In this episode, we speak with former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams about his vision of faith as attentiveness, not answers — a path not of mastery, but of mystery. Drawing on themes from his book Discovering Christianity, Rowan reflects on the difference between faith and toxic religion, and explores how trust, not certainty, might be the deeper thread that runs through the Christian story.
We talk about the appeal of other traditions, Rowan’s appreciation of Buddhism, and why — despite it all — he remains rooted in the Christian faith. Along the way, he speaks candidly about the beauty and the cruelty of the Church, the liberating potential of theology, and how contemplation can shape not only our spiritual life but our way of seeing the world.
Following the interview, Nomad hosts Tim Nash and Nick Thorley reflect on the complexities of letting go of toxic religion, while staying open to what faith might still become.
Interview starts at 15m 2s
BOOKS
Being Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer
Discovering Christianity: A Guide for the Curious
Being Human: Bodies, Minds, Persons
Silence and Honey Cakes: The Wisdom of the Desert
QUOTES
“Faith is the confidence that you’re in a landscape worth exploring, that’ll take time to discover.”
“One of the tests…for toxicity in religion is, is this a practice, a way of living, a way of talking whose cumulative effect is to make people feel less? Or is it a way of talking that allows them to expand into a space?”
“The church as it’s imagined in Christian scripture is above all a community where everyone is very deeply and consistently responsible for the life of everyone else.”
“If I’m right about this, faith is the kind of trust that ultimately enhances and enlarges your life more than anything else.”
