What happens when we begin to question the image of God we've been taught to worship?  In this episode, Dr. Christena Cleveland joins us to explore the concept that God is a Black Woman with the power to challenge white, male-centered images of the divine. Drawing on history, spirituality, and her own journey beyond traditional Christian beliefs, Dr. Christena unpacks this inclusive vision of God as a sacred figure of resistance, liberation, and nourishment. We discuss how white patriarchal religion shapes our understanding of God, bodies, and identity, and how God as a Black Woman or Black Madonna offers an alternative vision of the sacred—one that embraces Black femininity, authenticity, and the fullness of our humanity. We also explore the connections between purity culture, sexuality, and body sovereignty, asking what it means to reclaim our bodies and trust our own intuition after religious conditioning. Dr. Christena shares the spiritual significance of pilgrimages to Black Madonna sites and explains how death and rebirth can become part of our journey toward liberation. From embracing emotions like anger to reconnecting with our bodies and challenging oppressive systems, this conversation offers practical ways to embody resistance, wholeness, and spiritual freedom. Whether you're deconstructing your faith, reimagining your relationship with the divine, or seeking a more embodied and liberating spirituality, this episode invites you to discover a sacredness that makes room for all of who you are. Guest Bio: Dr. Christena Cleveland Dr. Christena Cleveland is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist whose work weaves together Black liberation and the Divine Feminine. Through her exploration of the Black Madonna, she guides people of all races and genders toward freedom, wholeness, and embodied justice. She founded the Black Madonna Freedom School, which helps people uproot white patriarchal religious conditioning and cultivate intersectional Divine Feminine wisdom. Her books, God is a Black Woman and The Black Madonna: Icon of Resistance & Nourisher of Souls, explore how the Black Feminine Divine has protected, empowered, and nourished people across cultures and throughout history. An award-winning researcher and former professor at Duke University's Divinity School, Christena lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Learn more about her work at christenacleveland.com. Relevant links: Dr. Cleveland's Patreon learning community: https://www.patreon.com/cscleve  Dr. Cleveland's website: https://www.christenacleveland.com/   The Black Madonna Freedom School's website: https://www.blackmadonnaschool.com/  Upcoming virtual retreat on Nov. 7th: https://christenacleveland.com/bmretreat  For listeners in NYC who may want to attend her author talk on Nov 4th: https://www.cafeconlibrosbk.com/event-info/author-talk-the-black-madonna-with-dr-christena-cleveland