Shameless Theology S2:09 Living in the In-Between: The Wonder of Faithful Liminality w/ Dr. Arelis Benítez Pt. 2

Summary

In Part Two of our conversation with Dr. Arelis “Aly” Benitez, we continue exploring the lived realities of Spiritual Violence, white Christian Supremacy, and the survival strategies that emerge when communities demand that we split ourselves to stay safe.

Rev. Alba Onofrio leads the conversation into a discussion of stubbornness as a spiritual virtue that can keep us connected to God even when church teachings are full of hypocrisy and contradictions. We discuss the value of learning to navigate liminality and how code‑switching becomes a form of wisdom and self-protection for those living at the intersections of multiple identities. Together, we explore the concept of Spiritual Terrorism and how fear, surveillance, and the threat of punishment shape the lives of undocumented families, Queer and Trans people, and anyone whose existence challenges the boundaries enforced by church or state.

Aly shares how she learned to see herself as “bent but unbreakable,” and how healing becomes possible when we have language to name the harm and access to communities that accompany us through the work of questioning, discerning, and reclaiming our wholeness.

Arelis Benítez, PhD (ella/she) serves as Assistant Professor of the Practice of Religion,

Psychology, and Culture, and Director of Field Education at Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Grounded in Chicana feminist theory and Mesoamerican wisdom, her scholarship

reimagines pastoral theology, cultivating identity formation, cultural engagement, and

spiritual care as pathways of transformation in theology and praxis.

Hosted by Reverend Sex (Rev. Alba Onofrio - Executive Director of Soulforce), this podcast channel offers connection, reflection, and community for anyone feeling spiritually marginalized or exiled but still resiliently faithful, while centering dialogue on Queer, Trans, and feminist theology.

Shameless Theology seeks to decolonize faith, mixing theological education with real-life experiences to support human rights and life abundant for all of Creation. Initially launched in Spanish as Teología Sin Vergüenza, this show addresses the monopolization of religious discourse by the extreme Right. Here, we gather people of diverse faith backgrounds and Christian denominations--pastors, activists, and scholars--to discuss gender identity, the erotic, and real life in the context of a radically inclusive faith, aiming to heal the wounds of colonizing religion and create a welcoming space for topics often considered taboo in religious spaces.

This season forefronts our new book: Spiritual Violence: Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith. This timely resource identifies and examines the consequences of white Christian Supremacy through historical context and case studies, centering lived experiences of marginalized people, and offers critical analysis and practical tools for healing and resistance. Each week, we’ll share engaging conversations with brilliant guests familiar with the work, as we explore the concepts and lived experiences of Spiritual Violence. The podcast is not a repetition of the book but an expansion of conversation adding new voices: experts in their fields who share their experience with our community. Even if you haven’t read the book yet, these are engaging conversations relevant to the here and how, and we invite you to join us and continue the conversation in your own communities. 

FREE PREVIEW: Spiritual Violence and Religious Phenomena that Defile the Faith: soulforce.org/download/spiritual-violence/    

Join in our community of Sinvergüenzas by visiting our Shameless Theology homepage or our Spanish WhatsApp Lista de Difusión. If you’d like to support this cutting-edge movement of ferocious Latine power building, please make a donation.

https://soulforce.org/donate/