Ph.D Patristic Theology and Anti-Jewish Polemics. Reverend Doctor. CPE instructor. Terminally cranky hospital chaplain. Terminally queer. Terminally living with stage 4 cancer. Terminally optimistic. Lutheran. Ukraine medical aid enthusiast. #NAFO
3,528 followers 1,319 following 550 posts
view profile on Bluesky
I say this as a palliative care/hospice chaplain/someone with stage 4 cancer. I deal with my terror of death by helping others confront their mortality. Most of our fear is unconscious. It also doesn't mean Trump has a sudden new diagnosis, but he's 79 with declining health. Memento Mori.
Trump is afraid of death. His focus on: heaven, legacy, and increasing authoritarian powers are about controlling his terror of death. Much of what we do as humans is about controlling our fear of death. When dictators and narccicists do it they lash out in ever more horrific ways.
Fuck bipartisanship. Abolish ICE.
Yes!
He was just mass murdering on X today.
They blocked me. Then again that person was pushing the Ukraine is full of Nazis/Azov is bad narrative and doesn't care to understand that yes people living daily with Russian atrocities and that know Ukrainians and know the history of Russian imperialism don't have sympathy for invaders.
I wrote about the gilded age www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/o...
JUST IN: Judge Charles Breyer cuts Zoom video feed for trial next week on whether Trump's use of National Guard troops for immigration enforcement violates Posse Comitatus. Just audio, after admin said safety of ICE witness(es) could be threatened. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Also I love the, "Here's footage from the 30th mechanized UKRAINIAN WAR CRIME." VS "...I can't possibly research Russian war crimes or conscription vs joining for bonuses."
"In the hour of pain and anguish, In the hour when death draws near, Suffer not our hearts to languish, Suffer not our souls to fear. And, when mortal life is ended, Bid us in Thy bosom rest, Till, by angel-bands attended, We awake among the blest." -Gently Lord, O Gently Lead Us
That would be you be reacting in fight mode and a fair bit of projection. Because I critique movements that have done harm within the community doesn't mean I hate trans people, but that's moot to you. You've ironically put me a binary box! We can do transmedicalism or TERFS next if you want.
In the context of Baeddlism there are issues. Which again doesn't represent a majority view of trans women and trans women have critiqued. Not to mention the issues around trans men and nonbinary people and gender essentialism. You don't have to take me seriously it's the butterfly app.
Folks I would appreciate it if you'd report this account for tos death threat violation.
Which you can go research Jiffy Pop instead of slinging death threats at a fellow queer person.
Didn't ask anyone to grovel. Pointed out very valid points.
Not a transman.
See that's the great thing about research instead of sealioning. You have fingers, hands, and a brain to research.
See that's the thing you can know these things when you do a lot work around Ukraine and support to Ukraine. Plenty of OSINT account that can track that as a matter of fact. Russians can stop the war anytime by leaving Ukraine.
Given the time frame without question he joined of his own volition. End of the day his reasons don't matter. He's there to kill Ukrainians defending their country.
Jiffy Pop I'm not a dude.
Genocidal invaders in fact do deserve what they get.
That's not a war crime Jiffy Pop.
So just to review you think I should be put against a wall and shot because I support Ukraine against the genocidal invasion? So I should be put to death? You seem rather the reactionary one here. Also rejoice I have terminal cancer Jiffy Pop.
That soldier had the option not to go to Ukraine to invade. He likely joined for the "promised" sign on bonus. Then he wouldn't be in that position. So no he's not getting sympathy from people that support Ukraine Jiffy Pop.
Saratov oil refinery under a massive drone attack last.night.💙💛
I'm pointing out the reality of what Russia does and you default to the hundreds of thousands of NAFO members I know watch drone footage. Would you like to talk to Ukrainian civilians caring for their kids when Russia hit a children's hospital? Or the doctor that treated raped children?
They're suing to stop ICE from entering their churches. I'm under zero illusions what Christianity has done to this country but this strain of white Evangelical Christianity is *fringe* and it's a social failing that we've allowed them to dominate what it means to be spiritual in this country.
You give the game away when there's been 3+ years of coverage and videos of news coverage of Russian atrocities. These videos are shared all the time by pro-Russian social media bot networks all the time There's no, "I didn't know."
Of course trans women are allowed their own voices, but you won't engage my points. Also might drop the assumption I'm a dude.
If supporting Ukraine a country against genocidal makes me and us the worst of all time then I'll take it.
Nope we're far more politically and culturally diverse for that nonsense. Also supporting Ukraine is the point of our disorganized existence. Initially fighting disinfo on Twitter then pivoting to fundraising for Ukraine.
I'm not shitting on trans women nor did I call you evil. You also don't speak for most trans women anymore than transmedicalists speak for most trans people.
Jiffy Pop I watched this all go down back in the day.
Ask: Ukrainians, Syrians, Afghanees, Chechens, Georgians, former Soviet bloc countries what it was to live and die and be tortured under Russian rule and bombs. So no you'll find little sympathy for Russians amongst Ukrainians and supporters.
Ukrainian children as young as 2 raped by soldiers and I know the gynecologists that treated those children that survived. Bucha. Irpin. Mariupol, Kherson. All sites of atrocities. My wife as a surgeon treated soldiers evacuating civilians. Our medical colleague was murdered by Russians.
#NAFO Gotta love Russian disinformation. I do love the avoidance of concern for the suffering Ukrainians, but concern for the poor Russians that make the choice to invade. Note no comment on the daily drone attacks on Ukrainian civilians. Ukrainian POWs executed. Ukrainian children stolen.
May their memory be a blessing. May they be at peace far from war's terror. May Ukraine be free.
Not a dude Jiffy Pop. Also I do indeed support Ukraine against the genocidal invasion of Russia.
One of my chaplaincy students experienced their first death and did an astounding job. I came in as backup, but even shaking they were present with the patient and family. Death is a dreadful and awe-filled thing. It's a path we each inevitably take. We have to learn to live with it. 🛟 ⚓ 🩺
Tumblr movement should raise 🚩🚩. It also argues trans women are only safe amongst trans women. It's a dash of radical feminism (from a white western pov) mixed with a twisted form of gender essentialism. Radiation is taking a bit of a toll or I would go deeper. I suggest folks research if interested
Alright queer peeps. Time for a brief lesson in how the queer community can be it's own worst enemy. Baeddelism a Tumblr movement that argues trans men and trans masc people don't face discrimination only benefit from the patriarchy. At minimum it also erases nonbinary people.
You absolutely can, but that's where we differ. On a somewhat related but different note is the use of neo-baeddel in your profile an effort to reclaim baeddel and neo-baeddel from their very nasty usage in the mid 2000s that attacked trans masc people and that whole baeddel movement?
It's heinous.
So the South Park episode part where ICE raids heaven is the best demonstration intended or not of the depth of Christian Nationalist and Christofascist "No brownies in heaven" is a theological statement and it's a direct parallel to white preachers in the 1800s preaching, "No negros in heaven."
#ProudBlue 🔔🔔🔔
I love veteran oncology nurses as a cancer patient, "Go to the ED if you vomit up more than a teaspoon of blood." Because I get to ask for clarification: "Can be a regular teaspoon or formalware?" And they absolutely get my humor as a patient and chaplain.
A senior leader at one NIH institute said: “At my level we are legitimately trying to figure out how to keep funding high-impact science given what we expect will happen.” The senior leader added: “Our grants people are barely holding it together because they are at the center of this chaos.”
Yes the Christofascists are Christian to deny that is half the problem to begin with.
Did you read this thread Sherry and my replies?
So I hope we can agree that one way we fight the horror and injustice happening is to help vulnerable people. There are plenty of people that need help. You seem like someone with a strong sense of justice and we need so many folks like that to combat evil.
Diva you're waving a big old flag and identify as an atheist that means you claim the baggage that comes with that and you have baggage too with cultural Christianity whether you identify as religious or not. Ultimately this isn't solved in late night stuff on Bluesky.
Part of fighting that Christofascism is acknowledging our culpability. Are you're on the same team as those atheists that support Christian Supremacy? How do you combat that in atheism and the cultural parts of Christianity you're still part of?
Christian nationalists and Christofascists don't get to define Christianity for me and they don't own a 2,000 year old faith with a rich and diverse history. I'm a Christian they don't get to take that from me. Because Christofascists try to say queer Christians don't exist. We do and are clergy.
Sure that's your valid feeling, but it's odd to ask a question if you've already got the answers.
Of course!
We counter Christian nationalist narratives. As or more importantly we stand up for the vulnerable. Also we can point out groups like the Satanic Temple that are doing amazing advocacy work on reproductive rights. We call out the theology that back Christofascism etc. that's how we can fight it.
It matters because this has been a fight for decades and Christians and all of us have to combat it. I mean there are parts of atheism that without intention support Christian Supremacy by boiling all religion down to being like Christianity. For those of us Christians we call out the bad.
We need far more atheist and secular humanist chaplains.
Where did I say that?
That could be fun with my ostomy. 😬💀💀💀
I wish I could lift still cause that's a ridiculously good name. 💀
"Why don't you mention the teachings of Jesus more?" "Drop the whole Jesus thing." Literally no pleasing some folks.
That needs to be your new Bluesky name or drag name.
You're evangelizing.
The history does matter because Dorothee Soelle knew exactly what was up with the marriage of the Moral Majority and right-wing politics. She had seen it in Germany and the failures of the Confessing Church and rise National Socialism.
Diva you know there are secular humanist and athiest chaplains, right? That have the same education certification process. I teach them.
Atheists talking about Christofascism while not realizing it was a German Lutheran theologian that coined the term in the 70s is always fun.
You're using conversion language. You have not deconstructed as much as you think you have. The same either/or thinking takes work to address.
To be a Board Certified Chaplain, you must have: - Bachelor's Degree - Master of Divinity - Ordination - Ecclesiastical Endorsement - 4 units CPE (1600hrs of Clinical Pastoral Education) - 2000hrs on the job - Pass BCCI committee I have exceeded these requirements.
Good news! A resident shadowing spiritual care suggested I try a center that does low-dose insulin therapy, intermittent fasting, and fenbendazole. Why should I listen to my cancer specialists at this world-class hospital!?
Start radiation and chemo for pancreatic PNET tumor Wednesday. Ironically, curable even though I have stage 4 bowel cancer so far confined to bones. I'm working while in treatment. Cancer will kill me. It absolutely will not take my life from me.
Chaplaincy has to wrestle with AI and the unethical nature of it in general. On a specific note it has to reckon with how AI is changing death and grief with grief bots and digital resurrection. It's packaged as helping the grieving, but it's fundamentally about denying death and grief.
As CPE instructors and supervisor retire there will be an increased shortage of instructors which also paves the way for younger chaplains to help reshape CPE curriculum and take up the mantle of educators. CPE educator hiring can be almost incestuous in how it can boil down to who you know.
-We are already seeing it. An increase in interfaith and humanist/atheist chaplains. Two of my cohorts have Satanic Temple humanist students that fully intend to pursue chaplaincy as a calling. -Tele-chaplaincy is going to continue to grow especially if insurance reimbursement becomes a thing.
Outside of the core principles that are requirements. It's understanding the reality of death and navigating those conversations. Also the racism inherent in our culture and the healthcare system as a brutal example of that and how it harms vulnerable people.
I'm open for questions about what the hell we do and about what CPE is because it's often a mystery to students, healthcare professionals, and colleagues. FYI: PAY YOUR DAMN INTERNS. Please share and ask away. I did a similar post years ago on Twitter folks found helpful. 🩺 🧠 ⚓ 📕 🛟 💡 🧠🩺
Hi. Clinical Pastoral Educator here. My brain is working tonight. So I'm here to answer all your questions about chaplaincy, clinical pastoral education, and ministerial training. I don't have all the answers, but I'm eager for your questions. 1/2
I know chaplain Soliman he's a wonderful chaplain and human being.
What the actual fuck. With the firing.
Hospital chaplains are a vital part of the care we provide to critically ill children in the #pedsICU. Ayman Soliman sounds like a very good man and an excellent chaplain. www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Your call will still be there. And it might manifest in ways you never thought possible. I don't say this tritely but from experience!
Never apologize for Tldr or feelings! Also always feel free to DM too before I was in healthcare chaplaincy I was a prison chaplain. It sounds very much like you have a calling you have other things you need to finish while exploring this.
Taking another opportunity to say pay interns.
I'm actually very glad to see articles starting to address this. There are clergy using AI to formulate prayers. Then in the realm of grief and death we have AI grief bots that seek to digitally resurrect a loved one. It's an anathema becaúse it denies the reality of death and denies grief.
I mean this is the reality you'll deal with in ministry though. Having uncomfortable conversations even personal ones. I will always respond to CPE ones for instance on here and x because I teach it and defend it but also am a proponent of reform. So hearing experiences is helpful.
No worries!
Have you considered hospice volunteering?
You're not new to Bluesky you know conversations and discussions branch off. CPE conversations will always bring up discussions. Also perhaps after pastoral care class you might take another CPE unit to reexamine and reevaluate your preconceptions as the church fathers would bid us do.
For instance even my oncologist was reluctant to use the word death and terminal in relation to my cancer which I know you read my bio given you deflectionary commentary on my my pronouns which aren't germane to the conversation except as a way to deflect from from points being made.
It being unpaid doesn't help. If you're interested I can give you some good books and resources to read it's not the same but can be useful.
Why do you assume in text form that's neutral that I'm dismissive? Simply if I disagree especially as we agree on certain areas like pastoral care class and AI. Also your description of what chaplains don't do is rather off you don't seem to understand what board certified chaplains do.
Telling people they are dying and using the word death is very often what we do as chaplains whether it's as trauma chaplain in the ED, a palliative care chaplain or an ICU chaplain.
Yes. I say this as an instructor. I also say this as someone that thinks there are reforms that need done. There are CPE instructors use outmoded educational material and leave students to the wolves.
Then take that up with your ordaining body but CPE was brought up and it is in fact relevant to people.
Do people dying under your hands prepare you for the reality of telling someone they are dying? Or sitting with the family when the medical team has left the room.
Because that pastoral care education part is reflection and formation about yourself. Which you've dismissed as it should be group therapy. Which we aren't therapists we draw on psychological principles and part of that formation is understanding those boundaries.
Yes but you do CPE in hospital facilities that may have diverse cohorts of students.
We're talking about CPE and chaplain education not priest formation. Cohorts are made up of CPE students from many religious and faith traditions depending on demographics. My 3 cohorts this year for instance are incredibly diverse.
Have you spoken about these concerns with your educator?
Then we are in complete agreement! Hence why I'm addressing it with cohorts.