Re-Enchanting Re-enchanting live at Bradford Literature Festival: Chine McDonald, Francis Spufford and Lamorna Ash
Jul 23, 2025
In this lively discussion, Francis Spufford, a celebrated writer known for his insights on Christianity, joins Lamorna Ash, an author exploring community and belonging, and Chine McDonald, director of Theos, a think tank focused on faith and social justice. They tackle the complexities of belief in today's world, emphasizing how faith can coexist with rationality. Personal journeys, the evolution of spiritual connections, and the intersection of Christianity and nationalism are at the forefront, providing a thought-provoking look at navigating identity in a pluralistic society.
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Doubt Permitted in Faith
- Lamorna Ash was deeply changed by meeting a pastor who admitted doubt within faith.
- She learned Christianity allows uncertainty, which made belief more possible and authentic for her.
Limits of Secular Meaning-Making
- The secular world provides many goods but struggles with deep meaning and human fragility.
- People desire demanding, meaningful purposes which religion often addresses more effectively than purely secular approaches.
Glastonbury as Spiritual Pilgrimage
- Belle Tindall compares Glastonbury festival to a pilgrimage seeking awe and communion.
- She notes that such secular events function as deeply spiritual gatherings akin to religious experiences.
