In this episode, we speak with writer Lamorna Ash about her two-year immersion in Christianity—an unexpected journey that took her from conservative Bible studies and charismatic worship to Quaker silence, Jesuit retreats, and the poetry of mystical experience.
Inspired by the sudden conversions of two close friends, Lamorna set out to understand what faith might look like from the inside. Along the way, she wrestled with the limitations of belief, the beauty of ancient rituals, and the uncomfortable weight of institutional Christianity. Her story is one of tentative openness—a slow, uncertain movement toward mystery rather than certainty.
Following the interview, Nomad hosts Tim Nash and Nick Thorley reflects on their own journey through doubt, deconstruction, and the quiet possibility of faith on the edges.
Interview starts at 16m 22s
SOCIALS
BOOKS
Don’t Forget We’re Here Forever
BOOKS MENTIONED
The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James
Times Square Red, Times Square Blue by Samuel Delany
Heroes of the Fourth Turning by Will Arbery
QUOTES
“I suddenly realised, what [Christianity] could do was make the life that I already had larger.”
“When I realised that I can accommodate doubt and faith together, that felt quite exciting.”
“I really appreciate the idea of searching for faith, which I think was something that I thought would come to me rather than something that I would go looking for.”
“Faith is more like longing. It’s this active thing with no sense of ever getting an answer.”
2 Responses
Hi there. Writing in on the back of the Lamorna Ash interview. I had the pleasure of reading a pre-release copy of her book for a review website, and I thought it was wonderful. So then to spot that she was on Nomad was a real treat. It was lovely to hear her speak about her journey and, like yourselves, I have a bit of a sense of envy that she has seemingly sped through a kind of immersion in and then deconstruction of, her Christian faith. But also that she has found a church (something that I am not yet ready to do but something that I miss so much).
It’s always a pleasure to listen to Nomad and, I guess like a good amount of your listeners, Nomad (and some other podcasts) are currently my ‘church’. Your content is by turns informative, interesting, challenging and affirming. And as a person for whom my sense of the divine often comes through thinking rather than feeling, it’s great to feel a connection through your podcast.
I just want to point out one thing – you were mentioning daytime clubbing and it just being a London thing – I can promise you it’s not. Check out dayfever.os.fan or ‘day disco’. Have fun!
Hi Rachael.
Thanks for getting in touch. It’s so encouraging to hear that you’ve been finding Nomad helpful, I’ll let the other hosts know.
I’ll have to check out one of these day clubs! Or more likely, just have a nap instead!
Tim