Road Scholar is a not-for-profit organization that provides educational travel programs for adults. On Monday, October 26, C.H. Booth Library will host an online lecture on behalf of Road Scholar from 2-3 pm. The lecture will explore Santa Muerte, the “fastest-growing religion in the Americas.”

Religion scholar Brian Carwana will provide an introduction to this religion and its patron saint: Saint Death, or the “Bony Lady.” She is a female figure often likened to the Grim Reaper. Her devotees in Mexico and elsewhere have grown rapidly in recent decades, much to the dismay of Catholic and Pentecostal churches.

This lecture will also explore the Day of the Dead, a tradition that is unrelated to Santa Muerte but also features skeletons in an unusual event that mixes mourning with festivity. Together, these practices offer insight into how death is understood, commemorated, and given meaning in Mexico and other Latin American cultures.

Carwana left a business career to follow his passion for world religious and spiritual traditions. He acquired a practical education by listening to religious leaders, visiting houses of worship, and observing services. He also earned a PhD in religion from University of Toronto. He is now the executive director of Encounter World Religions Centre, an educational organization promoting religious literacy and informed understanding of cultural diversity.

This is a free online lecture. Registration can be completed by visiting chboothlibrary.org.