Bethany J
@bethanyj.bsky.social
Museums, Egyptology, Archaeology.
Deconstructing Mormonism and looking for community.
Deconstructing Mormonism and looking for community.
Reposted by Bethany J
The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.
November 3, 2025 at 8:49 PM
The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.
Sometimes I wonder where life would have taken me if I'd leaned into the apologist path. What kind of grift I'd be running in the name of God. I could never have done it, but seeing these two together (2 people who I was with at BYU in the ANES program), makes me think about that alternate timeline.
These LDS podcasters are on a mission to promote their Mormon faith with "facts" while being paid by an organization dedicated to faith-affirming pseudoscholarship on the ancient Hebraic origins of Indigenous Americans.
‘We’re not apologizing for being Latter-day Saints’ — New podcast seeks to give believers a boost of confidence
These LDS podcasters are on a mission to promote faith with facts.
www.sltrib.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Sometimes I wonder where life would have taken me if I'd leaned into the apologist path. What kind of grift I'd be running in the name of God. I could never have done it, but seeing these two together (2 people who I was with at BYU in the ANES program), makes me think about that alternate timeline.
Reposted by Bethany J
folks can complain about the effectiveness of scheduled orderly mass protest but to think about it another way its the closest thing we have to the opening scene of A Muppet Christmas Carol where all the muppets sing "there goes Mr. Dipshit, there goes Mr. Ass" to Scrooge and it clearly bothered him
October 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
folks can complain about the effectiveness of scheduled orderly mass protest but to think about it another way its the closest thing we have to the opening scene of A Muppet Christmas Carol where all the muppets sing "there goes Mr. Dipshit, there goes Mr. Ass" to Scrooge and it clearly bothered him
From today's No Kings protest in Olympia, WA. These handmaids marched up the road and circled the monument. Kind of a surreal moment, but a powerful message.
October 18, 2025 at 10:39 PM
From today's No Kings protest in Olympia, WA. These handmaids marched up the road and circled the monument. Kind of a surreal moment, but a powerful message.
Reposted by Bethany J
you don't need chatGPT i am perfectly capable of drinking a bottle of water and lying to you
May 1, 2025 at 2:37 PM
you don't need chatGPT i am perfectly capable of drinking a bottle of water and lying to you
This was beautifully written.
How to think about death has been a challenge. As someone who needed to know all the answers and where to find them in scripture, I found freedom in uncertainty. I realize that's not everyone's perspective, but I've never been more at peace in saying, "I don't know."
How to think about death has been a challenge. As someone who needed to know all the answers and where to find them in scripture, I found freedom in uncertainty. I realize that's not everyone's perspective, but I've never been more at peace in saying, "I don't know."
There were so many things that were so much more deeply profound than I could have possibly imagined.
But I still don’t know what to do about death.
There’s no certainty there.
CW: SI
www.kerrycoran.com/writing/litu...
But I still don’t know what to do about death.
There’s no certainty there.
CW: SI
www.kerrycoran.com/writing/litu...
Mabon — Kerry C. Òran
When I was little and used to trace the shape of the owls on her arms I asked her if it hurt—the fire, the burns. “The burns hurt,” she told me. “But the fire didn’t.” That seemed incomprehensi...
www.kerrycoran.com
October 13, 2025 at 8:45 PM
This was beautifully written.
How to think about death has been a challenge. As someone who needed to know all the answers and where to find them in scripture, I found freedom in uncertainty. I realize that's not everyone's perspective, but I've never been more at peace in saying, "I don't know."
How to think about death has been a challenge. As someone who needed to know all the answers and where to find them in scripture, I found freedom in uncertainty. I realize that's not everyone's perspective, but I've never been more at peace in saying, "I don't know."
I've started going to more concerts in the last year and I've learned that it is incredibly healing to hear the bands that I've loved since I was 12. Idk if that's inner child stuff or what exactly, but by the end of the concert I feel like I've gone through a good, heavy therapy session.
October 10, 2025 at 1:47 AM
I've started going to more concerts in the last year and I've learned that it is incredibly healing to hear the bands that I've loved since I was 12. Idk if that's inner child stuff or what exactly, but by the end of the concert I feel like I've gone through a good, heavy therapy session.
Agreed. I remember thinking, "none of this (religion/faith) makes any sense, but I believe it," back in 2012. I stopped attending in 2023. In that decade, I came to realize more and more things that weren't true. And I accepted that. I reduced everything down to a single Joseph Smith quote:
I think it is important to also evaluate the church on the basis “Is it good?” instead of only “Is it true?” Some, still attend because they find the church good despite their issues with truth claims. For my wife and I, we are better off without the church. I wish we had made that decision earlier.
September 25, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Agreed. I remember thinking, "none of this (religion/faith) makes any sense, but I believe it," back in 2012. I stopped attending in 2023. In that decade, I came to realize more and more things that weren't true. And I accepted that. I reduced everything down to a single Joseph Smith quote:
Reposted by Bethany J
Government is about the organization of society, and society is just all of us. It's a way of harnessing all of the sustaining and exponentially generative value that we humans create just by living in proximity to one another.
September 8, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Government is about the organization of society, and society is just all of us. It's a way of harnessing all of the sustaining and exponentially generative value that we humans create just by living in proximity to one another.
My brother sent me this link today - Trump to visit Museum of the Bible.
I have never been more grateful to have walked away from this place.
MOTB was a wild ride and while I learned a lot and appreciate the experience, I am relieved that it's all in my past.
thehill.com/homenews/adm...
I have never been more grateful to have walked away from this place.
MOTB was a wild ride and while I learned a lot and appreciate the experience, I am relieved that it's all in my past.
thehill.com/homenews/adm...
thehill.com
September 8, 2025 at 3:26 AM
My brother sent me this link today - Trump to visit Museum of the Bible.
I have never been more grateful to have walked away from this place.
MOTB was a wild ride and while I learned a lot and appreciate the experience, I am relieved that it's all in my past.
thehill.com/homenews/adm...
I have never been more grateful to have walked away from this place.
MOTB was a wild ride and while I learned a lot and appreciate the experience, I am relieved that it's all in my past.
thehill.com/homenews/adm...
Nothing prepared me for how often I use Excel in an office environment.
Everything is Excel.
Even when it makes no sense and we have other tools that will make everything easier. Excel. Always.
Everything is Excel.
Even when it makes no sense and we have other tools that will make everything easier. Excel. Always.
September 4, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Nothing prepared me for how often I use Excel in an office environment.
Everything is Excel.
Even when it makes no sense and we have other tools that will make everything easier. Excel. Always.
Everything is Excel.
Even when it makes no sense and we have other tools that will make everything easier. Excel. Always.
Reposted by Bethany J
I really hope this becomes the black eye it deserves to be www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
August 30, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I really hope this becomes the black eye it deserves to be www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
"This bill can only be anti-Catholic if you think Catholic clergy have the right to sexually prey on children and allow, even help, others to do likewise."
Dr. Megan Goodwin with excellent commentary on the new WA mandatory reporter law.
Dr. Megan Goodwin with excellent commentary on the new WA mandatory reporter law.
gosh, I wonder why the DOJ thinks making clergy mandatory CSA reporters is "anti-Catholic"
oh wait no I don't
religiondispatches.org/new-wa-manda...
oh wait no I don't
religiondispatches.org/new-wa-manda...
May 14, 2025 at 9:53 PM
"This bill can only be anti-Catholic if you think Catholic clergy have the right to sexually prey on children and allow, even help, others to do likewise."
Dr. Megan Goodwin with excellent commentary on the new WA mandatory reporter law.
Dr. Megan Goodwin with excellent commentary on the new WA mandatory reporter law.
Not me crying at work while I watched the footage of the governor signing this into law.
Clergy are now mandatory reporters in Washington state!
Should this have already been a thing? Yes. But I'll take the win today.
Clergy are now mandatory reporters in Washington state!
Should this have already been a thing? Yes. But I'll take the win today.
I know everything is chaos, but a bit of good government related news - I happened to be in the Washington state senate yesterday when they passed SB 5375 - a bill requiring clergy to be mandatory reporters. First hurdle cleared and fingers crossed it becomes law!
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
Washington State Legislature
app.leg.wa.gov
May 2, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Not me crying at work while I watched the footage of the governor signing this into law.
Clergy are now mandatory reporters in Washington state!
Should this have already been a thing? Yes. But I'll take the win today.
Clergy are now mandatory reporters in Washington state!
Should this have already been a thing? Yes. But I'll take the win today.
Reposted by Bethany J
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
April 15, 2025 at 8:21 AM
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
It's like the money from the Trump board game came to life
Cool cool cool cool cool
Cool cool cool cool cool
April 4, 2025 at 12:53 AM
It's like the money from the Trump board game came to life
Cool cool cool cool cool
Cool cool cool cool cool
Reposted by Bethany J
This will have a huge impact on state libraries and museums. Yikes!!!—word is, RIP to the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
April 1, 2025 at 2:05 AM
This will have a huge impact on state libraries and museums. Yikes!!!—word is, RIP to the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Reposted by Bethany J
The Rosetta Stone was inscribed with the Decree of Memphis #OnThisDay in 196 BC, proclaiming the rule of Ptolemy V. The stone was first Ancient Egyptian multilingual text found in modern times, helping decipher the hieroglyphic script. 🏺
📷 Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 4.0
📷 Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 4.0
March 27, 2025 at 10:45 AM
The Rosetta Stone was inscribed with the Decree of Memphis #OnThisDay in 196 BC, proclaiming the rule of Ptolemy V. The stone was first Ancient Egyptian multilingual text found in modern times, helping decipher the hieroglyphic script. 🏺
📷 Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 4.0
📷 Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 4.0
Reposted by Bethany J
Uh. *clears throat*
As one of the only people in the world with expertise in Egyptology/Remote Sensing, my official take is that this study is pseudoscientific nonsense+ smells of FreshCowPatties™️. I read the original paper. It should be retracted.
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
As one of the only people in the world with expertise in Egyptology/Remote Sensing, my official take is that this study is pseudoscientific nonsense+ smells of FreshCowPatties™️. I read the original paper. It should be retracted.
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
www.dailymail.co.uk
March 21, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Uh. *clears throat*
As one of the only people in the world with expertise in Egyptology/Remote Sensing, my official take is that this study is pseudoscientific nonsense+ smells of FreshCowPatties™️. I read the original paper. It should be retracted.
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
As one of the only people in the world with expertise in Egyptology/Remote Sensing, my official take is that this study is pseudoscientific nonsense+ smells of FreshCowPatties™️. I read the original paper. It should be retracted.
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
Reposted by Bethany J
The lesson is this:
If we have to be perfect, we don’t reach as far and we don’t try things we don’t already know we can do.
We don’t talk to people who utterly change our lives.
We don’t notice anything that REALLY matters.
If we have to be perfect, we don’t reach as far and we don’t try things we don’t already know we can do.
We don’t talk to people who utterly change our lives.
We don’t notice anything that REALLY matters.
March 4, 2025 at 12:08 AM
The lesson is this:
If we have to be perfect, we don’t reach as far and we don’t try things we don’t already know we can do.
We don’t talk to people who utterly change our lives.
We don’t notice anything that REALLY matters.
If we have to be perfect, we don’t reach as far and we don’t try things we don’t already know we can do.
We don’t talk to people who utterly change our lives.
We don’t notice anything that REALLY matters.
I know everything is chaos, but a bit of good government related news - I happened to be in the Washington state senate yesterday when they passed SB 5375 - a bill requiring clergy to be mandatory reporters. First hurdle cleared and fingers crossed it becomes law!
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
Washington State Legislature
app.leg.wa.gov
March 2, 2025 at 12:53 AM
I know everything is chaos, but a bit of good government related news - I happened to be in the Washington state senate yesterday when they passed SB 5375 - a bill requiring clergy to be mandatory reporters. First hurdle cleared and fingers crossed it becomes law!
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...
app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/...