David Mislin
@davidmislin.bsky.social
Historian of 19th 20th + 21st c. US religion. Temple U. faculty. Wrote about Protestants + pluralism. Now writing on religious liberals in small towns. Once and (hopefully) future marathoner. Tired political junkie. Sheetz/Wawa equal opportunist. He/him.
Pinned
David Mislin
@davidmislin.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Hi new and returning followers! I'm a historian of religion in the US from the late 19th c.-present, and I teach in Temple's core humanities program. I'm writing a book about religious liberals in U.S. small towns and their influence in what we imagine to be conservative religious communities.
Reposted by David Mislin
CFP: Special issue of *Southern Cultures* on religion, edited by Shari Rabin. Deadline December 15, 2025.
Call for Papers: Religion
Southern Cultures encourages submissions from scholars, writers, and artists for a special issue, Religion, to be published Fall 2026. We will accept submissions for this issue through December 15…
www.southerncultures.org
November 18, 2025 at 9:25 PM
CFP: Special issue of *Southern Cultures* on religion, edited by Shari Rabin. Deadline December 15, 2025.
There‘s nobody better than mid-20th c. Catholic nuns
November 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM
There‘s nobody better than mid-20th c. Catholic nuns
I’m excited to get to check out the new terminal in a couple of weeks. Right-sizing (read: downsizing) infrastructure isn’t glamorous or popular, but it is beneficial.
Pittsburgh Leaves Its Hub Past Behind With the New Terminal That Opens Today – Cranky Flier
crankyflier.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:36 PM
I’m excited to get to check out the new terminal in a couple of weeks. Right-sizing (read: downsizing) infrastructure isn’t glamorous or popular, but it is beneficial.
Purely anecdotal but the fact that my local Trader Joes was mobbed with people doing pre-thanksgiving shopping while Whole Foods was pretty empty suggests some worrying things about the state of the economy
November 17, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Purely anecdotal but the fact that my local Trader Joes was mobbed with people doing pre-thanksgiving shopping while Whole Foods was pretty empty suggests some worrying things about the state of the economy
Reposted by David Mislin
Political Gap Between Pastors & Pews
“Political partisanship of the average mainline pastor diverges significantly from the politics of the folks sitting in their pews.”
Ryan Burge analyzes recent PRRI data to highlight pervasive pattern in Mainline Christianity 👉 open.substack.com/pub/ryanburg...
“Political partisanship of the average mainline pastor diverges significantly from the politics of the folks sitting in their pews.”
Ryan Burge analyzes recent PRRI data to highlight pervasive pattern in Mainline Christianity 👉 open.substack.com/pub/ryanburg...
November 17, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Political Gap Between Pastors & Pews
“Political partisanship of the average mainline pastor diverges significantly from the politics of the folks sitting in their pews.”
Ryan Burge analyzes recent PRRI data to highlight pervasive pattern in Mainline Christianity 👉 open.substack.com/pub/ryanburg...
“Political partisanship of the average mainline pastor diverges significantly from the politics of the folks sitting in their pews.”
Ryan Burge analyzes recent PRRI data to highlight pervasive pattern in Mainline Christianity 👉 open.substack.com/pub/ryanburg...
Reposted by David Mislin
Barnes & Noble has managed to put together a list of 23 "best" history books of 2025, 4.5 of which are authored by women. www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/the-bes...
#womenalsoknowhistory <-- sometimes I think we don't need this hashtag anymore, and then I realize I'm very wrong.
#womenalsoknowhistory <-- sometimes I think we don't need this hashtag anymore, and then I realize I'm very wrong.
The Best History Books of 2025 - B&N Reads
Remember why history matters and let the past teach you about how people lived, fought for change and evolved. These are the best history books of 2025.
www.barnesandnoble.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Barnes & Noble has managed to put together a list of 23 "best" history books of 2025, 4.5 of which are authored by women. www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/the-bes...
#womenalsoknowhistory <-- sometimes I think we don't need this hashtag anymore, and then I realize I'm very wrong.
#womenalsoknowhistory <-- sometimes I think we don't need this hashtag anymore, and then I realize I'm very wrong.
Reposted by David Mislin
This is your regular reminder that if you’re interested in all the religious left stuff that’s been happening of late, much of it is built on networks, groups, and campaigns that have emerged in the past 20-30 years.
And there’s a whole book on it! (I wrote it) www.amazon.com/American-Pro...
And there’s a whole book on it! (I wrote it) www.amazon.com/American-Pro...
November 15, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This is your regular reminder that if you’re interested in all the religious left stuff that’s been happening of late, much of it is built on networks, groups, and campaigns that have emerged in the past 20-30 years.
And there’s a whole book on it! (I wrote it) www.amazon.com/American-Pro...
And there’s a whole book on it! (I wrote it) www.amazon.com/American-Pro...
That feeling of trying to write a chapter that could be its own book and it’s a constant battle of what does and doesn’t need to be said. 🤷♂️
November 14, 2025 at 4:20 PM
That feeling of trying to write a chapter that could be its own book and it’s a constant battle of what does and doesn’t need to be said. 🤷♂️
Who wants to go?
Road Trips Where Rural America Shines
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Who wants to go?
I have too much going on today to write a detailed response, but for the love of all that's good, if you read this article please also read something by actual historians of religion and science.
Historians See Autocratic Playbook in Trump’s Attacks on Science
www.nytimes.com
August 31, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I have too much going on today to write a detailed response, but for the love of all that's good, if you read this article please also read something by actual historians of religion and science.
Say a prayer for me: I volunteered to *help* organize our street's block party this year to save the tradition.
It now appears I'm running it myself.
It now appears I'm running it myself.
July 29, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Say a prayer for me: I volunteered to *help* organize our street's block party this year to save the tradition.
It now appears I'm running it myself.
It now appears I'm running it myself.
Some glimmers of hope from the Democratic Party. I'd be skeptical of the concept, except the people behind know what they're doing.
Nothing changes until Democrats start imagining themselves as a national party that can compete (and maybe even win) everywhere. This is a good first step.
Nothing changes until Democrats start imagining themselves as a national party that can compete (and maybe even win) everywhere. This is a good first step.
These Younger Democrats Are Sick of Their Party’s Status Quo
www.nytimes.com
July 10, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Some glimmers of hope from the Democratic Party. I'd be skeptical of the concept, except the people behind know what they're doing.
Nothing changes until Democrats start imagining themselves as a national party that can compete (and maybe even win) everywhere. This is a good first step.
Nothing changes until Democrats start imagining themselves as a national party that can compete (and maybe even win) everywhere. This is a good first step.
We're looking for a few more contributions to a volume I'm co-editing on the radical religious press in 19th c. Europe/North America. Any subject/geographic focus welcomed. More details from original CFP in link, but deadline for chapters extended to 3/1/26.
Feel free to DM questions.
Feel free to DM questions.
Call for Contributions: The Radical Religious Press in Western Europe and North America, 1780-1914 | H-Net
Original contributions are being sought for an edited collection on the Radical Religious Press in Western Europe and North America, to be published by the University of Edinburgh Press as part of a t...
networks.h-net.org
July 8, 2025 at 3:30 PM
We're looking for a few more contributions to a volume I'm co-editing on the radical religious press in 19th c. Europe/North America. Any subject/geographic focus welcomed. More details from original CFP in link, but deadline for chapters extended to 3/1/26.
Feel free to DM questions.
Feel free to DM questions.
Everything is terrible, which is why I'm especially grateful for the Rowhouse Cinema in Pittsburgh. I just enjoyed two hours of escapism with a showing of Singing in the Rain.
July 1, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Everything is terrible, which is why I'm especially grateful for the Rowhouse Cinema in Pittsburgh. I just enjoyed two hours of escapism with a showing of Singing in the Rain.
Reposted by David Mislin
Got gossip from a managing editor pal of a journal that a few reviewers used ChatGPT to write their assessments for them, and didn't even conceal it. I'll say it again - it won't be the neoliberal administrators that take down the humanities. It'll be humanities professors who've stopped reading.
July 1, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Got gossip from a managing editor pal of a journal that a few reviewers used ChatGPT to write their assessments for them, and didn't even conceal it. I'll say it again - it won't be the neoliberal administrators that take down the humanities. It'll be humanities professors who've stopped reading.
US environmental history/western history folks, please help: any recommendations of good histories about the California Water Wars and Owens Valley water diversion in the early 20th c.? Thanks!
July 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
US environmental history/western history folks, please help: any recommendations of good histories about the California Water Wars and Owens Valley water diversion in the early 20th c.? Thanks!
It's amazing how much my productivity has improved now that my prime morning work time isn't punctuated by terrible SCOTUS decisions.
July 1, 2025 at 2:24 PM
It's amazing how much my productivity has improved now that my prime morning work time isn't punctuated by terrible SCOTUS decisions.
He doesn't want us to back down; he just wants to go to the beach.
Some gall to send a fundraising email the same hour this video is circulating.
Some gall to send a fundraising email the same hour this video is circulating.
June 30, 2025 at 6:29 PM
He doesn't want us to back down; he just wants to go to the beach.
Some gall to send a fundraising email the same hour this video is circulating.
Some gall to send a fundraising email the same hour this video is circulating.
He should resign immediately and let Shapiro replace him with someone who actually wants to do his job. Total embarrassment.
John Fetterman when asked about timing of vote that will cost millions health care and food on the table, destroy industries and jobs:
"Oh my God, I just want to go home... I've missed our entire trip to to the beach."
It is noon on a Monday.
"Oh my God, I just want to go home... I've missed our entire trip to to the beach."
It is noon on a Monday.
June 30, 2025 at 5:09 PM
He should resign immediately and let Shapiro replace him with someone who actually wants to do his job. Total embarrassment.
Yikes. Per the full article, everyone is okay, which is good news.
Allegheny County Sheriff's deputies and Pittsburgh Police took a woman into custody Sunday morning in North Point Breeze after witnesses said a car drove through a barricade and onto streets that had been closed for the popular OpenStreetsPGH festival, striking at least one person on a bicycle.
Woman in custody after car hits bicyclist on closed OpenStreetsPGH course in North Point Breeze
www.wesa.fm
June 29, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Yikes. Per the full article, everyone is okay, which is good news.
Just deleted my quippy post from earlier as the replies were getting to be a bit much. It was a good reminder why I usually steer clear of quippy posts.
June 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Just deleted my quippy post from earlier as the replies were getting to be a bit much. It was a good reminder why I usually steer clear of quippy posts.
As someone who came of age politically following Clinton’s post-1994 triangulation, was in college during the run-up to the Iraq War, and saw Howard Dean pushed aside in favor of John Kerry, “craven,” “soulless,” and “hedging” is pretty much all I’ve ever known of liberal politics.
A liberal should be someone who does the right thing because it is right and stands up to bullies and abusers. The type of liberalism that America has suffered with for decades now has been a craven exercise in soulless hedging and cowardice
June 28, 2025 at 6:32 PM
As someone who came of age politically following Clinton’s post-1994 triangulation, was in college during the run-up to the Iraq War, and saw Howard Dean pushed aside in favor of John Kerry, “craven,” “soulless,” and “hedging” is pretty much all I’ve ever known of liberal politics.
Reposted by David Mislin
A liberal should be someone who does the right thing because it is right and stands up to bullies and abusers. The type of liberalism that America has suffered with for decades now has been a craven exercise in soulless hedging and cowardice
June 28, 2025 at 4:32 PM
A liberal should be someone who does the right thing because it is right and stands up to bullies and abusers. The type of liberalism that America has suffered with for decades now has been a craven exercise in soulless hedging and cowardice
Reposted by David Mislin
Thousands of people lined up at the Minnesota Capitol to pay tribute to slain lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Between the caskets was an urn containing the ashes of the family’s golden retriever, Gilbert.
Beloved dog joined Minnesota lawmaker, husband as they lay in state
When Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot this month, their golden retriever was grievously wounded and had to be euthanized.
www.washingtonpost.com
June 28, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Thousands of people lined up at the Minnesota Capitol to pay tribute to slain lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Between the caskets was an urn containing the ashes of the family’s golden retriever, Gilbert.
I’m not asking Mark to do this (he does plenty as it is!) but this post speaks to my wish for some knowledgeable advice on what the pressure points on SCOTUS might be. I recognize there might be few—but it’d be helpful to know where/how some public pressure might be exerted to mitigate this outcome.
I have an uneasy feeling that the conservative justices are just going to get more aggressive and reckless as they continue to achieve long-sought policy goals at no cost to their own authority. Each hard-right victory empowers them to go further, and faster, next time.
June 28, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I’m not asking Mark to do this (he does plenty as it is!) but this post speaks to my wish for some knowledgeable advice on what the pressure points on SCOTUS might be. I recognize there might be few—but it’d be helpful to know where/how some public pressure might be exerted to mitigate this outcome.