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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Belief as a Communal Longing
- Belief is both a personal and communal experience involving a deep acceptance beyond just hearing words.
- It involves a longing or hope to believe even amidst doubt, not just a simple statement of fact.
Belief as Trust and Paradox
- Belief is a disposition to trust what can't be proven and involves relationships and feelings, not just abstract ideas.
- St Paul’s definition reveals faith as seeing unseen things and hoping for future substance, combining paradox and human psychology.
Don't Dismiss Religious Belief As Irrational
- Avoid treating religious belief as irrational or incompatible with rational public debate.
- Do not discount religious perspectives in political discussions; many religious people use reason and diverse knowledge.
