Resistance Wisdom from Survivors

Throughout history, spiritual traditions have been wellsprings of resilience, resistance, and renewal for oppressed communities. In times of injustice, faith has not only offered solace but has also fueled movements for liberation. Whether whispered in sacred songs, woven into rituals that reclaim identity, or embodied in the simple refusal to be erased, spiritual resistance arises from the conviction that dignity and liberation are sacred rights. [See also this post on finding your unique role in justice work: https://abeltaine.blogspot.com/2025/02/you-belong-here-your-place-in-work-of.html?m=1]

The Power of Sacred Resistance

Spiritual resistance is more than protest; it is the deep, sustaining force that allows communities to endure and transform oppression. This kind of resistance does not always shout—it often sings, prays, or simply refuses to be erased. It is found in the prayers of enslaved people, the fasting of activists, the storytelling of exiled communities, and the quiet but unyielding presence of those who refuse to abandon their sacred traditions.

1961 March on Washington, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Singing religious songs has fueled connection and energy throughout many justice movements

Lessons from Oppressed Traditions

Different traditions offer unique wisdom on how to resist oppression while remaining spiritually grounded:

Jewish Resistance, Lament, and Tikkun Olam – From the Psalms to contemporary activism, Jewish communities have long used lament as a form of resistance, insisting that suffering be named and justice be pursued. The concept of tikkun olam (“repairing the world”) calls for social responsibility and action against injustice, inspiring Jewish-led movements for civil rights, labor rights, and refugee advocacy. Whether through prayer, protest, or legal activism, Jewish traditions intertwine spiritual resilience with the pursuit of justice. [See this post about lament: https://abeltaine.blogspot.com/2025/02/spiritual-practice-for-troubled-times.html?m=1]
Black Spirituals and Faith-Based Resistance – Enslaved Africans in the Americas wove messages of freedom into spiritual songs, creating coded calls to liberation. Over time, Black religious traditions—including the prophetic witness of the Black church, womanist theology, and faith-rooted activism—have remained central to struggles for justice, from the Civil Rights Movement to contemporary movements like Black Lives Matter. [See also this post on community ritual for resilience: https://abeltaine.blogspot.com/2025/02/communal-outdoor-practice-for-spiritual.html?m=1]
Indigenous Ceremonies and Cultural Survival – Colonization sought to erase Indigenous spiritual traditions, yet ceremonies, language, and sacred practices continue to be reclaimed as acts of defiance and healing. For many Indigenous communities, maintaining sacred ways is itself a form of resistance, affirming connection to ancestors, land, and spirit despite centuries of oppression. Spiritual resistance restores connection. It reminds us that justice is not merely a human demand—it is a sacred imperative. [For more on how activism can be a sacred act, see this post: https://abeltaine.blogspot.com/2025/01/reclaiming-sacred-in-activism.html]

Pagan and Folk Traditions Defying Erasure – Earth-based traditions across cultures have resisted assimilation through hidden rituals, oral traditions, and community practices. Many family lineages safeguarded their sacred wisdom through coded symbols, festivals, and small communal gatherings. These traditions persist today, offering pathways of resilience and remembrance. [See also this blog on stories of revolution: https://abeltaine.blogspot.com/2025/01/stories-to-sustain-us-building-world-we.html]

While some traditions resist through protest and public witness, others cultivate resistance through inner transformation and nonviolent presence.

Buddhist Nonviolent Resistance – From Thich Nhat Hanh’s engaged Buddhism to the self-immolation of monks protesting injustice, Buddhist traditions have long practiced resistance through presence, compassion, and nonviolence. [See also this post on responding to oppression: https://abeltaine.blogspot.com/2025/03/crises-coups-and-compassion-how-to.html?m=1]
Liberation Theology in Latin America – In the 20th century, Catholic theologians and activists in Latin America responded to systemic injustice with a faith deeply rooted in justice. Liberation theology, championed by figures like Gustavo Gutiérrez, Leonardo Boff, and Óscar Romero, insisted that the Gospel calls for solidarity with the poor and resistance to oppression. Community-based movements empowered the marginalized to reclaim both spiritual and political agency, often at great personal risk.

Survival depends on the people who show up for you, and on taking action to care for yourself. [See also this post on making a plan for survival: https://abeltaine.blogspot.com/2025/03/have-plan-for-when-disaster-strikes.html]

The Dalai Lama and Marco Pannella, CC2.0

Both men have worked tirelessly for peace, community care, and justice, drawing strength from their faiths.

Resistance Rooted in the Sacred

Oppressive systems seek to sever people from their sacred worth, but spiritual resistance restores that connection. It reminds us that justice is not just a human demand—it is a sacred imperative. Whether through prayer, protest, art, or quiet endurance, spiritual traditions continue to nurture resistance, offering hope and transformation for generations to come.

How have you seen spiritual resistance at work in your own tradition or community? How might you revive a practice for the needs of this time?

Beloved, you are whole, holy, and worthy,

Rev. Amy

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For Further Reading

Books

• The Uncommon Book of Prayer: A Guide to Co-Creating With the Universe – Heidi Smith

Explores prayer as a method for spiritual resistance and co-creation with the universe.

https://www.vogue.com/article/uncommon-prayer-book

• A Theology of Liberation – Gustavo Gutiérrez

This foundational text delves into the principles and origins of liberation theology.

https://www.orbisbooks.com/a-theology-of-liberation.html

• The Power of the Poor in History – Gustavo Gutiérrez

Gutiérrez reflects on the role of the impoverished in shaping history and the church’s mission.

https://www.orbisbooks.com/the-power-of-the-poor-in-history.html

• Church: Charism and Power – Leonardo Boff

Brazilian theologian Boff discusses the institutional challenges faced by liberation theology within the Catholic Church.

https://www.orbisbooks.com/church-charism-and-power.html

• The Gospel in Solentiname – Ernesto Cardenal

A collection of reflections from Nicaraguan peasants interpreting the Gospels through the lens of their lived experiences.

https://www.orbisbooks.com/the-gospel-in-solentiname.html

• We Make the Road by Walking: Conversations on Education and Social Change – Myles Horton and Paulo Freire

While not exclusively about liberation theology, this dialogue between two educators touches on themes of empowerment and social justice relevant to the movement.

https://www.dukeupress.edu/we-make-the-road-by-walking

Articles

• Good News for the Oppressed? Exploring the Spiritual, Political, and Intercultural Dimensions of Howard Thurman’s Philosophy – Aizaiah G. Yong

Examines Howard Thurman’s work on spirituality and justice.

https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/3/358

• Continuing Conjure: African-Based Spiritual Traditions in Colson Whitehead’s ‘The Underground Railroad’ and ‘The Nickel Boys’ – Kameelah L. Martin

Explores how African spiritual traditions serve as resistance in literature.

https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/7/403

• Lament, Protest, and Resistance – Keith Hebden

Discusses the role of lamentation in spiritual resistance.

https://gracetruth.blog/2012/10/15/lament-protest-and-resistance-by-keith-hebden

Blogs and Online Resources