In this episode, your host Elizabeth Oldfield (@theoselizabeth) talks to professor Francis Spufford. Francis teaches creative writing at Goldsmiths University in London, and has also written a number of acclaimed, award winning books. In 2016, he won the Costa debut novel prize for his fiction volume "Golden Hill", and he has received high praise for his defence of religion in "Unapologetc : Why, Despite Everything, Christianity Can Still Make Surprising Emotional Sense".

In his office at Goldsmiths, Elizabeth talks to him about his journey into faith, his life in writing, as well as on contemporary issues around faith - including the rise, and demise of the "New Atheist" movement in the age of Trump.

The Sacred is supported by Theos, the UK's leading religion and society think tank. It is produced by Hussein Kesvani (@HKesvani) and No Country Media.