Sam Wells - Improvising Faith (N223)

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In this episode vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church at Trafalgar Square, London and professor of Christian ethics at King's College, Sam Wells shares his belief that to live well is to improvise well. He defines improvisation in the theatre as "a practice through which actors seek to develop trust in themselves and one another in order that they may conduct unscripted dramas without fear." And that, he believes, is how we should approach life. Building trust, overcoming fear, conducting relationships, and making choices - all without a script. The Bible therefore is not a ‘script’ but a training school that shapes our habits and practices. And living well is "faithfully improvising on the Christian tradition."  After the interview Nomad hosts David Blower and Nick Thorley reflect on how Sam's ideas might shape their evolving faith.  Interview starts at 16m 30s.  If you want more from Nomad, check out our website, and follow us on Facebook and twitter. Nomad can only keep going because a small group of faithful listeners help us pay the bills. Our donors gain access to the Nomad community - which manifests as Nomad Book Club and The Beloved Listener Lounge - and bonus episodes, such as Nomad Contemplations, Nomad Devotionals and Nomad Revisited. And you may find yourself the proud owner of a Beloved Listener mug! Head over to our Patreon page to donate in dollars and our PayPal members page to donate in pounds. You might also want to have a look at our blog, which we're now using to share the stories of the evolving faith of our podcast listeners.  And if you're looking for other people to share this journey with, then register on our Listener Map and our Nomad Gathering Facebook page, and see if any other nomads are in your area.

Released on 6 May 2020

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