In this episode of Futures Hub, listeners are joined by Disha Arora, founder of the Faith Futures Collective – a South Asia-based initiative amplifying women’s perspectives in religion to promote gender justice.
Disha shares how her journey from creating a documentary on women and religion in India to founding Faith Futures Collective revealed the risks, resilience, and transformative power of narrative change. Together, we explore:
- Why foresight and futures thinking are vital for reimagining faith.
- The obstacles women face in faith institutions and how creativity and safety strategies open space for change.
- How movements like the campaign around the Sabarimala temple spark wider conversations on equality.
- The practice of “active hope” as a way to keep moving forward in uncertain times.
- Why narrative power – who gets to tell the story – shapes the futures we build.
Tune in to learn more about imagination, resilience, and the power of stories to transform centuries-old systems.
Timestamps
02:50 – Founding Faith Futures Collective
06:20 – The Importance of Futures in Faith
08:24 – Barriers and Binary Narratives Across Religions
11:27 – Working Across South Asian Languages, Faith and Borders
14:20 – Ensuring Safety and Creative Protection in Storytelling
17:55 – When Stories Contribute to Change: The Sabarimala Temple Example
22:45 – Practicing Active Hope
27:45 – The Future of Faith Futures Collective
29:04 – Invitation to Participate and the Ideation Playground
People, Organizations & Initiatives Mentioned in This Episode
- Faith Futures Collective
- Scroll down on the main page to learn more about Faith Futures Collectives Ideation Playground
- Documentary: Women and Religion in India
- Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in without Going Crazy by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone
- Sabarimala Temple Case