Chrissy Stroop

Hi, I'm Chrissy! Thanks for your interest in my work! If you've found your way here, you may know me from <a href="https://twitter.com/C_Stroop">social media</a> or my (not often updated) <a href="https://cstroop.com/">website</a>, or you may have Googled me after coming across my name in in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/29/us/christian-schools-students.html">The New York Times</a>, <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/trump-evangelicals-support-millennials-888267">Newsweek</a>, <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2019/02/28/the-politicisation-of-white-evangelical-christianity-is-hurting-it">The Economist</a>, <a href="https://www.apnews.com/4202bedd44b54572a74dc152dbb65b72">AP</a>, <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/americas-biggest-right-wing-homeschooling-group-has-been-networking-with-sanctioned-russians-1f2b5b5ad031/">ThinkProgress</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-connections-to-the-alt-right-2016-11">Business Insider</a>, <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/119668/exodus-phds-causing-brain-drain-us">The New Republic</a>, <a href="http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/02/how-russia-became-a-leader-of-the-worldwide-christian-right-214755">Politico</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/01/the-conservative-crack-up-managing-a-disintegrating-political-message">The Guardian</a>, <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/3/13/1642628/-Abbreviated-Pundit-Round-up-Health-care-amidst-the-Chaos-in-the-White-House">Daily Kos</a>, or <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/report/the-rise-of-the-traditionalist-international-how-the-american-right-learned-to-love-moscow-in-the-era-of-trump/">Right Wing Watch</a>. My public profile has grown since the 2016 election, when many Americans discovered an urgent need to understand both Russia and the U.S. Christian Right, since I have directly relevant academic expertise and lived experience that speaks to both concerns. I have a PhD in modern Russian history from Stanford University. After graduating in 2012, I lived and worked in Moscow until 2015. I'm also a visible ex-evangelical speaking out in opposition to right-wing Christian extremism and abuse. In that capacity, I'm the troublemaking creator of viral hashtags including <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23EmptyThePews&amp;src=typed_query">#EmptyThePews</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ChristianAltFacts&amp;src=typed_query">#ChristianAltFacts</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ExposeChristianSchoools?src=hashtag_click">#ExposeChristianSchools</a>. My own work has appeared in <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/author/christopher-stroop/">Foreign Policy</a>, <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/17/arts/jesus-john-wayne-untangles-gender-messages-white-evangelical-circles/">The Boston Globe</a>, <a href="https://www.playboy.com/profile/christopher-stroop">Playboy</a>, <a href="https://religiondispatches.org/author/chrissy_stroop/">Religion Dispatches</a>, <a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/author/chrissy-stroop/">openDemocracy</a>, <a href="https://www.damemagazine.com/2018/10/01/are-evangelical-adoption-agencies-stealing-children/">Dame Magazine</a>, <a href="https://conversationalist.org/2020/02/13/the-only-way-to-save-democracy-from-the-christian-right-is-by-fighting-for-pluralism/">The Conversationalist</a>, <a href="https://www.politicalresearch.org/author/c-stroop/">Political Research Associates</a>, <a href="https://eurasianet.org/people/christopher-stroop">Eurasianet</a>, and elsewhere. I'm also the co-editor (with <a href="https://twitter.com/laureneoneal">Lauren O'Neal</a>) of an anthology of personal essays by a diverse group of former conservative Christians, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Pews-Stories-Leaving-Church/dp/1946093076">Empty the Pews: Stories of Leaving the Church</a>. I no longer update my blog, <a href="https://cstroop.com/">Not Your Mission Field</a>, but there's a large repository of work there that mostly deals with aspects of evangelical authoritarianism. The blog features a number of essays in which I draw on data and scholarship as well as my own experience, making for an approach that is both engaging and informative. The site that hosts my blog, cstroop.com, also features an annotated <a href="https://cstroop.com/further-reading-and-resources-for-ex-evangelicals-and-spiritual-abuse-survivors/">list of resources</a> for those who have left fundamentalist religion or are considering doing so, although I no longer have the time to update this either, so keep that in mind as you peruse it. While I do earn income from writing and speaking, I am currently able to work full-time as a self-employed writer and advocate only thanks to the financial support of readers like you! If you are able to become a patron with a pledge of even a few dollars a month or to point others to this page, that is immensely helpful to me.  If you would like to make a one-time gift in support of my work instead of a monthly commitment, click <a href="https://www.paypal.me/CStroop" rel="nofollow">here</a> for PayPal or <a href="https://cash.me/$CStroop" rel="nofollow">here</a> for Cash (which allows anonymous donations). To book me as a speaker (I am always grateful for recommendations to your local university, humanist organization, progressive religious organization, etc.), please send an email to cstroop@gmail.com.

Free

You've read enough of my work to decide that you'd like to help subsidize it! Becoming a patron at this tier gets you both my gratitude and a special patrons-only role on the Discord server Chrissy Stroop's Virtual Coffee House, should you choose to join that community!

Regular Reader

For the patron who wants a little more. In addition to the patron badge on my community Discord server, this tier gets you access to a patron-exclusive channel where you can get the inside "Stroop Scoop" on personal and professional developments as well thoughts on works in progress and potential projects. In addition, for those patrons who prefer not to use Discord, I will post Stroop Scoop updates to the Patreon website as well, locked to this tier and above.

Chrissy Fan

In addition to the benefits from the previous tiers, becoming a Current Events Connoisseur unlocks posting access to the community Discord server's self-promotion channel (this can also be unlocked by reaching level 3 on the server--that is, by participating actively long enough to establish a level of trust).

Current Events Connoisseur

Rewards tier under construction.

Inner Circle

In addition to the benefits from the previous tiers, as a Super Fan, you will receive an #EmptyThePews or "Ask me about my pluralist agenda" refrigerator magnet as a thank you. In order to receive this benefit, you must supply a mailing address and specify via direct message which magnet design you prefer. Please allow several weeks for processing.

Super Fan

In addition to the bonus content, access, and swag that comes with the lower tiers, Ultra Fans will receive either an #EmptyThePews or an "Ask me about my pluralist agenda" tote bag. In order to receive swag, patrons at the requisite tiers must provide a mailing address in their profiles. Please also message me to let me know which slogan you would prefer.

Ultra Fan

As a VIP, you will receive the benefits of all the previous tiers as well as a copy of Empty the Pews: Stories of Leaving the Church autographed by yours truly. In order to receive this benefit, you must supply a mailing address and specify who to make the autograph out to. Please allow several weeks for processing.

Recent posts by Chrissy Stroop