Rev. Latishia James
In the almost eight years since I wrote Apocalyptic Faith, many vulnerable communities, some of which I am part of, have experienced multiple apocalypses due to late stage capitalism and white supremacy. Most recently wildfires in southern California ravaged the Altadena/Pasadena community destroying the historically Black community and leaving many with only the clothes on their backs and what they were able to carry. On the first day of his second term as president Donald Trump signed several executive orders attacking the freedom of transgender and gender non-conforming folks as well as immigrants. Creating the conditions for new types of apocalypse when it comes to the eradication of rights and people’s ability to live full, whole, and healthy lives. As we’ve explored in our previous installments, the concept of apocalypse has been hijacked by politicians and pundits to justify various forms of oppression and control. But for those of us who have, and continue to, live through their distortions, what if we were to reclaim the true meaning of apocalypse – not as a catastrophic event, but as a transformative one? I want to invite us to consider the importance of spiritual resiliency, hygiene, warfare, and expanding our spiritual tools to combat the insidious forces of fascism and white Christian nationalism.
I want to make clear what this blog is not:
- There will be no spiritual bypassing here – this is in no way an attempt to get us to solely “give it all over to Jesus” or any other higher power and usurp our own power and responsibility and creating transformation.
- This is not a prescription or one size fits all way of how to engage spiritually in the face of weaponized religion, rather an affirmation that it will take all of our tools to win and co-create the liberated future we desire.
In October , we introduced the idea that apocalyptic faith is not about waiting for the world to end, nor is it about seeing apocalypse as a one-time only event. In the months since the U.S. presidential election outcome I have seen too many posts on social media from white content creators lamenting that they feel like the world is ending. But for those of us who understand that apocalypse is about living in a state of perpetual transformation we know thanks to systems of oppression many worlds have ended multiple times. This current wave of apocalyptic actions will require deeper levels of transformation, beyond policy changes – it demands a deep reckoning with our own spiritual selves. As we navigate the complexities of our current political climate, it’s essential to recognize that our capacity to survive and thrive in the face of adversity is rooted in our spiritual fortitude.
Spiritual Hygiene: The Practice of Self- and Communal-Care in Turbulent Times
In the context of spiritual warfare, spiritual hygiene refers to the practices and rituals that cultivate our inner strength, resilience, and well-being. In a world where trauma, anxiety, and fear are rampant, it’s easy to get caught up in the vortex of negativity. By prioritizing spiritual hygiene, we can fortify ourselves against the corrosive effects of toxic ideologies and build a sense of unshakable inner peace.
Spiritual Hygiene may involve practices such as meditation, prayer, journaling, or engaging in creative activities that nourish our souls. It may also mean setting boundaries with those who seek to drain our energy or manipulate us into supporting their agendas. By taking care of our spirits, we create a safe space for spiritual growth and development – essential for navigating the treacherous waters of fascism and white Christian nationalism. Turning towards the spiritual practices of those who came before us, our Indigenous spiritualities, and non-colonized spiritual wisdom hold the keys to loosening the stronghold that white Christian supremacist ideologies have on our government.
Spiritual hygiene also looks like not allowing ourselves to be swept up in the chaos and distraction that this new administration is already causing. Not being pulled into a million different directions and to stay focused on your role in the work is one of the ways we will retain our power. Our ability to remain rooted in our purpose no matter what is happening around us is essential to our survival and our thriving.
When I say spiritual warfare it may conjure images of demons and unspoken evil that some of us were indoctrinated with in our religious upbringings. But if we only think of it from this perspective we miss the very real spiritual threats that are in front of us. We are human, which means our bodies are finite, and require many things to function optimally. When we are inundated constantly with violent images, threats, fear over our livelihood and more it is less likely that we sleep well, or remember to nourish ourselves, or have calm nervous systems. The very real people operating the oppressive systems are banking on overwhelming us with anxiety, depleting our ability to fight back and recognize our actual enemies. It has been said by many before me and I say it to you now, part of how we get through this is to care for ourselves and each other, deeply, lovingly, holistically.
Spiritual Warfare: Confronting the Shadows
Spiritual warfare is not just about fighting external enemies or invisible forces; it’s about confronting the shadows within ourselves. It’s about acknowledging the parts of ourselves that are complicit in systems of oppression and working to transform them. This requires a willingness to engage with difficult emotions, to confront our own biases and privilege, and to develop empathy for those who are marginalized.
In the face of fascism and white Christian nationalism, spiritual warfare means recognizing the ways in which these ideologies have infiltrated our own hearts and minds. It means acknowledging the harm that has been perpetrated in the name of these ideologies and taking responsibility for our role in perpetuating or resisting them.
On January 20th our Co-Director for Movement Building, Rev. Angela Tyler-Williams asked this question during Presbyterian Peace Fellowship’s live podcast: “How are we benefitting from this moment and who is harmed by that? And how is it that our traditions and lineages have benefitted from these legacies of colonialism, white supremacy, capitalism, and Chrisitan supremacy?” Now is not the time to turn your face away from the reality that part of your privilege lies in the fact that the same systems we want to dismantle are the systems that made it possible for you to gain privilege in certain regards. The reality is that if there is any part of your identity that is shared with these systems, then you benefit. Even when we do not identify or align with these systems, many of us still benefit.
I am a Black, queer, first-generation Afro-Caribbean woman who lives with mental illness. So much of who I am is under attack from this new administration. It would be easy for me to completely dissociate myself from this administration and to say “I didn’t cause this,” (#92percent). However, I am also someone with particular education and socio-economic, as well as physical ability and gender privilege, and I have access to resources that many others do not. I must be willing, as part of my efforts to dismantle these systems, to confront the ways that attacks on trans folks, physically disabled folks, and others have created conditions that benefit me. As someone that was raised in an evangelical Christian context I must also be willing to admit that members of my own communities of origin have contributed to the very conditions and ideological foundations that cause me and many of those I hold dear harm. That reality alone can be one to overwhelm anyone. But I have a responsibility to help others understand what is at stake and to share the truth in the form of liberative theological education.
If you are unclear what your role is right now, be with yourself. If you cannot confront your own complicity, it will be harder to confront and fight against the people and systems harming our communities.
Expanding Our Spiritual Tools: Embracing Interfaith Solidarity and Activism
As we navigate the complex landscape of apocalypse, it’s essential to expand our spiritual tools by embracing interfaith solidarity and activism. Spiritual growth and transformation are not solely individual pursuits, but collective ones. It means working alongside people from diverse backgrounds and traditions to build a more just and compassionate world. Resisting separating ourselves into factions requires a particular level of strength; a type of strength that can only be amplified through the interconnectedness of community like mycelia.
By engaging in interfaith dialogue and cooperation, we can break down barriers of mistrust and build bridges of understanding. We can work together to challenge systems of oppression and create spaces for marginalized voices to be heard. And we can cultivate a sense of hope and resilience that is rooted in our shared humanity. This is why SACReD was founded as a multi-faith organization, because we understand that the only way to combat the current rising attempt at establishing a Christian theocracy is with pluralism.
In May 2024, SACReD had our very first in person SACReD Gathering after our 2022 Gathering pivoted to being virtual as a health and safety precaution because of COVID-19. During our time together we created multiple opportunities for worship and prayer. During one such occurrence there was an ecstatic inbreaking of spiritual communion. One of the conference attendees, Rev. Terry Williams described it as follows:
“The Spirit moved powerfully, and the obedient leaders of the service began to ask for more from the assembly. “Who else here is seeking healing? Who else in this room desires our love, support, and prayers?”
I don’t know why it surprised me — this gathering breaking out in a spiritual revival of compassion and prayer. All of the people in that room have journeyed long and hard over the last four years of the pandemic, and many for much, much longer than that. Reproductive justice practitioners and abortion justice advocates who were in that space have known every manner of weariness and fear: threats of imprisonment and criminalization, continued under-resourcing of our communities and our work, seemingly endless misunderstanding of our commitments as faith-rooted advocates for total reproductive liberation.
That room, filled with strong people carrying unspeakably heavy burdens, let loose in a wailing, groaning, chanting song of praise & prayer for well over two hours, joining the hearts of hundreds of different people from dozens of different faith traditions together into one writhing mass of solidarity that truly felt like nuclear fusion.”
I know from my own religious trauma that this type of spontaneous spiritual experience with strangers can be deeply uncomfortable, even triggering. We heard first hand that for some in attendance it was. We regret this and have apologized to those who followed up with us. What I also know though, is like Lauren Olamina’s Earthseed coming together united in our common goals and with our different ways of being is a requirement for true transformation. Multifaith relationship is one of the ways we will “shape change,” and break the hold that Christian hegemony has on our society.
Part of what apocalypse calls us into is a shedding of what we are used to and calls us up into courageous relating. Or as Rev. Lyndsey Godwin put it in an earlier blog: “One of the most crucial skills to develop during apocalyptic times is the ability to hold onto contradictions and multiple truths, to wade through complexity with nuance, holding onto both personal and relational integrity. This is a time to practice imperfection and accountability, politically and relationally.” This too is a practice of spiritual hygiene.
As ancestor Toni Morrision often reminded us, the function of white supremacy is distraction and exhaustion. It keeps us spinning our wheels and off center. It also makes staying in bed under the covers really appealing when it all just feels like too much. But isolating ourselves in despair does the work of the oppressor for us. Where two or more are gathered is where we will find our power. We must turn toward each other and deepen into joy, pleasure, and community. These measures of spiritual fortification will amplify the organizing and political work needed to see us through to the other side of this version of the world passing away into the world where we all thrive.
The apocalypse we need is not one of destruction, but transformation, it is one of doing what we have never done, and being who we have never been, so we can get what we have never had. It’s a call to action that demands we confront our own shadows, prioritize spiritual hygiene, and expand our spiritual tools through interfaith solidarity and activism. By doing so, we can create a world that is more just, more compassionate, and more resilient in the face of adversity.