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Heart and Soul: Losing my religion

Losing my religion

07/06/2024 GMT

BBC World Service - Heart and Soul, Losing my religion

How two young Nigerians created The Table, a group for the spiritual but not religious

Questioning faith can be a lonely experience in a highly religious society like Nigeria. That is why Kamsy and Ore created a community for ‘the Spiritual but not religious’.

‘Spiritual but not religious’ is the fastest growing faith category amongst Gen Z and Millennials around the world. However, in Nigeria, where most people identify as either Christian or Muslim, questioning doctrine or exploring alternative beliefs is still often seen as taboo. 

Kamsy and Ore, both raised in evangelical Christian households, began questioning their faith in their early 20s. For Kamsy, it was triggered by a period of burnout and depression, while Ore started to doubt some of her church’s teachings on gender and being a ‘good’ Christian. They began reading about other beliefs - Judaism, Buddhism and traditional African religions, and posting their thoughts and experiences on social media. 

Neither were prepared for the backlash they received. Ore even had close friends refuse to be associated with her. However, both also received many messages from people who had similar thoughts and who felt unable to express them publicly. So Kamsy and Ore created a WhatsApp group for others like them. Today, The Table defines itself as a community for the irreligious yet spiritual, and aims to provide a space for connection and discussion free from the dogma.

Producer/Presenter: Jessica Bateman
Series producer: Rajeev Gupta
Editor: Jonathan Hallewell
Production co-ordinator: Mica Nepomuceno

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