Why might enslaved individuals have turned to religion for agency?

Enslaved individuals often turned to religion as a means of asserting their agency, primarily because it offered them a sense of community and hope in the face of immense hardship and oppression. Religion provided a space where enslaved people could express their beliefs, share experiences, and support one another, fostering a collective identity that empowered them. This communal aspect of religion allowed them to connect deeply with one another, reinforcing bonds that were vital for emotional survival.

Additionally, through religious practices, they could cultivate a sense of hope for freedom and deliverance from their suffering, often finding solace in the themes of liberation present in their faith. For many, religion became a cornerstone for resilience, inspiring acts of defiance and preserving a sense of self and culture that slavery sought to erase. This diverged from merely adhering to the beliefs imposed by their owners, as it transformed into a tool for psychological sustenance and social solidarity among enslaved communities.