Anthony Cruz Pantojas, (they/he/elle/él), the humanist chaplain at Tufts College, will probably be coming to Elon to present the keynote handle for the annual student-led Ripple Convention, now in its eighth yr.
Pantojas will give their keynote handle, “Dwelling within the Interstices: Non secular Reflections from a Queer Afro-Caribbean Humanist” on Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Registration is open on the Ripple Convention web site.
In response to Pantojas, this speak explores the importance of private historical past as a website of data manufacturing and worldmaking, and can problem the viewers to see past their very own experiences.
“Particularly, I’ll contextualize the questions which have guided my religious, philosophical, and moral journey,” defined Pantojas. “I need to discuss issues that may make the viewers a little bit uncomfortable, invite them to sit down with that discomfort and to consider potential. Leaning into and exploring otherness will free us to consider relating and understanding, and finally how we will work in the direction of liberatory futures for all.”
The Ripple Convention takes place at Elon from Feb. 17-19, 2023, and this yr will concentrate on the theme of “Stretching the Limits of Spiritual Identities.” This theme facilities on the concept that no faith, spirituality, religion custom, philosophy or worldview is a monolith. Throughout this yr’s convention, members will probably be inspired to assume outdoors the field, have fun their very own overlapping intersectional identities and make house to be taught, develop, and have interaction.
“The Ripple Convention gives an area for Elon college students to be taught and problem their concepts of non secular, religious, moral, and philosophical constructs alongside college students from different campuses regionally and nationally,” mentioned Elon College Chaplain and Dean of Multifaith Engagement Rev. Kirstin Boswell.
“Every year’s theme is totally different, and I believe that as we have a look at the nationwide discourse round faith that’s ofttimes so divisive, it’s of the very best significance this yr to ask our college students — the world’s future leaders — to look at, grapple with, and stretch the boundaries of non secular id,” Boswell added.
For Pantojas, this theme is a part of their very own lived expertise. “I hope to share my identities and experiences that revitalize how we would take into consideration being, turning into, and belonging. This keynote is a reflective treatise and invitation to assume ‘in any other case,’” Pantojas mentioned.
Pantojas is a bilingual doctoral candidate in cultural research, and can also be the inaugural graduate pupil of the Anti-Racist Curatorial Follow Program. Pantojas has been acknowledged with quite a few awards, together with an Interfaith Innovation Fellowship sponsored by Interfaith America and spearheads an initiative for BIPOC first-generation rising religious and moral leaders. Pantojas earned grasp’s levels in theological research and management research from Andover Newton Theological College and Meadville Lombard Theological College, respectively.
Moreover, they maintain a certificates in humanist research from the American Humanist Affiliation Middle for Training the place they’re the primary graduate of this system. At the moment, they function an advisory committee member for Non secular Care by & for the Unaffiliated with the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, sponsored by Fetzer Institute. Moreover, they function Board Member of the Affiliation of Chaplaincy and Non secular Life in Larger Training, the Secular Coalition for America, Mystic Soul Mission, amongst different non-profit organizations.
In response to the American Humanist Affiliation, humanism is a way of life primarily based on cause and our widespread humanity, recognizing that ethical values are correctly based on human nature and expertise alone. For Pantojas, humanism can also be in regards to the complexities, challenges, and potentialities of tradition, energy and spirituality. Humanists may establish in several methods, whether or not agnostic, atheist, non-theist or freethinker.
Pantojas will carry this worldview to Elon, as they interact with the scholars on the Ripple Convention, and encourage them to stretch the bounds of how they each view faith and spirituality, and the methods they interact with and foster understanding of each other. In his keynote, Pantojas may even middle minoritized identities that haven’t been prioritized in conventional interreligious engagement.
“On this time of nice polarization and precarity, the necessity to perceive the various narratives and lived experiences of others is nice. Traditionally, the discourses surrounding faith and interreligious engagement have centered Western modernity, theist, and notably Christian paradigm. Interreligious work means speaking about distinction, ethics, and hospitality in our ever-changing world,” defined Pantojas.
Reverend Bowell concurs. “Whether or not we’re speaking in regards to the intersections of faith and politics, faith and well being care entry, faith and social justice, or faith and take care of our planet, or a number of different intersectional themes, these are areas which can be extremely fraught and laden with baggage and emotion. Areas just like the Ripple Convention enable college students—and all of our group members—to consider these points in an actual means in an area that may problem and push them to find out how they are going to work together with these points in the actual world.”
Extra in regards to the Ripple Convention:
Early Chicken Registration for the Ripple Convention is now open and can run by Jan. 30.
Registration data might be discovered at rippleconference.org. Elon college students, school, and workers are invited to achieve out to Ivy Breivogel or Hillary Zaken, or DM @truittcenter on Instagram for codes for discounted participation. On the web site, you possibly can register for the convention, apply for management, and look at our schedule and different convention particulars as they develop into out there. Alternatives embrace main Breakout Periods, Neighborhood Teams, Affinity Teams, or performing within the Sacred Sounds Espresso Home.
For extra data and updates in regards to the Ripple Interfaith Convention, please observe Elon College’s Truitt Middle for Spiritual and Non secular Life on Instagram and go to the Truitt Middle web site or the Ripple Convention web site.
