The organization that I work with, Reflector Project, exists to articulate hopeful rather than fearful theology and worldview. In just over a week, we are hosting a conference in Vancouver addressing some of the key areas where fearful theology has found expression for many people. The conference, called “Unashamed: Towards a Healthy View of Self and Sexuality,” has as the keynote speaker, Dr. Hillary McBride.
Dr. McBride has a psychotherapy practice and has hosted a CBC podcast called Other People’s Problems. She has also been a host on the podcast, The Liturgists. A few days ago, she posted the following:
It’s worth reading the whole post on Instagram.
If your upbringing included hearing the words, “Dr. Dobson says …” you might just know what Dr. Hillary McBride is referencing. Views around sexuality and the body, around desire and around will and emotion have led to trauma for many people. We look forward to hearing from Dr. McBride, and from other presenters at the conference. Her post ends with a call to move forwards towards justice. We hope that next week’s conference will help in that endeavour.
The conference includes Friday evening and Saturday afternoon presentations from Dr. McBride, a session with professor Rev. Dr. Rob James on how we got to damaging views of the physical, a panel session hearing from people and leaders who have moved past fearful views, a poetry reading from Susan Alexander and more.
Many people of faith have longed to be able to accept and love others. Some have picked up damaging and judgmental views of self and of others from religious fear and condemnation. Many of us are looking for better ways forward and some people are hopeful for healing of trauma from negative views.
This two-day in-person conference will outline hopeful and positive understanding of self and others. We seek to consider some of the emotional and religious trauma we may have experienced and move toward healing. We will consider matters such as embodiment and views of self, as we hear from Dr. Hillary McBride and others who will help explain how we got here and outline how we can move forward with hope.
When: Friday, November 11 & Saturday, November 12
Where: Epiphany Chapel on the UBC Campus
Cost: $80.00 per adult / $60.00 per student