In this program series we will center the common phrase, “I’m not religious, I’m spiritual”. For years the black church has in many ways been the center of the black community. However, in recent years we have seen a substantial exodus among many young adults. The murmurs of wayward ministerial leadership, toxic patriarchal structures and the common trope of the Church stealing money from its parishioners to name a few reasons have caused a hesitation in blindly following Pastors in similar ways previous generations did. However, what does it really mean to not be religious but spiritual? What is spirituality? What does individual spiritual engagement involve? In this program series we will hear from scholars, indigenous religion practitioners, and faith leaders to uncover the mysticism of “spirituality” and inform ways we all can access spirituality.
Facilitator:
Inaê D. Valério holds a BA in Nutrition and a MSc in Epidemiology (Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil). Currently, she is a Ph.D. student at the same university. Her research investigates Child Maltreatment and Psychoactive Substance Use in adolescence and early adulthood among participants of an ongoing 1993 Pelotas birth cohort study. Inaê also has experience in research on Child Marriage in Brazil and on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), investigating differences between sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and changes in dietary patterns due to IPV.