iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Does anyone else occasionally have “Springtime for Hitler” (the song, in The Producers) just spontaneously pop into your head, as if it’s the soundtrack for the world that’s been forced on us these days? No? Just me? Probably just me

010

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I’ve been teaching the same fall class for 4 years. Last year I caught SO many students cheating on the second exam. Then found evidence many had also cheated on the 1st exam. This year, 1st exam scores are lower than expected. New measures ON Maybe this is the first year no one was able to cheat?

000

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Can’t wait to teach an angelic epiphany

001

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Well, looks like someone has created a game to remind Texas voters about Ken Paxton’s unique “qualifications” for the senate. 👏🏼

000

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Listened to this podcast yesterday and really enjoyed it. And hearing my colleague Cynthia 🙌🏻

000

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Happy September days from Willoughby and spooky chop. It’s supposed to stay below 100 today in central Texas, so I’m feeling Fall 😆

Pug lying down in his crate with a Halloween-styled lamb chop toy—orange with a witch’s black hat. (It’s precious)

030

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Hmm, what (WHO) has sucked up all the oxygen in our political system the last decade? 🤔🤔🤔🤔

000

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

It looks like the newer (Trump-aligned) organization is trying to steal the words “catholic+vote” from Catholics Vote Common Good. Seems like bad faith to me

010

Reposted by SEBenton

Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

This actually explains something about how people talk about the Jewish community.

1001203230

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

😆😆😆😆🥹🥹🥹😢😢😭😭😭

010

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Exactly! It’s infuriating, because it’s bad faith. The repeated thing is what IS meant, and the disavowal is the “joke” (i.e., lie). Personally, I think Jesus was right when saying, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no…” Bonus if you no what “anything else” is coming from 😉

000

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

People need to stop electing humans who need psychiatric help and show signs of narcissistic personalities and/or delusions. This should not appeal to the public, and the fact that is does shows deep dysfunction

060

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

I don’t really know what to think of this company yet, or of its methods. I’m interested to learn here that it acquired the Barna group and Carey Niewhof’s leadership podcast. In fact, I stopped using info from that podcast after it went in on the “revival” hype about young men and churches. 🤔

000

Reposted by SEBenton

National Catholic Reporter @ncronline.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

In the face of decades of papal teachings about the reality and urgency of climate change, U.S. sisters have been leaders on environmental action. In contrast, U.S. bishops have largely not been creation care leaders.

bit.ly

Why are sisters more engaged in environmental activism than other church leaders?

1145

Reposted by SEBenton

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 30/06/2026

really cannot be emphasized enough that the drafters of the birthright clause very much considered cases analogous to undocumented immigrants and *included them too*

74112842658

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

If you haven’t seen that @bradleyonishi.bsky.social and @angeladenker.bsky.social and several others have begun putting out a daily brief on US religion and politics at Axis Mundi Media, it’s GREAT. Today’s here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...

podcasts.apple.com

Axis Daily Brief | The Surprising American Evangelical Denomination Pushing Back Against Right-Wing Extremism

Podcast Episode · Axis Daily Brief · June 29 · 10m

174

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Individual translations of the Bible have a long history, but they should always be treated with caution because of the potential for bias with just 1 person working. On top of that, this seems like it always was a paraphrase. Now it looks like it might have stolen from The Message. Try NRSVue? 🙂

010

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

What a beautiful statement about the joys of libraries

020

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Accurate assessment (ffrf) So disappointed in the regressive decision of the SBC. And one that doesn’t allow the Baptist principle of freedom of conscience! (Though I’m not baptist, I do teach at a Baptist affiliated institution)

000

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Time for white evangelical Protestants to listen to everyone else. Long past time

020

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

The Ethiopian manuscript tradition and church tradition are fascinating. After developing so long out of contact with other Christian traditions, Ethiopian Christianity has many distinct texts, practices, and features. I am excited for more of its heritage to be accessible to scholars worldwide

153

Reposted by SEBenton

Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

🚨BREAKING: The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) says it is “deeply alarmed” about the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) new rule created to carry out President Donald Trump’s plans for restricting mail-in voting. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

democracydocket.com

Postal workers lash out against new USPS rule that helps Trump’s attack on mail-in voting

The American Postal Workers Union says it “rejects the premise” that the USPS needed to comply with Trump’s anti-mail voting order.

13447332192

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Beginning the day with beauty

010

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

This cute toad loves to perch in my regularly watered plants

A toad on a child’s sand toy, both sitting in a potted plant outside

000

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Since I live around Tr*mp country, it’s helpful to reality check how people are viewing things around the country. I still know people all over, so it’s not hard for me to know this is true. But for some people in my area, this is disconnected from their reality, & they might really not believe it

000

Reposted by SEBenton

Marissa Franks Burt @mburtwrites.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Perhaps “Train up a child in the way he should go, & when he is old he will not depart from it” is a sobering observation & not a formulaic promise? Christians: we can be done defending spanking. +

111

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Grateful for this woman who showed up, and for all the others

010

Reposted by SEBenton

Senator Andy Kim @kim.senate.gov · 27/05/2026

Don't let ICE and this administration lie to you. I saw inside Delaney Hall with my own eyes. The conditions are absolutely unacceptable.

7235701332

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

“Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. 🧵

210

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Well this caught my attention this morning

000

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Historic reenactment for historic reversion of voting rights

010

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Evaluating college degrees as if they are vocational schools (based on after-grad earnings 4 years out) has always been a way to reduce the purpose of higher ed to monetary gain. But for people who want a degree and expertise and are willing to serve others, these metrics will always be a mismatch.

020

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

My youngest kiddo saw this picture a few days ago when I was scanning hard copies. I’m the one with a scrunchie and mock turtleneck, looking like I could blend in again these days. Kid exclaimed, “you look the same!” Have been feeling pretty dang good about aging since then 😆

Family picture from the early 90s. My two brothers. My parents. Me with a scrunchie in my half ponytail

140

Reposted by SEBenton

RNS @rns.org · 02/05/2026

OPINION: (RNS) — The armed man who sought to break into the White House Correspondents' dinner hails from a long line of religious extremists looking to commit political violence in the name of God.

religionnews.com

Is Cole Tomas Allen a religious zealot?

(RNS) — The armed man who sought to break into the White House Correspondents' dinner hails from a long line of religious extremists looking to commit political violence in the name of God.

063

Reposted by SEBenton

Steve Rattner @steverattner.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Trump’s net worth has nearly tripled in his second term, reaching $6.5 billion. His administration is the most brazenly self-enriching in American history. My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart.

9624051167

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Exactly. But with Dr. Pepper Zero or mocha lattes in that giant cup

010

Reposted by SEBenton

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

The richest Americans saw their net worth soar 120% from 2017 to 2025. The top 1% now control $55.8 trillion in assets — more than the G.D.P. of the United States and China combined. Meanwhile, millions of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Still wondering if inequality is out of control?

12241061555

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Food for thought. This is one of those legacies that is baffling to me… even as I hear plenty from that generation also upset about the debt

111

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

The TPUSA event at Baylor was making lots of local headlines, and lots of parking and traffic difficulties for those of us going about our usual days. But the All Are Neighbors event, with @interfaithalliance.org and the Human Rights campaign was beautiful, inspiring, and visionary.

081

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Kristin is gold and so much of her stuff has helped me understand the world around us right now. And also this post is on point and the video is extraordinary. I hope others will watch and grimace and laugh like I did.

010

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

How I feel when someone tells me we’ll have to agree to disagree on some big New Testament question, after they’ve only “read the Bible” on the subject

Cartoon of kid at a whiteboard with a wrong addition equation. Teacher with speech bubble stands behind him, saying “No, Jacob, we don’t have to ‘agree to disagree.’”

110

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

A helpful sum-up of what progress has been made. Nothing is ideal. But our ideals can point us toward things that are better

010

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

So so happy for freedom loving Hungarians! For Europe. Let’s go, demise-of-right-wing-authoritarianism! Keel on rolling

110

SEBenton @sebenton.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

The world is rough. And I lost my mom two weeks ago. Sometimes, I just need to stare at my dog being cute and breathe. Keep breathing today, my friends #dogsofbluesky

161