Jolyon Thomas
@jolyonbt.bsky.social
Assoc. Prof of Religious Studies. Author, Drawing on Tradition (2012), Faking Liberties (2019); co-editor, New Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions (2025); co-author, Animating Action (soon). Web: jolyon.thomasresearch.org
It was a privilege to contribute to this forum in Religious Studies Review on Leslie Ribovich's book _Without a Prayer: Religion and Race in New York City Public Schools_. Exciting conversations in the field of religion and education are afoot! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17480922...
November 19, 2025 at 4:21 PM
It was a privilege to contribute to this forum in Religious Studies Review on Leslie Ribovich's book _Without a Prayer: Religion and Race in New York City Public Schools_. Exciting conversations in the field of religion and education are afoot! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17480922...
Public lecture on "The Religion of Anime" Coming up on Wednesday! Still time to register for those who are interested. usjetaa.wildapricot.org/event-6396204
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Public lecture on "The Religion of Anime" Coming up on Wednesday! Still time to register for those who are interested. usjetaa.wildapricot.org/event-6396204
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been all about DIY Halloween costumes that are both dark and goofy. This year I went as the space shuttle Challenger, in a tip of the hat to one of the more horrifying public memory events of my childhood. 🎃
November 1, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been all about DIY Halloween costumes that are both dark and goofy. This year I went as the space shuttle Challenger, in a tip of the hat to one of the more horrifying public memory events of my childhood. 🎃
I'm delivering a public lecture and leading a roundtable discussion on the religion of anime on Nov. 12 at 7:00 PM ET. Flyer with registration information below. This is hosted by the US JET Alumni Association, but is open to the public for a small fee. usjetaa.wildapricot.org/event-6396204
October 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I'm delivering a public lecture and leading a roundtable discussion on the religion of anime on Nov. 12 at 7:00 PM ET. Flyer with registration information below. This is hosted by the US JET Alumni Association, but is open to the public for a small fee. usjetaa.wildapricot.org/event-6396204
Radiohead’s Kid A still grabs me just the way it did when I first heard it in a dorm room in college.
February 22, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Radiohead’s Kid A still grabs me just the way it did when I first heard it in a dorm room in college.
Getting in touch with my inner rage monster at the National Museum of Asian Art.
February 18, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Getting in touch with my inner rage monster at the National Museum of Asian Art.
Washing down some letters to elected officials with a King Tubby chaser.
February 5, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Washing down some letters to elected officials with a King Tubby chaser.
Tonight: Makaya McCraven, Universal Beings
December 8, 2024 at 1:26 AM
Tonight: Makaya McCraven, Universal Beings
Feeling grateful to whomever sold a ton of VG+ Nigerian albums to Princeton Record Exchange about 13-14 years ago.
December 6, 2024 at 2:20 AM
Feeling grateful to whomever sold a ton of VG+ Nigerian albums to Princeton Record Exchange about 13-14 years ago.
Celebrating the last day of teaching for the term with the K&D Sessions.
December 5, 2024 at 1:30 AM
Celebrating the last day of teaching for the term with the K&D Sessions.
And yes, like a toddler, I am currently in a “Why?” phase.
November 23, 2024 at 6:11 PM
And yes, like a toddler, I am currently in a “Why?” phase.
Session ID is M22-503. Hope to see folks there.
November 22, 2024 at 3:52 PM
Session ID is M22-503. Hope to see folks there.
Lecture ✅
Post-lecture hike ✅
Finding an answer to the question of why people insist on blaring shitty music through tinny phone speakers on trails… ❌
Post-lecture hike ✅
Finding an answer to the question of why people insist on blaring shitty music through tinny phone speakers on trails… ❌
November 22, 2024 at 12:27 AM
Lecture ✅
Post-lecture hike ✅
Finding an answer to the question of why people insist on blaring shitty music through tinny phone speakers on trails… ❌
Post-lecture hike ✅
Finding an answer to the question of why people insist on blaring shitty music through tinny phone speakers on trails… ❌
On my way to UC Riverside, where I will be giving a talk critiquing the supposed mid-century “secularization” of public schools in Japan and the US. I offer an alternative interpretive model that not only describes mid-20th c. changes, but also explains some aspects of our weird present moment.
November 21, 2024 at 5:48 PM
On my way to UC Riverside, where I will be giving a talk critiquing the supposed mid-century “secularization” of public schools in Japan and the US. I offer an alternative interpretive model that not only describes mid-20th c. changes, but also explains some aspects of our weird present moment.
Thursday: A different talk (same book project) at UC Riverside.
November 19, 2024 at 4:05 PM
Thursday: A different talk (same book project) at UC Riverside.
Friday night listening: The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Electric Ladyland.
November 16, 2024 at 5:00 AM
Friday night listening: The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Electric Ladyland.
But as the row of golden torii gates on our cover suggests (photo credit: @kaitlynugoretz), we aimed to construct a “new gold standard” with an updated volume that assumes a slightly different audience and adopts a different mode of organization.
November 10, 2024 at 6:55 PM
But as the row of golden torii gates on our cover suggests (photo credit: @kaitlynugoretz), we aimed to construct a “new gold standard” with an updated volume that assumes a slightly different audience and adopts a different mode of organization.
Did my part. Beautiful day for democracy here in Philly.
November 5, 2024 at 3:23 PM
Did my part. Beautiful day for democracy here in Philly.
Gotta say I am pretty pleased with how this year’s costume turned out.
October 27, 2024 at 9:10 PM
Gotta say I am pretty pleased with how this year’s costume turned out.
Went from cooking with Stanley Turrentine’s Cherry to eating with Sonny Red’s Out of the Blue tonight. A surprisingly good (and colorful) Monday evening combo.
October 22, 2024 at 12:13 AM
Went from cooking with Stanley Turrentine’s Cherry to eating with Sonny Red’s Out of the Blue tonight. A surprisingly good (and colorful) Monday evening combo.
It just gets worse the more you read. Here Huron says that a lot of higher ed workers are dissatisfied, but instead of talking about addressing adjunctification, etc., encourages a reframe to “total rewards.” Also promotes using DEI as a way to mollify disgruntled employees.
February 17, 2024 at 1:13 PM
It just gets worse the more you read. Here Huron says that a lot of higher ed workers are dissatisfied, but instead of talking about addressing adjunctification, etc., encourages a reframe to “total rewards.” Also promotes using DEI as a way to mollify disgruntled employees.