69% rate Trump officials’ ethics as excellent or good
57% say they trust what Trump says more than previous presidents
www.pewresearch.org/...
White evangelicals continue to stand out in their support for Trump
Most White evangelicals (72%) say they approve of how Trump is doing as president. Other religious groups are more divided or disapprove.
www.pewresearch.org
May 1, 2025 at 3:20 AM
So many questions.
Reposted by Aaron Franzen
Assuming they perceive the info they spread to be real, I wonder why this says/means regarding their perception of the world?
Across 26 countries and using a database of 32M tweets, radical-right populist elites are the most likely to spread misinformation, finds @pettertornberg.bsky.social &
@julianachueri.bsky.social doi.org/10.1177/1940...
@julianachueri.bsky.social doi.org/10.1177/1940...
March 26, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Assuming they perceive the info they spread to be real, I wonder why this says/means regarding their perception of the world?
"contemporary Christian understandings of power and politics are a very large part of what has made contemporary Christianity in America appalling, irrelevant, and ineffective-part and parcel of the worst elements of our late-modern culture, rather than a healthy alt."
- James Davison Hunter, 2010
- James Davison Hunter, 2010
March 3, 2025 at 3:17 PM
"contemporary Christian understandings of power and politics are a very large part of what has made contemporary Christianity in America appalling, irrelevant, and ineffective-part and parcel of the worst elements of our late-modern culture, rather than a healthy alt."
- James Davison Hunter, 2010
- James Davison Hunter, 2010
Reposted by Aaron Franzen
CDC data’s “explicit purpose” is to guide researchers toward the places and people who most need attention, Patrick Sullivan, a former CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, said. “It’s hard to understand how this benefits health.”
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
CDC Data Are Disappearing
The agency has already removed scientific data from public view. More could follow.
www.theatlantic.com
February 1, 2025 at 1:35 AM
CDC data’s “explicit purpose” is to guide researchers toward the places and people who most need attention, Patrick Sullivan, a former CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, said. “It’s hard to understand how this benefits health.”
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Reposted by Aaron Franzen
I don't know if I buy the narrative that there's a loneliness epidemic of among senior citizens.
Among folks born in the 1940s, nearly 70% of them said that they 'rarely' or 'never' felt lonely.
Meanwhile, among those born in 2000 - only 10% said they were never lonely.
Among folks born in the 1940s, nearly 70% of them said that they 'rarely' or 'never' felt lonely.
Meanwhile, among those born in 2000 - only 10% said they were never lonely.
January 11, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I don't know if I buy the narrative that there's a loneliness epidemic of among senior citizens.
Among folks born in the 1940s, nearly 70% of them said that they 'rarely' or 'never' felt lonely.
Meanwhile, among those born in 2000 - only 10% said they were never lonely.
Among folks born in the 1940s, nearly 70% of them said that they 'rarely' or 'never' felt lonely.
Meanwhile, among those born in 2000 - only 10% said they were never lonely.
Reposted by Aaron Franzen
“Americans understand Americans less because we see Americans less,” @dkthomp.bsky.social told @lorakelley.bsky.social in The Atlantic Daily. “I don’t think there should be any confusion about why an anti-social century has coincided with a polarized century.”
How Solitude Is Rewiring American Identity
A conversation with Derek Thompson on how social isolation is affecting both happiness and civic life
www.theatlantic.com
January 8, 2025 at 10:33 PM
“Americans understand Americans less because we see Americans less,” @dkthomp.bsky.social told @lorakelley.bsky.social in The Atlantic Daily. “I don’t think there should be any confusion about why an anti-social century has coincided with a polarized century.”
Reposted by Aaron Franzen
For people who were raised in an evangelical household, but left that - where do they end up?
In the 1970s:
56% became mainline Protestants
20% became non-religious.
In the 2020s:
18% became mainline Protestants
59% became non-religious.
In the 1970s:
56% became mainline Protestants
20% became non-religious.
In the 2020s:
18% became mainline Protestants
59% became non-religious.
January 6, 2025 at 9:11 PM
For people who were raised in an evangelical household, but left that - where do they end up?
In the 1970s:
56% became mainline Protestants
20% became non-religious.
In the 2020s:
18% became mainline Protestants
59% became non-religious.
In the 1970s:
56% became mainline Protestants
20% became non-religious.
In the 2020s:
18% became mainline Protestants
59% became non-religious.
Not quite sure what this will mean, but I doubt it’ll be great.
A U.S. Court of Appeals this week ruled that the FCC did not have legal authority to revive the so-called net neutrality rules that were first introduced a decade ago under the Obama Administration.
Net neutrality is struck, ending a long battle to regulate ISPs like public utilities
A U.S. Court of Appeals this week ruled that the FCC did not have legal authority to revive the so-called net neutrality rules that were first introduced a decade ago under the Obama Administration.
www.npr.org
January 5, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Not quite sure what this will mean, but I doubt it’ll be great.
Hot take: tenure is now primarily to protect us from students who think being required to read is too much work. This includes the schedule on the syllabus.
December 20, 2024 at 2:40 PM
Hot take: tenure is now primarily to protect us from students who think being required to read is too much work. This includes the schedule on the syllabus.
Reposted by Aaron Franzen
About 10% of the members of Gen Z say that they "always" feel lonely.
13% say that they "never" feel lonely.
Among the Silent Generation:
2% always feel lonely.
36% never feel lonely.
13% say that they "never" feel lonely.
Among the Silent Generation:
2% always feel lonely.
36% never feel lonely.
December 11, 2024 at 2:03 AM
About 10% of the members of Gen Z say that they "always" feel lonely.
13% say that they "never" feel lonely.
Among the Silent Generation:
2% always feel lonely.
36% never feel lonely.
13% say that they "never" feel lonely.
Among the Silent Generation:
2% always feel lonely.
36% never feel lonely.
Reposted by Aaron Franzen
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
— James Clear
— James Clear
December 6, 2024 at 10:36 PM
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
— James Clear
— James Clear
Reposted by Aaron Franzen
Sweden's remarkably clean power grid. In November, this was its electricity generation mix:
Hydro 38%
Wind 31%
Nuclear 28%
Bioenergy 4%
Zero coal or gas.
- Ember data
Hydro 38%
Wind 31%
Nuclear 28%
Bioenergy 4%
Zero coal or gas.
- Ember data
December 5, 2024 at 10:46 AM
Sweden's remarkably clean power grid. In November, this was its electricity generation mix:
Hydro 38%
Wind 31%
Nuclear 28%
Bioenergy 4%
Zero coal or gas.
- Ember data
Hydro 38%
Wind 31%
Nuclear 28%
Bioenergy 4%
Zero coal or gas.
- Ember data
Reposted by Aaron Franzen
Americans are most likely to say social media has been bad for democracy, divided people & made people less civil (in a 19-country Pew Research Center survey)
www.pewresearch.org/global/2022/...
December 1, 2024 at 7:09 PM
Americans are most likely to say social media has been bad for democracy, divided people & made people less civil (in a 19-country Pew Research Center survey)
www.pewresearch.org/global/2022/...