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thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Chrissy Stroop
@thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
54K followers 1.7K following 8.1K posts
Cofounder of The Flytrap @theflytrapmedia.bsky.social
Senior correspondent for Religion Dispatches
Former weekly columnist for openDemocracy
Ball State (BA) and Stanford (PhD) alum

Pacific Northwest via a long, weird, winding road
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thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
This time Russell really really means it, you guys!

If regular evangelicals don't get the message he's going to wag his finger even harder
A screenshot from the Christianity Today website with a picture of white supremacist Nick Fuentes speaking into a microphone and emphatically gesturing with his right hand on a yellowish tan background. Below that are the words: "The Theology Project" followed by the headline "The Church Better Start Taking Nazification Seriously." The byline is Russell Moore, who is listed as columnist here but has far more roles than that at CT Magazine. The DEK reads "Tucker Carlson hosted neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes on his podcast. The stakes are high for American Christians."
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
What the French-fried fuckity fuck?

I emphatically did not opt IN to this and now I have to log in and opt OUT?

When you’ve already done a thing I not only disapprove of, but that also makes literally no sense?

You can’t turn my old paper into an analogy. That’s not how papers or analogies work
A screenshot of an email from academia.edu proclaiming “Our AI turned your research into an easy to understand analogy.” The research in question is an old conference paper, “Father Sergii’s Apocalypse.” The fine print says if I don’t want them to use AI on my uploaded work I have to opt out.
November 1, 2025 at 11:58 AM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
I was having some thoughts this morning about lapdogs of the Trump regime, but then it occurred to me that it’s funny we use that particular idiom/metaphor.

In my experience, lapdogs are rather mischievous and not especially obedient creatures
A picture of a black Pomeranian dog in a teal harness with a devil-may-care look on her face, stubbornly lounging when she’s supposed to be walking home
October 1, 2025 at 5:06 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
And look how well that worked out! Today, there are *only* some 40,000 denominations
Chrissy Stroop’s anti-proselytizing principles infographic. Subhead: Prophylactic protection against evangelical aggression. Point one (illustrated with an icon of a church congregation): I am not your mission field. Point two (illustrated with an icon of talking heads on TV): I don’t owe you a debate. Point three (illustrated with an icon of a human head with a question mark inside the brain area): There are no shortcuts to being a good person, least of all “right belief.” Point four (illustrated by an icon of a person waking): Leavers are not a “crisis in the church.” Treat us as humans with moral autonomy. Point five (illustrated with an icon of a man with arms outstretched as if proclaiming something to a crowd): Proselytizing is always objectification. Let people follow their own consciences. Point six (illustrated by an icon of a person from the waist up holding an open book): Our stories are ours. Leavers are not believers’ object lessons.
July 5, 2025 at 9:33 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Proselytizing is bad, and you should feel bad
Chrissy Stroop’s anti-proselytizing principles infographic. Subhead: Prophylactic protection against evangelical aggression. Point one (illustrated with an icon of a church congregation): I am not your mission field. Point two (illustrated with an icon of talking heads on TV): I don’t owe you a debate. Point three (illustrated with an icon of a human head with a question mark inside the brain area): There are no shortcuts to being a good person, least of all “right belief.” Point four (illustrated by an icon of a person waking): Leavers are not a “crisis in the church.” Treat us as humans with moral autonomy. Point five (illustrated with an icon of a man with arms outstretched as if proclaiming something to a crowd): Proselytizing is always objectification. Let people follow their own consciences. Point six (illustrated by an icon of a person from the waist up holding an open book): Our stories are ours. Leavers are not believers’ object lessons.
June 15, 2025 at 3:40 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Okay… Piss off, proselytizer
Chrissy Stroop’s anti-proselytizing principles infographic. Subhead: Prophylactic protection against evangelical aggression. Point one (illustrated with an icon of a church congregation): I am not your mission field. Point two (illustrated with an icon of talking heads on TV): I don’t owe you a debate. Point three (illustrated with an icon of a human head with a question mark inside the brain area): There are no shortcuts to being a good person, least of all “right belief.” Point four (illustrated by an icon of a person waking): Leavers are not a “crisis in the church.” Treat us as humans with moral autonomy. Point five (illustrated with an icon of a man with arms outstretched as if proclaiming something to a crowd): Proselytizing is always objectification. Let people follow their own consciences. Point six (illustrated by an icon of a person from the waist up holding an open book): Our stories are ours. Leavers are not believers’ object lessons.
June 15, 2025 at 3:39 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Piss off, proselytizer
Chrissy Stroop’s anti-proselytizing principles infographic. Subhead: Prophylactic protection against evangelical aggression. Point one (illustrated with an icon of a church congregation): I am not your mission field. Point two (illustrated with an icon of talking heads on TV): I don’t owe you a debate. Point three (illustrated with an icon of a human head with a question mark inside the brain area): There are no shortcuts to being a good person, least of all “right belief.” Point four (illustrated by an icon of a person waking): Leavers are not a “crisis in the church.” Treat us as humans with moral autonomy. Point five (illustrated with an icon of a man with arms outstretched as if proclaiming something to a crowd): Proselytizing is always objectification. Let people follow their own consciences. Point six (illustrated by an icon of a person from the waist up holding an open book): Our stories are ours. Leavers are not believers’ object lessons.
June 13, 2025 at 11:24 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Don’t proselytize in my notifications bruh
Chrissy Stroop’s anti-proselytizing principles infographic. Subhead: Prophylactic protection against evangelical aggression. Point one (illustrated with an icon of a church congregation): I am not your mission field. Point two (illustrated with an icon of talking heads on TV): I don’t owe you a debate. Point three (illustrated with an icon of a human head with a question mark inside the brain area): There are no shortcuts to being a good person, least of all “right belief.” Point four (illustrated by an icon of a person waking): Leavers are not a “crisis in the church.” Treat us as humans with moral autonomy. Point five (illustrated with an icon of a man with arms outstretched as if proclaiming something to a crowd): Proselytizing is always objectification. Let people follow their own consciences. Point six (illustrated by an icon of a person from the waist up holding an open book): Our stories are ours. Leavers are not believers’ object lessons.
June 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
I’ve also thought a lot about this and come to a view of anti-proselytization. I even made this infographic to sum up my thoughts on this a few years back
Chrissy Stroop’s anti-proselytizing principles infographic. Subhead: Prophylactic protection against evangelical aggression. Point one (illustrated with an icon of a church congregation): I am not your mission field. Point two (illustrated with an icon of talking heads on TV): I don’t owe you a debate. Point three (illustrated with an icon of a human head with a question mark inside the brain area): There are no shortcuts to being a good person, least of all “right belief.” Point four (illustrated by an icon of a person waking): Leavers are not a “crisis in the church.” Treat us as humans with moral autonomy. Point five (illustrated with an icon of a man with arms outstretched as if proclaiming something to a crowd): Proselytizing is always objectification. Let people follow their own consciences. Point six (illustrated by an icon of a person from the waist up holding an open book): Our stories are ours. Leavers are not believers’ object lessons.
May 25, 2025 at 4:18 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Major “we’re all looking for the guy who did this” vibes.

Heckuva job, NY Times
A cropped screenshot of my iPhone’s home screen with a NY Times news alert: “The tremendous cost of the Trump revolution’s experiment in recklessness are beginning to reveal themselves.”
April 9, 2025 at 4:41 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Hey @washingtonpost.com, you lost another subscriber today!

I had only been hanging on because I write a lot of media criticism, but after Daddy Bezos Bucks' latest disastrous diktat, WaPo is a total write-off.

Heckuva job, Washington Post! You're no longer even worth criticizing
February 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
I’m old enough to remember when bedding didn’t ask such personal questions
A closeup of part of a salmon-colored fitted sheet showing a white tag that reads, in black block letters, “TOP OR BOTTOM”
February 22, 2025 at 7:16 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Why do people think there’s any value in this flex?

Independent media can’t exist without subscriber revenue
A screenshot of a skeet that reads “Probably a good article but paywalled so I’ll never know.” The hm, side-eye, and eye roll emojis have been used to block out the Bluesky user’s handle and avatar.
February 14, 2025 at 6:54 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Just found out about the DOGE Super Bowl commercial via an evangelical family and family friend group text.

I only don’t remove myself from it because it’s a train wreck and treasure trove of ethnographic information about the people I come from and WTAF.

Apparently this is a meme they’re sharing
A pie labeled “Who fans are rooting for in the Super Bowl.” Two tiny slivers in red and green, respectively, are labeled “Chiefs” and “Eagles.” The rest of the pie, in light gray, is labeled DOGE commercials,” and in the lower right corner of the image “GO ELON!” is printed. The background is white and the text is in black.
February 9, 2025 at 5:54 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Is it too much to ask people not to use posts like my op here to proselytize? Apparently it is
Chrissy Stroop’s anti-proselytizing principles infographic. Subhead: Prophylactic protection against evangelical aggression. Point one (illustrated with an icon of a church congregation): I am not your mission field. Point two (illustrated with an icon of talking heads on TV): I don’t owe you a debate. Point three (illustrated with an icon of a human head with a question mark inside the brain area): There are no shortcuts to being a good person, least of all “right belief.” Point four (illustrated by an icon of a person waking): Leavers are not a “crisis in the church.” Treat us as humans with moral autonomy. Point five (illustrated with an icon of a man with arms outstretched as if proclaiming something to a crowd): Proselytizing is always objectification. Let people follow their own consciences. Point six (illustrated by an icon of a person from the waist up holding an open book): Our stories are ours. Leavers are not believers’ object lessons.
January 27, 2025 at 1:26 AM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Spare me your “a relationship, not a religion” pablum. I’ve heard it all before, it’s still manipulative and it’s still proselytizing, and no proselytizing is a hard boundary with me
Chrissy Stroop’s anti-proselytizing principles infographic. Subhead: Prophylactic protection against evangelical aggression. Point one (illustrated with an icon of a church congregation): I am not your mission field. Point two (illustrated with an icon of talking heads on TV): I don’t owe you a debate. Point three (illustrated with an icon of a human head with a question mark inside the brain area): There are no shortcuts to being a good person, least of all “right belief.” Point four (illustrated by an icon of a person waking): Leavers are not a “crisis in the church.” Treat us as humans with moral autonomy. Point five (illustrated with an icon of a man with arms outstretched as if proclaiming something to a crowd): Proselytizing is always objectification. Let people follow their own consciences. Point six (illustrated by an icon of a person from the waist up holding an open book): Our stories are ours. Leavers are not believers’ object lessons.
January 26, 2025 at 6:43 AM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Seems like my pineapple chicken fried rice is gonna be the new Christmas dinner tradition for my found family in the PNW - it was a hit, and it tastes even better to me today!

Oyster sauce and butter are key to packing in flavor
A very large stainless steel skillet pictured from above and full of fried rice with chicken, pineapple, cashews, shredded carrots, peas, egg, and green onions
December 26, 2024 at 8:47 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
People maintaining block liste of teansphobes shiujd add @treasuredsoul.bsky.social
Screenshot of this account replying to me saying “You ARE a dude. You cannot change your gender. No matter how hard you try. DNA won’t let you. Hormone therapy is a lie to your very core.
December 8, 2024 at 7:34 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Tankies will be blocked on sight.

Also:

1. Did this rando even read the essay?

2: Don’t address a trans woman as “dude” unless you know it’s cool

3. I, a trans woman eking out a living, who writes a lot about the structural injustices of the American system, somehow REPRESENT that system?

DUDE
A screenshot of a skeet of mine with a reply from some rando, Jeremy Bulloch. My skeet reads, “I don’t know if there are any [nonviolent routes to an equitable America], which should come through pretty clearly if you read my essay. But a more violent future is going to be a lot of chaos and ugliness that harms us all, not some immediately successful “glorious revolution” that establishes equity just like that. The tankie rando’s reply reads: “Sorry dude, all the workers have to lose is their chains. The entire system you represent has gotta go. Your essay is frankly shamefully wrong headed (sic.) trash, and you should be ashamed if you actually believe this drek (sic.). Do better or STOP. #EatTheRich
December 8, 2024 at 6:18 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
A black Pomeranian leaving over a pillow covered with a blue blanket that’s on top of a beige couch. Only her face and front paws are fully visible, her jaw rests on the pillow, and her eyes are huge and full of concern and annoyance
November 27, 2024 at 6:53 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Quite predatory of you to proselytize in this sort of thread
Chrissy Stroop’s anti-proselytizing principles infographic. Subhead: Prophylactic protection against evangelical aggression. Point one (illustrated with an icon of a church congregation): I am not your mission field. Point two (illustrated with an icon of talking heads on TV): I don’t owe you a debate. Point three (illustrated with an icon of a human head with a question mark inside the brain area): There are no shortcuts to being a good person, least of all “right belief.” Point four (illustrated by an icon of a person waking): Leavers are not a “crisis in the church.” Treat us as humans with moral autonomy. Point five (illustrated with an icon of a man with arms outstretched as if proclaiming something to a crowd): Proselytizing is always objectification. Let people follow their own consciences. Point six (illustrated by an icon of a person from the waist up holding an open book): Our stories are ours. Leavers are not believers’ object lessons.
November 25, 2024 at 7:18 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
No, I would not, and please stop proselytizing in my mentions
Chrissy Stroop’s anti-proselytizing principles infographic. Subhead: Prophylactic protection against evangelical aggression. Point one (illustrated with an icon of a church congregation): I am not your mission field. Point two (illustrated with an icon of talking heads on TV): I don’t owe you a debate. Point three (illustrated with an icon of a human head with a question mark inside the brain area): There are no shortcuts to being a good person, least of all “right belief.” Point four (illustrated by an icon of a person waking): Leavers are not a “crisis in the church.” Treat us as humans with moral autonomy. Point five (illustrated with an icon of a man with arms outstretched as if proclaiming something to a crowd): Proselytizing is always objectification. Let people follow their own consciences. Point six (illustrated by an icon of a person from the waist up holding an open book): Our stories are ours. Leavers are not believers’ object lessons.
November 25, 2024 at 7:17 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
So, my preference is not to bother with theology at all because at best (in my view) it creates a bunch of extra steps, but yes, we agree on this. I even put the point on an infographic I made years ago
Chrissy Stroop’s anti-proselytizing principles infographic. Subhead: Prophylactic protection against evangelical aggression. Point one (illustrated with an icon of a church congregation): I am not your mission field. Point two (illustrated with an icon of talking heads on TV): I don’t owe you a debate. Point three (illustrated with an icon of a human head with a question mark inside the brain area): There are no shortcuts to being a good person, least of all “right belief.” Point four (illustrated by an icon of a person waking): Leavers are not a “crisis in the church.” Treat us as humans with moral autonomy. Point five (illustrated with an icon of a man with arms outstretched as if proclaiming something to a crowd): Proselytizing is always objectification. Let people follow their own consciences. Point six (illustrated by an icon of a person from the waist up holding an open book): Our stories are ours. Leavers are not believers’ object lessons.
November 25, 2024 at 4:52 PM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
I kinda wanted to throw my "anti-proselytizing principles" infographic at him at the very least. But I just blocked
Chrissy Stroop’s anti-proselytizing principles infographic. Subhead: Prophylactic protection against evangelical aggression. Point one (illustrated with an icon of a church congregation): I am not your mission field. Point two (illustrated with an icon of talking heads on TV): I don’t owe you a debate. Point three (illustrated with an icon of a human head with a question mark inside the brain area): There are no shortcuts to being a good person, least of all “right belief.” Point four (illustrated by an icon of a person waking): Leavers are not a “crisis in the church.” Treat us as humans with moral autonomy. Point five (illustrated with an icon of a man with arms outstretched as if proclaiming something to a crowd): Proselytizing is always objectification. Let people follow their own consciences. Point six (illustrated by an icon of a person from the waist up holding an open book): Our stories are ours. Leavers are not believers’ object lessons.
November 25, 2024 at 1:59 AM
thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Dude just tried to bait me. I'd have dragged him back in the Twitter days, but I've learned better here on Bluesky.

The theobros are not going to do well here 😈
A screenshot of profile including banner picture, avatar, and top skeet of the Bluesky user @theologyapologetic.bsky.social who has one follower. Banner is coniferous forest with mountains and water, apparently sunset--maybe in the PNW or Sierra Nevadas. Bio reads "B.A. Christian Studies: Biblical Literature & Interpretation, Ambrose University. Certificate in Christian Apologetics, Biola University. Avatar is a brown, leather bound Bible with "Holy Bible" in gold lettering. Pinned post reads "I'm a Theologian + Apologist by trade. On the Theological side, I specialize in Biblical, Historical + Systematic Theology as well as Hermeneutics. On the Apologetic side, I specialize in Theology Proper, Bibliology + Christology/Soteriology."
November 25, 2024 at 1:52 AM