Jenn Carlier is a Louisville Institute Post-Doctoral Fellow at Candler School of Theology, where she teaches ethics and theology. Jenn's work focuses on the encounter between lived experience and theology and seeks to retrieve theologies and practices that are liberative for underrepresented communities, especially those struggling with addiction and mental health issues. Her research interests include feminist and queer theologies, the intersection of theology and mental health, and metaphorical theology. She is an active member of Kirkwood United Church of Christ, where she is a youth mentor and an advocate for reducing the stigma around mental health and addiction.
Finding God in the Basement
Jennifer Carlier
In this moving testimony of her own experience with addiction, Dr. Carlier implores faith leaders to practice vulnerability and brokenness in the church sanctuary so that all may feel welcome in that space.
In this talk, Cole explores how individuals can maintain their faith in a seemingly silent God, particularly in times of suffering and distress. Cole delves into the complex relationship between trauma and spirituality. Cole suggests that, rather than losing belief, individuals can engage in practices that foster a deeper presence to both themselves and the world around them, even in the absence of clear signs of God’s presence.
Dr. Szyf delves into the fascinating science of epigenetics and its profound implications for understanding intergenerational trauma. Epigenetics refers to how environmental factors—such as stress, trauma, and life experiences—can influence gene expression without changing the DNA sequence itself. This talk explains how trauma experienced by one generation can leave biological marks on the genes, which may then be passed down to subsequent generations.
Rev. Sharpe explores the challenge of overcoming the pressure to please others and the inner conflict that arises when the desire to gain approval occasionally wins. He acknowledges that the need for external validation is a natural part of the human experience, but it emphasizes the importance of not allowing that desire to dictate one’s life decisions or self-worth.
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