The brainchild of noted scholar Naomi Seidman, this GTUx Original explores scholarship, religion, activism, and art as experienced by people who have extricated themselves from insular religious groups and reconnected with those communities in unique and courageous ways. Through four modules—Scholarship, Religion, Activism, and Art—we examine the complex journeys of those who have stepped beyond strict religious boundaries while still carrying their formative experiences with them.

From academics who challenge traditional narratives to spiritual seekers who reshape belief on their own terms, these stories reveal the ongoing negotiation between past and present. Activists push for change from both within and beyond their former communities, while artists transform their upbringing into creative expression, redefining representation in film, music, and performance.

Rather than simple stories of departure, these narratives illuminate the deep entanglements between identity, heritage, and personal reinvention. Each module offers an intimate look at how individuals bridge worlds—embracing elements of their past while forging new, meaningful paths forward.

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Naomi Seidman is Chancellor Jackman Professor of the Arts at the University of Toronto in the Department for the Study of Religion and the Centre for Diaspora and Transnational Studies. She is working on a book on Freud's Jewish legacies. It explores how, in Jewish ritual, Passover marks the beginning of a psychological journey to Shavuot, the celebration of Sinai.

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