Jumala The Sky God

Jumala

The Sky God

Jumala—Finnish for “god,” the Finno-Ugric sky deity of thunder and lightning—names this blog exploring, from the edge of empire’s twilight, the intersection of authentic Christian faith, America’s democratic decline, and humanity’s struggle with its own contradictions.

Situational awareness means noticing what’s happening around you, understanding what it means, and predicting what might happen next so you can make smart decisions and respond effectively.

Heart cover of a Valentine’s Day card from a daughter to her father.

A father shares his joy at rediscovering dozens of hand-made greeting cards, delightful mementos, wonderful treasures, and other expressions of love his daughter has given him over the decades.

Paperback Jukebox August 1993, issue #24 cover art by Spider Mocassin.

What started as a brief history of Paperback Jukebox instead morphs into a memoir narrating juvenile hijinks, military service, European misadventures, failed bands, and broken relationships that ultimately fueled an early-’90s launch of one of the Pacific Northwest’s most acclaimed music newspapers.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are depicted in the painting. Depicted from right to left are Conquest, War, Famine, and Death.

From family perspectives to existential threats, this post explores three catastrophic risks facing humanity: climate change, nuclear war, and artificial superintelligence. It warns about ASI’s potential near-term emergence and the profound dangers of tech billionaire control over superhuman intelligence.

Drag performers in elaborate costumes representing the communal strength and diversity needed to guide society’s moral direction.

When political leaders fail to demonstrate virtue, ordinary citizens must step up. This analysis explores how America’s addiction to junk media—from talk radio to cable news to social media—has created cognitive decline paralleling AI “brain rot,” eroding our capacity for democratic deliberation.

The fears and uncertainties gripping contemporary American politics are comin’ ta gitcha!

Fear, hate, and revenge drive American politics as fascism gains ground. After a political assassination and the president’s refusal to call for unity, progressives struggle with impotent hand-wringing. A security guard’s everyday struggles reveal how dysfunction breeds authoritarian appeal.