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1. So I need to process my therapy session today (aka process my processing), so this is me doing that. But I'm a little scared to write it down.
Anyway. Here goes... a thread, probably helpful for the #Exvangelical and #EmptyThePews Fam
Anyway. Here goes... a thread, probably helpful for the #Exvangelical and #EmptyThePews Fam
2. My therapist and I were discussing the girl I just started dating and how I still deal with internalized homophobia when we are together. She told me that when we are scared, stressed, or even excited our brains retreat back to things that are safe, even if they're harmful.
3. In essence, we are trying to survive and in times of stress (good or bad) often our reaction is to retreat to safety. Sometimes the safety is a thought, belief, place, community, people. Sometimes those things are harmful but because they are what we know, it feels safe.
Since I have some new followers, I guess it's time I do an intro thread.
Hello everyone! I'm Guinevere. I grew up as a military dependent for 18 years, moved around every 3 years and settled in Alabama thanks to my dad. I was raised fundigelical (Fundamentalist Evangelical) 1/
Hello everyone! I'm Guinevere. I grew up as a military dependent for 18 years, moved around every 3 years and settled in Alabama thanks to my dad. I was raised fundigelical (Fundamentalist Evangelical) 1/
and slowly began leaving that world in 1999, when I graduated.
The church that my parents attended at that time was very abusive in many ways, and I tried to leave as best as possible. Unfortunately, my parents ascribed to the Stay at Home Daughter movement, as well as 2/
The church that my parents attended at that time was very abusive in many ways, and I tried to leave as best as possible. Unfortunately, my parents ascribed to the Stay at Home Daughter movement, as well as 2/
other very patriarchal/quiverfull ideology.
The only way to leave was to get a job that took me elsewhere or get married.
I decided to work, even if that mean overtime and horrible hours, as long as it kept me out of the home as much as possible 3/
The only way to leave was to get a job that took me elsewhere or get married.
I decided to work, even if that mean overtime and horrible hours, as long as it kept me out of the home as much as possible 3/
1/2. Of all the weird things in a weird article, what stood out to me is Nunes investing in a relatively new (founded 2006) Napa Valley winery I’d never heard of, Alpha Omega. That apocalyptic image set my #Exvangelical sense tingling, so I did a little digging.
#EmptyThePews
#EmptyThePews
2/2. The folks behind the winery also run an Alpha Omega Foundation. Evangelical seems to be the native language of Michelle Baggett, who runs it. Among the foundation’s beneficiaries is Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham.
wineindustryadvisor.com/2018/01/30/alp…
#EmptyThePews #Resist
wineindustryadvisor.com/2018/01/30/alp…
#EmptyThePews #Resist
Addendum: That’s all I immediately found; figured it was worth tweeting. I also think some further digging into who the foundation supports would be worthwhile. That it does good things, like support wildfire relief, doesn’t mean it’s not working to advance a theocratic agenda.
Hello darling #Exvangelical friends and fans thereof. It is time for our weekly installment. This may be a short one, we'll see. It was a short chapter, which interesting, for reasons we'll get to.
Teaser for future issues - I have gotten PDF's of Dobson's doctoral thesis so...
Teaser for future issues - I have gotten PDF's of Dobson's doctoral thesis so...
You can all look forward to that shitshow. I know I am. But right now we are just going to focus on this very exciting book that has been giving us a lot of useful information. We are currently on Chapter 4 - Four Men Who Shaped His Life.
And it is kind of weird this is the shortest chapter, right? Because like... it is theoretically about 4 different people but it is shorter than any of the previous chapters. I don't actually think @DrJamesCDobson wants to acknowledge that much formation in his life, personally.
1. I just sent out this month's newsletter for all @Patreon patrons who support me with a $5 or higher monthly pledge. If you find my work valuable and would like the inside Stroop scoop, please consider joining them!
patreon.com/cstroop
#Exvangelical #SundayThoughts
patreon.com/cstroop
#Exvangelical #SundayThoughts
2. At the end of the last academic year, I faced a choice--move back in with my parents in Indiana to pursue the freelance writing and speaking opportunities I was getting more of, or adjunct at the University of South Florida for low pay and no benefits. Or find something new.
3. Here's a thread with some of my life story up to the present. The travel to Austria next spring to do a semester of research mentioned in it fell through despite me having been promised it for years.
Can we talk about how, at the end of the day, the Evangelical support of Kavanaugh is because they devalue us to the point of sexual assault on the altar of being "pro-life?"
They are DESPERATE to overturn Roe V Wade.
They are DESPERATE to overturn Roe V Wade.
It's why they elected Trump. They've been working towards criminalizing abortion for DECADES.
Because, at the end of the day, they still view women as property. As Chattel.
Because, at the end of the day, they still view women as property. As Chattel.
It's why they pushed purity culture, to the detriment of the mental health of a an entire generation (or two or three).
They don't see anyone "different" as being equal, in any sense of the word.
The privileged white male patriarchal assholes know exactly what they're doing.
They don't see anyone "different" as being equal, in any sense of the word.
The privileged white male patriarchal assholes know exactly what they're doing.
Stop calling Falwell, Graham and their ilk “fake Christians.” Historically Christianity is often about the pursuit of power. Pretending otherwise isn’t harmless; it keeps us from grasping the theocratic threat.
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews #SundayMorning
chrisstroop.com/2017/05/03/abo…
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews #SundayMorning
chrisstroop.com/2017/05/03/abo…
When you dismiss Trumpist evangelicals as “fake Christians,” despite them representing the overwhelming majority of white evangelicals, you enable key news outlets’ normalizing extremism. If Graham is “fake,” “real” evangelicals must be fine with pluralism, right? BUT THEY AREN’T
Mussolini, Hitler, Franco, all had massive Christian backing. These are historical, empirically unassailable facts. Deal with it.
npr.org/2014/01/27/265…
npr.org/2014/01/27/265…
Another reversal of an improvement for LGBTQ acceptance in an evangelical institution (World Vision is the other one I have in mind). Evangelicalism doesn’t change its patriarchal ways. It just casts out the people who would make it better.
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews #Resist
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews #Resist
Of course Wheaton might be the more direct parallel.
time.com/4233666/wheato…
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews
time.com/4233666/wheato…
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews
For more on the authoritarian enforcement of hardline conservative orthodoxy at evangelical colleges, see my latest for @Playboy:
playboy.com/read/want-to-k…
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews #SaturdayThoughts
playboy.com/read/want-to-k…
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews #SaturdayThoughts
In Christian evangelical circles toxic hierarchy is VERY prevalent, and leads to “no talk” rules and other such isolating damaging tactics. You don’t know you’ve broken the rules until they are broke and you’re left hanging out to dry #exvangelical #SpiritualAbuse
*OR* you do already know the rules and you are terrified to speak up, speak out, and call for accountability because you *KNOW* the consequences. Which is usually oppressive isolation, shunning, and spiritual character assassination #exvangelical #SpiritualAbuse
AND if you DO speak out, claims that you are just being used by the devil to hold back the body of Christ and their “effectiveness” are spread. and then othering you/isolating you is easy #exvangelical #SpiritualAbuse
I also RT requests for financial help fairly often. Unfortunately, many in the #Exvangelical community have needs and are hampered by lack of education, meaningless degrees, or lack of professional experience outside evangelical institutions. The social costs of leaving are high.
I don’t want or expect anyone who can’t afford it to give, and I don’t want anyone to feel obligated; even just RTing those requests is immensely helpful. It is my hope that someday we’ll have some kind of foundation to fund #Exvangelical projects and meet needs. #EmptyThePews
Sometimes crowdfunding is all that stands between an #Exvangelical and homelessness, or being forced to return to a toxic, abusive living situation. That’s the uncomfortable reality. I do make small donations myself to almost every fundraising request I amplify.
Differences between #AnitaHill and #CavanaghHearings.
‘91 Almost ALL white dude staffers behind a ALL STRAIGHT WHITE MALE SENATORS on judiciary committee.
‘18 Half/same old gang of straight white male rape enabler @GOPs vs @Dem’s diversity , and a stfu old @Vp.
#Kavanagh
‘91 Almost ALL white dude staffers behind a ALL STRAIGHT WHITE MALE SENATORS on judiciary committee.
‘18 Half/same old gang of straight white male rape enabler @GOPs vs @Dem’s diversity , and a stfu old @Vp.
#Kavanagh
‘99 Thurmond, 1948 “States rights” party white supremacist nominee for president, 51 years later he’s grabbing my breast.
‘18 Orrin Hatch, Still So 😡 Mormon chicks don’t blow and black Women don’t sit still for berating on CSPAN.
#AnitaHill #Kavanaugh
‘18 Orrin Hatch, Still So 😡 Mormon chicks don’t blow and black Women don’t sit still for berating on CSPAN.
#AnitaHill #Kavanaugh
Youngs need to be told Biden got a big shiny rehab by Barack.
He was VILE to Anita Hill in front of her 80 year old BLACK country church proper one generation removed from SLAVERY parents. It was vile.
He was VILE to Anita Hill in front of her 80 year old BLACK country church proper one generation removed from SLAVERY parents. It was vile.
One key lesson I’d love for the Left to learn from #Exvangelical folks is this: evangelicalism, the engine of religious conservatism in America, has become increasingly constrictive over the decades. Their ability to tolerate dissent of any kind in their community is near zero.
Over the past few decades, through concerted efforts across a variety of evangelical institutions, social & political dissent has been quashed from within. Examples include Paige Patterson’s fundamentalist takeover of the SBC in ‘98 & the increased conservatism on Xian campuses.
@C_Stroop has documented cases of “theological paranoia” on Christian college campuses. An increasingly conservative donor base that demands campus and intellectual life match their own preferences drives Xian colleges to damaging policy and teaching.
religiondispatches.org/special-report…
religiondispatches.org/special-report…
@SenWhitehouse Senator do you understand what it means when judges claim to be 'originalists'? They mean they want the Constitution to be exactly as it was originally written w/o all later amendments. They only want rich, powerful, land owning, white men to vote. They want to take America 1/
@SenWhitehouse Back to Colonial times. They claim to love the Constitution so much, yet want to intertwine religious laws instead of civil laws in our daily lives, ie, Christian Sharia Law. I don't understand why Democrats aren't screaming from the rooftops about this. Everyone but trump 2/
@SenWhitehouse Is a member of Council for National Policy, a hate group posing as Christians per @splcenter. They hate LGBTQ, Muslims, liberals, POC, & want women to be seen not heard. They're Dominionists. Sarah Palin was their entry into mainstream GOP politics. They want christofascist 3/
September is a big month! I’m at the airport on my way Florida for The #Exvangelical Community: Paths, Projects, Prospects. In the last two days I’ve filed two pieces with editors, and this week I did podcasts w/ @NiceMangos and @kitchencultpod (@haettinger and @mxdarkwater). #FF
Next weekend I’ll be in Charleston, South Carolina to give a talk for @CHShumanists, and am very much looking forward to that! October is also pretty full!
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews #FridayFeeIing #FF
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews #FridayFeeIing #FF
And next week I’ll also be doing a second podcast episode with @TwistedSisterds! It’ll be my second time on, and I sure had fun last time!
twistedsisterds.podbean.com
#Exvangelical #FF
twistedsisterds.podbean.com
#Exvangelical #FF
A quick thread to progressive Christian's, from your neighborhood #exvangelical, #exChristian.
When we talk about faith, faith crisis, lack of faith, our journey, our pain, our experience, anything basically, please stop telling us to:
When we talk about faith, faith crisis, lack of faith, our journey, our pain, our experience, anything basically, please stop telling us to:
-keep the faith
-find the real Jesus
-have faith in God
-find a different church
-find the real Jesus
-have faith in God
-find a different church
Stop insisting:
-God is real
-When we find healing we can find the real God
-Your church/experience is better or unlike ours
-God is real
-When we find healing we can find the real God
-Your church/experience is better or unlike ours
Okay all, let's talk about this real quick and it's implications for the so-called #SocialJusticeStatement .
Let's start by noting that the name "Stan Hannon" is a misspelling.
As can be seen at this link (fbcbelleview.org/stan-hannan-se…) his name is, in fact, Stan *Hannan* (thread)
Let's start by noting that the name "Stan Hannon" is a misspelling.
As can be seen at this link (fbcbelleview.org/stan-hannan-se…) his name is, in fact, Stan *Hannan* (thread)
First, let's talk about Stan's biography a bit.
The scant details given on the church website about his military service (fbcbelleview.org/stan-hannan-se…) along with what @JustinPetersMin has said give us enough info to research exactly what Stan's role was in the Rhodesian military.
The scant details given on the church website about his military service (fbcbelleview.org/stan-hannan-se…) along with what @JustinPetersMin has said give us enough info to research exactly what Stan's role was in the Rhodesian military.
Also, real quick shout out to @C_Stroop and @anxiousoracle for their work researching this.
@anxiousoracle did most of the legwork on the research front, and I am building off that work here.
Now, back to our friend Pastor Stan.
@anxiousoracle did most of the legwork on the research front, and I am building off that work here.
Now, back to our friend Pastor Stan.
1. In my view MA Governor Charlie Baker made the right choice by refusing to debate radical evangelical Scott Lively, but for the wrong reasons. The theocratic threat is real and must be exposed. He should have explained why he wouldn't debate Lively.
#EmptyThePews #Exvangelical
#EmptyThePews #Exvangelical
2. And I mean Baker should have explained in no uncertain terms why Christofascists like Lively should not be normalized. If he does not speak out strongly against the anti-transgender ballot initiative Question 3 now, that will be telling. #Exvangelical #EmptyThePews #Resist
CC: @Srvollmar
.@JosiahMHesse and his friends are undertaking a unique project to tour America and document both evangelical subculture and exvangelical stories. If you’re able, throw a few dollars their way.
gofundme.com/the-unapologet…
#EmptyThePews #SaturdayMotivation #BeingExvangelical
gofundme.com/the-unapologet…
#EmptyThePews #SaturdayMotivation #BeingExvangelical
You can learn more about @JosiahMHesse’s brilliant work by reading this interview with him, the latest installment in my Ex-Evangelical Conversations series on #NotYourMissionField:
chrisstroop.com/2018/08/10/ex-…
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews
chrisstroop.com/2018/08/10/ex-…
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews
And if you will be joining us in Clearwater, FL on September 8 for The Exvangelical Community: Paths, Projects, Prospects, you’ll be able to meet @JosiahMHesse in person.
"It is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven"
"Go give all you posses to the poor & come follow me"
Them: "He didn't mean MONEY, it's the LOVE of money"
Sounds like someone is trying to justify something
"Go give all you posses to the poor & come follow me"
Them: "He didn't mean MONEY, it's the LOVE of money"
Sounds like someone is trying to justify something
And: "... you cannot serve God and mammon..."
Plus, all those passages about people who started following Jesus and gave up great portions of their ill-gained wealth.
If you are wealthy because someone else is working minimum wage for you, you have ill-gained wealth. #FYI
Plus, all those passages about people who started following Jesus and gave up great portions of their ill-gained wealth.
If you are wealthy because someone else is working minimum wage for you, you have ill-gained wealth. #FYI
Thanks for coming to my sermon. I don't need to pass the collection plate because I am not a grifter. #emptythepews #Evangelicals #Exvangelical
Q: how did #purityculture fuck up my life?
A: how long you got? a thread..
#Exvangelical #ChurchToo
1/?
A: how long you got? a thread..
#Exvangelical #ChurchToo
1/?
purity culture is the pervasive set of beliefs, structures, & actions that place a heavy focus on the virginity & "physical/spiritual/emotional purity" of women/girls
2/
2/
it is heavily influenced by patriarchal beliefs such as male headship, women being unable to serve in the same capacity as men in the church (& sometimes world at large), complementarian gender roles (women are made to run the home, men to provide by working), etc
3/
3/
1. A few thoughts on Trump's dinner in honor of evangelicals, which I'll be discussing with @RickSmithShow later. Key context to consider is that fascism is concerned with defining who belongs to "the nation" or "the people," and who doesn't. Internal enemies (Others) are needed.
2. This dovetails neatly with the way in which fundamentalist believers police who does and does not count as a member of their religious confession. This is critical to understanding the Christian Right's politics of "religious freedom":
3. Indeed, as I have written elsewhere, "Fundamentalism is authoritarianism in microcosm, or on the margins. Fascism is essentially fundamentalism in power." The vast majority of white evangelicals are authoritarian and fundamentalist.
chrisstroop.com/2017/03/06/edu…
#EmptyThePews
chrisstroop.com/2017/03/06/edu…
#EmptyThePews
This article about the profound influence of Virginia economist James McGill Buchanan (an intellectual descendant of John C. Calhoun) on ascendant American oligarchy is chilling. We’re already quite far down this destructive path.
ineteconomics.org/perspectives/b…
#SundayMorning #Resist
ineteconomics.org/perspectives/b…
#SundayMorning #Resist
Buchanan’s extremely, self-servingly dark view of human nature, which “justified” his rejection of any search for the public good through politics, is a hallmark of authoritarianism. This is why Christian nationalism and oligarchy dovetail so comfortably.
Advocates for utopias, which in attempts at implementation always trend to authoritarianism, share a rejection of politics, a desire to be free from politics, even from freedom as most understand it. Libertarianism and theocracy are conservative utopias. #EmptyThePews #Resist
Hey #Exvangelical Twitter and those who follow us - little reminder that most people who leave the church also get shunted to the outsides of their own families by a religious belief that real community only exists in Christ, and that’s excruciating. Be kind to each other today.
Even for those whose families have not deliberately shunned or ostracized them (which happens), there is a painful and obvious disconnect. At family gatherings you sit at a table full of people you desperately want to connect with and can’t think of a thing to say.
Can’t talk politics, because even if they aren’t Trump supporters you’ve never heard the word “Democrat“ come out of a Christian’s mouth without it sounding like they are spitting poison. Can’t feminism for the same reason.
The Exvangelical Community: Paths, Projects, Prospects, a roundtable and public discussion featuring me, @KEBrightbill, @brchastain, @Lily_Warrior, @WheelerWorkshop, and @julieingersoll is coming up on September 8! Please help spread the word to folks in Florida!
#EmptyThePews
#EmptyThePews
The poster attached to the above tweet is available in higher resolution if you'd like to pass it around digitally or hang it at your local coffee shop. Just shoot me a DM with an e-mail address to send it to. Thanks to @anxiousoracle for the design!
National news media will be present to cover the event, and we're also happy that @JosiahMHesse, author of an #Exvangelical psychological horror series (the second book of which has just been launched), will be there! Check out this interview with Josiah:
chrisstroop.com/2018/08/10/ex-…
chrisstroop.com/2018/08/10/ex-…
