Learning How to See with Brian McLaren Learning How to Hold Space for Others with Cindy Lee
Dec 4, 2025
Cindy Lee, a spiritual director and scholar focused on BIPOC-centered spiritual formation, discusses the importance of de-Westernizing spirituality. She shares insights from her work with BIPOC communities, revealing limits in conventional spiritual formation. The conversation delves into the harm of the Western missionary gaze and emphasizes reclaiming cultural practices for healing. Cindy advocates for compassionate listening over problem-solving and highlights the importance of rest and small acts of kindness in building resilient communities.
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Westernized Spiritual Formation Limits
- Cindy Lee noticed mainstream spiritual formation training assumed a Western worldview and failed to prepare her for BIPOC experiences.
- That realization prompted her to question assumptions and adapt how she witnesses people of color.
Taoist Temple Assignment Revelation
- Cindy recounts an assignment labeling non-Christian practices as "folk religion" and visiting a Taoist temple in Taiwan.
- She realized she had internalized a Western missionary gaze that judged her own culture as inferior.
Use Embodiment To Reclaim Culture
- Do reclaim embodied cultural practices (bows, Tai Chi, calligraphy) to unlearn the missionary gaze.
- Let your body relearn its own traditions without judging them as right or wrong.
