When Dr. Christena Cleveland steps into the space of spiritual discourse, she carries with her an air of transformation that's both inspiring and deeply moving. Her journey, marked by a pilgrimage to the Black Madonna and the profound revelations documented in "God is a Black Woman," opens up a dialogue about spiritual liberation that transcends institutional confines. Together, we traverse the landscape of her evolution, from navigating the evangelical church's power imbalances to awakening to a deeper truth, offering listeners an intimate look at the quest for hope and the significance of embracing the fullness of one's body and spirituality.
Confronting the complexities of identity within the realm of spirituality presents its own set of challenges and triumphs. As I relate my own experiences with internalized misogyny and reconciling a non-binary identity with the divine feminine, Dr. Cleveland and I share an exchange that affirms the sacredness inherent in each of us. This conversation stretches beyond the roles we're often prescribed in white-dominated religious communities, shining a light on the necessity of finding internal validation and redefining what's traditionally considered sacred within our identities. Expect to be guided through a maze of resistance and pushback, and emerge with a reaffirmed belief in the inherent worth of blackness, femininity, and non-binary-ness.
Dr. Cleveland's insights serve as a beacon for those navigating their way through the complex tapestry of spirituality and identity, offering a path towards liberation that is both personal and universal.
Christena Cleveland, Ph.D. is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal which supports a more equitable world by nurturing skillful justice advocacy and the depth to act on it. An award-winning researcher and author, former professor at Duke University’s Divinity School, Dr. Cleveland is an avid student of embodied wisdom.
Dr. Cleveland’s Patreon learning community: https://www.patreon.com/cscleve
Dr. Cleveland’s website: https://www.christenacleveland.com/
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