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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.
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.
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.
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.
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
"They will overturn everything that we've done and they'll do it quickly and violently, and violently. There's violence. When you look at Antifa and you look at some of these groups — these are violent people" #EmptyThePews #EvangelicalContributions nbcnews.com/politics/elect…
If by "overturn everything that we've done quickly and violently" Trump means "use democratic means to restore the separation of church and state & end discrimination in the name of religious freedom," then yes, he is 100% correct.
Trump privately urges pastors to help him from the pulpit in the midterms, falsely claims he has eliminated the Johnson Amendment, which threatens religious organizations with the loss of tax-exempt status if they endorse or oppose political candidates
nyti.ms/2oj6wV4
nyti.ms/2oj6wV4
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
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-…
I'm excited to release the official poster for our September 8 roundtable, The #Exvangelical Community: Paths, Projects, Prospects. If you are in or near Tampa or St. Petersburg, Florida, please join us if you can, and help spread the word!
#EmptyThePews #TuesdayThoughts
#EmptyThePews #TuesdayThoughts
If you're interested in putting up some physical copies of the poster or distributing it via e-mail, please feel free to DM me with an e-mail address where I can send a higher resolution version. I'd like to thank @anxiousoracle for designing this! She did a fantastic job!
For more information about this event featuring me, @brchastain, @Lily_Warrior, @KEBrightbill, @WheelerWorkshop, and @julieingersoll, with lunch catered by @centerfluid, see this thread and the linked GoFundMe:
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews
1. Not gonna lie; I'm surprised that World Magazine, an evangelical publication, would release such a withering expose of Liberty University's authoritarian crackdown on the college newspaper. But this is a must read:
world.wng.org/2018/08/papere…
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews #Resist
world.wng.org/2018/08/papere…
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews #Resist
2. Heavy-handed control over college newspapers--essentially rendering them propaganda outlets--is one common tactic used when evangelical colleges crack down to impose orthodoxy, a frequent pattern. Here's an investigative piece I did on these crackdowns
religiondispatches.org/special-report…
religiondispatches.org/special-report…
3. I interviewed David Wheeler (@WheelerWorkshop), who was faculty adviser for the student paper at Asbury University, and one of his former students for the article linked above. Asbury refused to print the student's article making a Christian case for legal same-sex marriage.
Prediction: Most of the 53% of white evangelicals aged 18-29 who support same-sex marriage will either back away from that *OR* (likelier) leave evangelicalism. The key institutions are cracking down. Evangelicalism can’t handle ideological diversity.
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews
Or, well, diversity of any kind. Evangelicalism is fundamentally (fundamentalistally?) authoritarian. There’s no saving it.
chrisstroop.com/2018/06/14/esc…
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews #ThursdayThoughts #Resist
chrisstroop.com/2018/06/14/esc…
#Exvangelical #EmptyThePews #ThursdayThoughts #Resist
To those evangelical kids who want to change evangelicalism from within, good luck. Maybe you’ll prove me wrong. But there are a whole lot of us who have used to be you and had to give up. There’s no shame in reaching that point.
1. “Fake Christians” do exist—I’d put Trump in that category—but they are people who fake piety, not people who regularly attend churches with bigoted theology and whose bigoted piety is very real. Not, in other words, most of Trump’s base.
chrisstroop.com/2017/05/03/abo…
#EmptyThePews
chrisstroop.com/2017/05/03/abo…
#EmptyThePews
2. Is there such a thing as progressive/liberationist Christianity? Of course. But when we speak of a cultural system as vast as a major world religion, we have to realize that we are speaking of a wide array of concrete, communally and historically mediated instantiations.
3. A text-based religion’s history shows how praxis and interpretation of text and tradition vary widely—culturally, geographically, in terms of change over time.
Go back to the beginning. If there was a single“pure” Christianity, why was it necessary to fight over the canon?
Go back to the beginning. If there was a single“pure” Christianity, why was it necessary to fight over the canon?
Why I believe in a personal, real God, and why I believe he/she/they love me: too many times in my life, things have worked out for me way better than they should have.
I don't understand why me, when so many suffer, but I sincerely believe I'm #blessed
I don't understand why me, when so many suffer, but I sincerely believe I'm #blessed
Today was another crazy thing that just worked out. I'm going through a rough time and through complete irresponsibility and poor planning, I ended up $310 in the hole in my checking account. Last night I drove to work wondering if I would make it there, I was so low on gas.
Last pay period, I had been sick and my kids had been sick and I missed work. My paycheck was going to be unusually small, so I had bills to pay and I didn't know how I was going to pay them. I went to work knowing my paycheck would be direct deposited at midnight and
Buckle up, guys, gals, and non-binary pals, because we are about to talk Pensacola Christian College.
This is a political #Exvangelical #emptythepews thread with a heavy dose of #youdontknowevangelicals
This is a political #Exvangelical #emptythepews thread with a heavy dose of #youdontknowevangelicals
When I was choosing my Evangelical college, PCC was one of my few approved options. It has a pretty decent nursing program, and I was toying with going to school for that, but I knew, even then, that it possibly was the most conservative of all the schools I had access to.
Actually, I’ll have to amend that, Ambassador Bible College was probably way more conservative than PCC, but even we considered them fringe.
1. I'm excited to announce The Exvangelical Community: Paths, Projects, Prospects, a panel discussion featuring myself, @KEBrightbill, @WheelerWorkshop, Akiko Ross, and @julieingersoll, and emceed by @brchastain in conjunction with @exvangelicalpod!
gofundme.com/exvangelical-c…
gofundme.com/exvangelical-c…
2. If you are in the Tampa Bay Area, please join us on September 8, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. for a discussion of diverse experiences within evangelicalism and what we can do to build community and advocate our interests going ahead, offline as well as on. Here's more about the event:
3. We deliberately put together a panel of people from different generations and backgrounds. I'll be talking about my Christian school experience and deconstruction, as well as about leveraging social media. @KEBrightbill will talk about her homeschool experience and policy work
