Q&A with Brandon

Why did you start the Sacred Spaces project? For me, religion was always a mystery. It was something secret, hidden away in communities of people who looked and lived very differently from me. Often, it seemed to be the kindling for the heated arguments I'd see online, or the excuse people used to justify their actions. Thankfully, through interacting with Birmingham’s beautifully diverse community, I've started to look beyond the assumptions I once held and have begun to learn more about the people I am lucky to share this planet with. It was through meeting such wonderful people and becoming increasingly aware of how little I understood about their beliefs that the idea for the Sacred Spaces Project first came to mind.

What is the Sacred Spaces project? Sacred Spaces is a community-based project where, once a month, we visit a different house of worship, inviting non-religious people and believers of all faiths to come and experience ways of life they may never otherwise encounter. I hope that through this project we can all learn something new, broaden our horizons, and grow as individuals. By exploring unfamiliar spaces together, we can foster meaningful conversations about the differences that make us unique while also recognising the shared humanity within us all.

What to expect? At a Sacred Spaces gathering, nothing is expected of participants other than that they treat the people and places we visit with respect. Following the visit, participants are encouraged to ask questions to religious leaders, congregation members, and fellow attendees. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to gather as a group, discuss what we've learned, and share our thoughts and reflections.

What is the aim of the Sacred Spaces project? At its heart, the Sacred Spaces Project is built upon a simple idea: understanding begins with curiosity. In a world where it has become increasingly easy to form opinions about one another from a distance, Sacred Spaces aims to create opportunities for people to meet face-to-face, ask questions, and learn from one another directly. My hope is that this project will continue to grow, allowing us to visit a wide variety of houses of worship and engage with communities that many of us may otherwise never encounter. More importantly, it can become a space where friendships can be formed across religious, cultural, and philosophical boundaries. The goal is not to convince anyone to adopt a particular belief system, nor is it to debate whose worldview is correct. Instead, it is an opportunity to listen, learn, and better understand the experiences of our neighbours.

How can I get involved? The easiest way to get involved with Sacred Spaces is through the Philosophers Yard WhatsApp group where I post the dates and information of gatherings, or through sending a message to the Instagram page: Sacred_Spaces_Project. Whether you're religious, spiritual, questioning, or simply curious, you're welcome to join us as we explore Birmingham's rich religious diversity together.