Elenie Poulos
@elenie-poulos.bsky.social
Religion & politics researcher with a focus on language & power. Adjunct Fellow @mqsociology.bsky.social. Non-Exec Director Uniting NSW.ACT. Living & working on unceded Gadigal Land. See more at https://www.eleniepoulos.net.
Thank you @billmckibben.bsky.social. While the situation in Australia is different, the dangers posed by an aggressive and toxic Christianity. This piece is a clarion call for vigilance, bold and clear speech and thoughtful action.
They’re doing to America what they did to Christianity | Bill McKibben
Trump’s wrecking-ball approach to America has a precedent: the evangelical perversion of Jesus’s message of radical love to one of hate and aggression
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Thank you @billmckibben.bsky.social. While the situation in Australia is different, the dangers posed by an aggressive and toxic Christianity. This piece is a clarion call for vigilance, bold and clear speech and thoughtful action.
This is a most excellent piece by @nickbryantoz.bsky.social
highlighting the calamitous decline of the scholarly study of history just when we need it most.
@frankbongiorno.bsky.social @capandgown.bsky.social @michellearrow.bsky.social are national treasures and we need more of them!
highlighting the calamitous decline of the scholarly study of history just when we need it most.
@frankbongiorno.bsky.social @capandgown.bsky.social @michellearrow.bsky.social are national treasures and we need more of them!
History’s booming in podcasts – but many of its academics are out of a job
We live in momentous times. History podcasts and books are more popular than ever. So why is academic history in crisis?
www.smh.com.au
July 10, 2025 at 12:38 AM
This is a most excellent piece by @nickbryantoz.bsky.social
highlighting the calamitous decline of the scholarly study of history just when we need it most.
@frankbongiorno.bsky.social @capandgown.bsky.social @michellearrow.bsky.social are national treasures and we need more of them!
highlighting the calamitous decline of the scholarly study of history just when we need it most.
@frankbongiorno.bsky.social @capandgown.bsky.social @michellearrow.bsky.social are national treasures and we need more of them!
Vale Walter Brueggemann. One of the great Christian theologians. A huge influence on my life. I met him once by chance in the breakfast room of a London B&B and went full fan-girl. He was so kind to me!
The Radical Faith of Walter Brueggemann in 10 Unforgettable Quotes
From empire critique to Sabbath rest, Brueggemann’s writing called us to a more courageous, liberated Christianity.
sojo.net
June 8, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Vale Walter Brueggemann. One of the great Christian theologians. A huge influence on my life. I met him once by chance in the breakfast room of a London B&B and went full fan-girl. He was so kind to me!
"Doge is not being left leaderless... Taking over for Musk, according to the Wall Street Journal, is Christian nationalist and key figure in the rightwing Project 2025 manifesto Russ Vought... Vought has said that he wants federal employees to be left “in trauma” and to slash federal funding."
The chaos Elon Musk and Doge are leaving behind in Washington
Though Musk promised modernization and efficiency, what’s left is a trail of uncertainty and reduced functionality
www.theguardian.com
May 30, 2025 at 5:05 AM
"Doge is not being left leaderless... Taking over for Musk, according to the Wall Street Journal, is Christian nationalist and key figure in the rightwing Project 2025 manifesto Russ Vought... Vought has said that he wants federal employees to be left “in trauma” and to slash federal funding."
Vale Sebastião Salgado. One of the great photographers.
“The planet remains divided, the First World in a crisis of excess, the Third World in a crisis of need.”
“The planet remains divided, the First World in a crisis of excess, the Third World in a crisis of need.”
Sebastião Salgado: a photographer of great humanity
Salgado produced technically flawless, mesmerising images of some of the world’s harshest realities, from the gold mines of Brazil to the horror of the Rwandan genocide.
theconversation.com
May 30, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Vale Sebastião Salgado. One of the great photographers.
“The planet remains divided, the First World in a crisis of excess, the Third World in a crisis of need.”
“The planet remains divided, the First World in a crisis of excess, the Third World in a crisis of need.”
I guess we call this a #trialseparation 😳
Nationals leaving Coalition as David Littleproud announces split with Liberal party after election defeat
Formal coalition agreement ending after breakdown in talks with Liberal leader Sussan Ley
www.theguardian.com
May 20, 2025 at 2:54 AM
I guess we call this a #trialseparation 😳
I'm proud to be involved in the Australian campaign for a national Human Rights Act @aushumanrightsact.bsky.social. As Amy Maguire has written 'The ground has been laid... This project could unite “Australian values” of fairness and equity with protection of human rights in Australian law.'
Australia doesn’t have a federal Human Rights Act – but the election clears the way for overdue reform
On election night, the prime minister talked about ‘fairness’ and ‘Australian values’. To legally protect those values, we need a national human rights act.
theconversation.com
May 8, 2025 at 4:46 AM
I'm proud to be involved in the Australian campaign for a national Human Rights Act @aushumanrightsact.bsky.social. As Amy Maguire has written 'The ground has been laid... This project could unite “Australian values” of fairness and equity with protection of human rights in Australian law.'
The unique art of an Australian federal election #democracysausageday
May 3, 2025 at 4:15 AM
The unique art of an Australian federal election #democracysausageday
Here I am with Cristina Rocha in @theconversation.com exploring how the Australian Christian Right have adopted and adapted the language of global populism to create a uniquely Australian version of the genre.
The rise of right-wing Christian populism and its powerful impact on Australian politics
An network of Australian Christian groups have adapted the language of global right-wing populism to amplify their influence on Australian politics.
theconversation.com
May 1, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Here I am with Cristina Rocha in @theconversation.com exploring how the Australian Christian Right have adopted and adapted the language of global populism to create a uniquely Australian version of the genre.
I had a great chat to SBS for their short-form 'SBS Examines' podcasts on the role of religion in Australia's federal election campaign.
Who's Right? Who's Left? What role will religion play in this election?
The differing and diverse religious beliefs Australians hold will influence their vote this election.
www.sbs.com.au
April 23, 2025 at 4:52 AM
I had a great chat to SBS for their short-form 'SBS Examines' podcasts on the role of religion in Australia's federal election campaign.
I'm very excited to have just had the paper I wrote with the brilliant Cristina Rocha about the populist rhetoric of the Australian Christian Right published by the journal Religion, State and Society and you can get it right here for FREE
‘Saving Australia’: global populism and the rhetoric of the Australian Christian Right
This article examines how the intersection between the Christian Right and populism takes shape in Australia. It analyses how Australian Christian Right (ACR) actors mobilise the ideology, rhetoric...
www.tandfonline.com
April 23, 2025 at 4:27 AM
I'm very excited to have just had the paper I wrote with the brilliant Cristina Rocha about the populist rhetoric of the Australian Christian Right published by the journal Religion, State and Society and you can get it right here for FREE
"Seeking truth is a journey without end. It requires us to be open to new information and different perspectives, to subject our beliefs to ongoing scrutiny, and to be ready to change our minds."
- Alan Garber, President, Harvard University
- Alan Garber, President, Harvard University
The Promise of American Higher Education
No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue
www.harvard.edu
April 15, 2025 at 12:13 AM
"Seeking truth is a journey without end. It requires us to be open to new information and different perspectives, to subject our beliefs to ongoing scrutiny, and to be ready to change our minds."
- Alan Garber, President, Harvard University
- Alan Garber, President, Harvard University
This from @naomiaklein.bsky.social & @astra.bsky.social
"The governing ideology of the far right in our age of escalating disasters has become a monstrous, supremacist survivalism.
It is terrifying in its wickedness, yes. But it also opens up powerful possibilities for resistance."
"The governing ideology of the far right in our age of escalating disasters has become a monstrous, supremacist survivalism.
It is terrifying in its wickedness, yes. But it also opens up powerful possibilities for resistance."
The rise of end times fascism | Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor
The governing ideology of the far right has become a monstrous, supremacist survivalism. Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them
www.theguardian.com
April 14, 2025 at 11:35 PM
This from @naomiaklein.bsky.social & @astra.bsky.social
"The governing ideology of the far right in our age of escalating disasters has become a monstrous, supremacist survivalism.
It is terrifying in its wickedness, yes. But it also opens up powerful possibilities for resistance."
"The governing ideology of the far right in our age of escalating disasters has become a monstrous, supremacist survivalism.
It is terrifying in its wickedness, yes. But it also opens up powerful possibilities for resistance."
Reposted by Elenie Poulos
Great piece by Denis Muller on media and Clive's ads.
Newspapers cannot justify running Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots ads as freedom of speech
Journalists have protested their media outlets’ decisions to run the Trumpet of Patriots ads. They were right to do so.
theconversation.com
March 12, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Great piece by Denis Muller on media and Clive's ads.
I've been doing some research with the fabulous Cristina Rocha from @westernsydneyu.bsky.social on the links between the rhetoric of the Australian Christian Right and global populism. We're presenting our research next week at an online lunchtime seminar - everyone is welcome.
March 11, 2025 at 12:32 AM
I've been doing some research with the fabulous Cristina Rocha from @westernsydneyu.bsky.social on the links between the rhetoric of the Australian Christian Right and global populism. We're presenting our research next week at an online lunchtime seminar - everyone is welcome.
Julia Baird is always wonderful to read, and this column is exceptional.
Elon Musk is wrong. To spurn empathy is to spur evil
Elon Musk claims empathy is a weakness of Western civilisation. Perhaps he fears a more hopeful view of human nature.
www.smh.com.au
March 8, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Julia Baird is always wonderful to read, and this column is exceptional.
Does this mean that Peter Dutton will adopt what’s left? Or will Dutton need to give up on trumpian politics now that Clive has taken command of the space?
Clive Palmer says his new party - Trumpet of Patriots - will "adopt many of the policies of Donald Trump and drain the swamp in Canberra"
Rightio then
Rightio then
February 19, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Does this mean that Peter Dutton will adopt what’s left? Or will Dutton need to give up on trumpian politics now that Clive has taken command of the space?
I'm very proud to be on the national advisory committee for the campaign for a Human Rights Act for Australia. It's crazy that Australia has no national instrument that reflects our human rights commitments. It's past time to make this happen.
Our lives are better when we all treat each other with respect & compassion. We need to create an Australian Human Rights Act to ensure the values we all share - like fairness & equality, are at the heart of our laws. Sign up at www.humanrightsact.org.au
Human Rights Act Australia
We need an Human Rights Act to ensure everyone’s rights are properly protected and people have the power to hold governments to account. We are the official campaign advocating for this important chan...
www.humanrightsact.org.au
February 19, 2025 at 2:46 AM
I'm very proud to be on the national advisory committee for the campaign for a Human Rights Act for Australia. It's crazy that Australia has no national instrument that reflects our human rights commitments. It's past time to make this happen.
Reposted by Elenie Poulos
Just in case people don't know the context, this is a policy called splitting the letters, developed by fundamentalist Christians to use feminist and queer language and culture to split the T off and then turn the others against each other.
You can watch their 2017 conference planning it.
You can watch their 2017 conference planning it.
UPDATE: The National Park Service have now removed “queer” and the “Q+” from the web page for stonewall, along with any mentions of transgender people.
February 14, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Just in case people don't know the context, this is a policy called splitting the letters, developed by fundamentalist Christians to use feminist and queer language and culture to split the T off and then turn the others against each other.
You can watch their 2017 conference planning it.
You can watch their 2017 conference planning it.
Creative Australia claims to be a bold champion of the arts but this is weakness and a betrayal of its purpose. We must stand against polarisation, not bow to it. We must encourage nuanced readings of complex situations. Artists help us to do both. A truly shameful decision.
‘Art should not be censored’: Khaled Sabsabi responds to cancellation of Venice Biennale project
The Lebanese Australian artist, and curator Michael Dagostino say they are ‘extremely hurt’ by Creative Australia’s decision
www.theguardian.com
February 14, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Creative Australia claims to be a bold champion of the arts but this is weakness and a betrayal of its purpose. We must stand against polarisation, not bow to it. We must encourage nuanced readings of complex situations. Artists help us to do both. A truly shameful decision.
I'm excited to have worked with @annahalafoff.bsky.social and Andrew Singleton on an article for a joint project of The Canopy Forum and the Australian Journal of Law and Religion 'Querying “No Religion”: State, Society and Spirituality in Australia'.
canopyforum.org/2025/02/06/q...
canopyforum.org/2025/02/06/q...
"Querying “No Religion”: State, Society and Spirituality in Australia" by Anna Halafoff, Andrew Singleton, & Elenie Poulos - Canopy Forum
Photo of the State Library of South Australia by Vlad Kutepov on Unsplash The following essays are reprinted and adapted on Canopy Forum in collaboration with the journal, Australian Journal of Law an...
canopyforum.org
February 12, 2025 at 10:26 PM
I'm excited to have worked with @annahalafoff.bsky.social and Andrew Singleton on an article for a joint project of The Canopy Forum and the Australian Journal of Law and Religion 'Querying “No Religion”: State, Society and Spirituality in Australia'.
canopyforum.org/2025/02/06/q...
canopyforum.org/2025/02/06/q...
I have no words for how much i love this story 😍🔥 www.smh.com.au/world/europe...
Beavers finish seven-year dam project in two days
Despite a seven-year planning process and successfully securing the funding, the Czech Republic’s dam plans went nowhere. Until the animal workers arrived.
www.smh.com.au
February 12, 2025 at 12:02 PM
I have no words for how much i love this story 😍🔥 www.smh.com.au/world/europe...
Sad and bad news for Australian publishing.
Text Publishing, the latest Australian publisher to be bought out, is now an extremely small subsidiary of a gigantic corporation that trades in content, not literature, writes @catrionamp.bsky.social.
Another publishing house gets swallowed, leaving Australian literature on shaky ground
Penguin Random House's acquisition of Text Publishing leaves Australian publishing further concentrated in the hands of a few multinational companies.
www.crikey.com.au
January 29, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Sad and bad news for Australian publishing.