It's with profound sadness that I write that my father, Vernon, passed away on Tuesday; he was 62. We were fortunate to spend his last few days in his company - reminiscing and playing his favourite Queen records. He knew that he was loved by us all. I'll always be proud to be Vernon Thomas' son.

Aaron Hughes delivers the Gary Lease memorial lecture #IAHR

I am heading to #IAHR in Krakow today! I started a google map for vegan friendly spots in Krakow (I have a few more spots to verify and add): www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/e... in case it is helpful for anyone!

It's official! We have confirmed a date for the book launch! Wednesday 5th November 2.30pm at OCHS, Oxford. Who's coming? 😃🙋‍♀️ @ruthwestoby.bsky.social @jimmallinson.bsky.social @mccutcheonsays.bsky.social @[email protected] @philipdeslippe.bsky.social @aledjllthomas.bsky.social

The programme for our online conference is now live! #BASR2025 basr.ac.uk/2024/01/11/b...

For those attending the upcoming IAHR congress, we are delighted to share details of the INFORM panel which will feature at the event! We're very excited to present on these insightful topics and to showcase the importance of INFORM's work, and we hope to see some of you in attendance!🗺️📚

Paper ready for next month's #IAHR World Congress. Looking forward to being part of the @informreligion.bsky.social panel!

It's me with the Darbs!!!!

I finally watched Conclave. I like that Ralph Fiennes has the same energy as Kermit the Frog trying to keep The Muppet Show from going off the rails.

My PhD thesis ‘The satanic cult conspiracy: how online conspiracy theory discourses construct moral panic’ is now up on WREO: etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/36...

"An island of strangers" is a racist thing to say. What makes them more 'strange' than anyone else I don't know, Starmer?

The ways some will defend the Stanford Prison Experiment's lack of ethical integrity simply because it fits their agenda honestly beggars belief.

Am I the only one reading White House tweets in Bane’s voice in my head?

Congratulations to Bethan on an excellent thesis and viva performance! Well earned! 🎓

Mr Brightside

As is our usual custom in an IAHR year, we will be running our annual conference for 2025 over a single day. This year we have also chosen to run the conference online, in the hope of widening participation. The theme will be Religion, Space, and Place. #basr2025 basr.ac.uk/2024/01/11/b...

The latest issue of our journal, JBASR, on the theme of Environmental Endings and Religious Futures has just been published, with a lead article by Catherine Wessinger @thebasr.bsky.social www.jbasr.com/ojs/index.ph...

*BOOKING NOW OPEN* Booking for the forthcoming INFORM seminar is officially open! For details on how to secure your place visit the linktree in our bio!🔗 Information regarding speakers TBC soon. We hope to see you there!📅

You can’t invoke Thatcher in 2025, that’s bananas. That’s wacky if you’re a Tory, let alone Labour. Look what she’s done. Look at the fucking state of everything. At one point she said Blair was her greatest creation. It’s not true anymore, her greatest creation is now Starmer.

The BASR is now on Bluesky!

The British Association for the Study of Religions is now on Bluesky! 🦋 Stay tuned for more updates on our conferences, projects, bulletin and academic journal. All available here: www.basr.ac.uk

CARTOON OF THE DAY

She really is!!

Lammy praises Trump’s “incredible grace & generosity” on #BBCR4today. His earlier verdict was more accurate (“dishonest, xenophobic”). A man who made “criminal efforts” to overturn 2020 election result, who will trash climate & nature & threaten minorities. Solidarity with all who feel fear today

Our panel for the IAHR conference has been accepted! Who will I be seeing there? I've not visited Karków before, so I'm rather excited. 🥳

Saw Nosferatu last night (it's great), and I think Willem Dafoe has become cinema's go-to 'weird old expert ostracised from his field for being weird' guy. He does it very well though, so I'm not complaining.

At the Community Religions Project day - celebrating its work and its future! Mel Prideaux is kicking things off.

On my way home after yesterday's Inform seminar on New Religiosity on Campus. A great event of diverse papers and talks! @informreligion.bsky.social

Yes, I’m religious. I believe in the Holy Trinity.

Now time for Erin Clark, from the University of Leeds, on the digital LDS church #informseminar

Keynote time! Stephen Gregg delivers a lecture on 'Cultic Classrooms: teaching and learning about new religions' #informseminar

Kim Harding discusses ethical veganism #inform #informseminar

Daniel DeHanas currently presenting on New Media Experiences of Gen Z Muslims at University. #genz #inform

Next up - Kristin Aune on 'Minority religions and interfaith relations on campus' #inform

At the Inform seminar on New Religiosity on Campus. Suzanne Newcombe is currently welcoming delegates! @informreligion.bsky.social

Surprisingly nice weather for the journey to tomorrow's Inform seminar!

GIF where you're from GIF perfection!

In Wales, we’re one more flood away from another disaster like Aberfan | Aaron Thierry

Leeds has a fully funded scholarship program for undergraduate and Masters study for Gaza students. **Tell Everyone** www.leeds.ac.uk/masters-scho...

🔴Jeremy Clarkson, James Dyson and Junk Stats: Is This the Best the Anti-Inheritance Tax Farming Lobby Has to Offer? How millionaire landowners are using dubious statistics to campaign against the Government’s inheritance tax reforms bylinetimes.com/2024/11/19/j...

Suppose I should share publication stuff on Bluesky! This summer @edwardg-h.bsky.social and I published our edited volume, 'Cult' Rhetoric in the 21st Century, the first book of a new Bloomsbury/Inform series. Find out more and access a short sample here! ahc.leeds.ac.uk/philosophy/n...

No, Democrats should not respond to their election defeat by throwing minorities under a bus. Instead, they should offer a compelling economic vision for struggling Americans, which forces the Republicans on the defensive. New column 👇 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Petition: We call on UWTSD and the Welsh Government to create a viable, sustainable plan for the long-term future of Lampeter campus petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/24...

VERY early stages of a NRM/minority religions (and various issues/typologies which can fall under this) starter pack while more of us join this platform. If you want to be included, message me! go.bsky.app/RgcuxhC

Anyone interested in an NRM/minority religion scholars starter pack?

Week 8 of teaching vibes: attempting to lock your front door with your office key.

Recently published a chapter in this collection called ‘cults of conspiracy & the (on-going) satanic panic’ - edited by @aledjllthomas.bsky.social & Edd Graham-Hyde!

Whenever I go home to Wales for a few days, I'm always struck by how effective the 20mph limit is. More time to react, safer roads - it all makes sense. Hope the rest of the UK follows suit. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

We've put together a starter pack of people in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures @universityofleeds.bsky.social go.bsky.app/6bDy5D5