Finding Our Way
Uncreated Silence: Prayer, Contemplation, Spiritual Relationships, and Pastoral Care
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Fr. Thomas Colyandro
Uncreated silence exists as the unspoken speech of the Holy Spirit, which can be heard in prayer, discerned in spiritual relationships, and lived as pastoral care. This idea is explained using biblical and theological sources, the spiritual and pastoral works of those who are known as Orthodox Christian elders, as well as select modern Orthodox and Catholic Christian leaders. Here is how this is accomplished. First, by explaining the concerns of hesychastic silence and its lack of relationality through the juxtaposition of Tomáš Špidlík’s 1988 criticism of hesychasm and Zacharias Zacharou’s 2022 instruction on hesychasm. Second, by proposing a Pneumatological solution to this question in the existence of an uncreated silence based on select New Testament accounts of the Holy Spirit, informed by the Pneumatology of Basil the Great, described by audiation, and experienced by Seraphim of Sarov. Third, by presenting uncreated silence as an apophatic relationality using the work of Christos Yannaras and Max Picard. Fourth, by demonstrating that uncreated silence is a spiritual relationality lived by elders, confessors, and those whom they guide; and by acknowledging the potential for spiritual abuse within these relationships. Fifth, by describing the connection between uncreated silence and select spiritual relationalities found in the New Testament and among Patristic sources. Sixth, by describing, in brief, the biographical, spiritual, and pastoral works of select Orthodox and Catholic spiritual leaders in the West during the 20th and 21st centuries.
Recycled Religion: Postcolonial Grief and Vulnerabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Saran Fina Sidime
Africa is poised to become the epicenter of global Christianity, with young adults in Sub-Saharan Africa demonstrating higher levels of religiosity than their counterparts in other world regions. However, increased Christianization does not necessarily equate to spiritual well-being. Instead, religious landscapes across the continent reveal a paradox of spiritual vitality and deep-seated vulnerabilities. This paper interrogates how colonial disruptions and transnational religious influences have shaped contemporary Christian expressions among young Africans, often exacerbating interfaith tensions, gender inequalities, and social marginalization. I draw on Jinah Kim’s framework of postcolonial grief to examine the historical ruptures that fractured indigenous religious practices and continue to shape religious vulnerabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through ethnographic research in Ghana, I explore how young Christians navigate pluralistic religious contexts, internalized colonial hierarchies, and the socio-political influence of American evangelical conservatism. The proliferation of charismatic movements, controversial sects, and exclusionary theological doctrines are analyzed as spiritual phenomena and as expressions of unresolved historical trauma. By bridging Africana Critical Social Thought, practical theology, and postcolonial and decolonial theories, this research highlights how African Christianity, though globally interconnected, is often studied in isolation from its historical wounds. Ultimately, I argue that addressing vulnerabilities that render young people susceptible to religious manipulation requires a paradigm shift in religious practice and theological formation – one that acknowledges Africa’s colonial past and present, fosters religious literacy, and critically engages with African Indigenous epistemologies and the socio-political dimensions of faith in an era of transnational religious exchange.
Featured The Evolution of Trade and Pilgrimage in Haridwar: A Historiographical Perspective
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Radhika Goel,
Smriti Saraswat
Haridwar, a sacred city in Uttarakhand in the Northern part of India, has historically functioned as both a pilgrimage site and a commercial hub. This study explores the transformation of its historical bazaar within the broader context of trade and pilgrimage. The objective is to examine how economic activities have evolved alongside religious tourism. This research aims to understand the intersection of trade activities and the spiritual landscape that has shaped Haridwar’s urban, religious, and economic landscape. Positioned within the disciplinary framework of trade history and urban historiography, this study employs a historiographical approach, drawing from primary sources such as archival records, travelogues, and historical maps, as well as secondary sources including scholarly articles and books. The methods used include comparative historical analysis and qualitative interpretation of spatial transformations. The research indicates that significant physical expansion in Haridwar began in the 18th century. Although trading activity was robust, the city lacked adequate infrastructure, forcing pilgrims and traders to seek lodging in nearby towns. The arrival of the railways shifted visitation patterns, reducing the prominence of the annual fair while reinforcing Haridwar's status as an important pilgrimage site. The findings demonstrate the deep connection between economic activity and religious tourism, which has shaped Haridwar's spatial and social landscape. The study concludes that these historical transitions are essential for the sustainable management of sacred urban centers, ensuring a balance between heritage preservation and economic growth.
The Transformation of the Self in a Secular Culture: A Discussion on Pannenberg’s Position
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Cecilia Echeverría
The text explores the secularization process and its impact on human self-understanding and its relationship with God, particularly focusing on the shift toward a postmodern view of the autonomous self. It emphasizes that postmodernity adopts essential elements of modernity, particularly the idea of emancipation, while also critiquing it. The text discusses how this critique leads to the postmodern comprehension of the self, shaped by religious division. The philosopher Pannenberg is cited as offering significant insights on the impact of modern ideas on the concept of the self, especially the phenomenon of secularization and contemporary atheism. He suggests that these processes have dramatically altered humanity's vision and cultural conscience, which were once inspired by Christianity. However, the author highlights contradictions in Pannenberg’s arguments, particularly his rational approach to God, which does not fully address the deeper issues of secularization. For Pannenberg, the issue of atheism and secularization lies in the inaccessibility of God, not in human will. The text raises questions about secularization, including whether Christianity still plays an essential role in modern society or exists as a "hidden city." It explores whether Christian heritage remains a fundamental aspect of Western postmodernity. Despite the secular age, the text suggests that human beings continue to experience a profound connection to the sacred. Even in a postmodern context, individuals are still deeply impacted by the idea of God’s image and seek to understand it, pointing to the persistence of Christian values.
