Neil Griffiths is a British novelist, and the founder of the Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses. He is the winner of the Authors' Club First Novel Award, and has been shortlisted for best novel in the Costa Book Awards.

In this episode, Neil talks about love as a sacred value, how writing helped him explore religious ideas and conversations in absence of a religious household. He also talks about his inspirations for writing novels, and how literature can teach patience and compassion.

Elizabeth also speaks to Theos' Natan Mladin about an upcoming project on debt, and how money can be reflective of religious and spiritual values.

Follow Elizabeth on Twitter at @theoselizabeth and follow Theos Think Tank on @theosthinktank for the latest events, reviews, long reads and research on the role of faith in society.

In this episode, Elizabeth is joined by Guardian columnist and writer, Dawn Foster. Dawn writes on politics and social affairs, and was one of the leading journalists covering the aftermath of the Grenfell tower fire.

She talks about her childhood, growing up in poverty, her relationship with catholicism in confrontation with new atheism, and whether social media can facilitate better public conversations.

Follow the Sacred on Twitter at @Sacred_Podcast, and follow Theos at @Theosthinktank on Twitter and Facebook.

Andy Crouch is a writer, editor, author and musician based in the United States. He was the editor of Christian Today, one of America's largest faith based publications, and made headlines when he wrote an editorial criticising Evangelical support for Donald Trump.

In this episode, Elizabeth talks to Andy about his life in publishing and why he values language so much. He talks about the state of US politics, and why the virtue of patience is more valuable than ever in times of crisis and strife.

This episode also features a short interview with Nick Spencer about the American edition of 'Evolution of the West', and how religious terms get politicised by both the right and left.

David Goodhart is a writer, researcher, author and journalist, who currently serves as head of Integration Hub & Demography at Policy Exchange. He was one of the founding editors of Prospect magazine, and the centre-left think tank Demos.

In this episode, Elizabeth speaks to David about his work between different areas of the political spectrum, and how his childhood experiences shaped the way he understood the communities around him. He also speaks about the consequences of his changing views on immigration, place and the future of Britain post-Brexit.

This episode also features an interview with Theos' head of relationships Natan Mladin.

'The Sacred' is supported by Theos think tank (@theosthinktank) and hosted by Elizabeth Oldfield (@theoselizabeth). It is produced by Hussein Kesvani (@HKesvani) and No Country Media.

Benjamin Ramm is a writer, broadcaster and journalist who has produced work for the BBC, The New York Times and OpenDemocracy. He also used to edit 'The Liberal' magazine.

In this episode, Elizabeth talks to Benjamin about his identity as a 'non-religious, atheist Jew' who loves to go to Russian Orthodox mass, his religious and spiritual upbringing, and why he thinks poetry might provide a pathway for some who don't identify as religious, but believe in the value of faith. They also speak about the crisis and challenges of contemporary liberalism, and how his vision of a liberal future differs from that of previous guest of the show, Tim Farron.

'The Sacred' is supported by Theos Think Tank, the UK's leading religion and society think tank. It is hosted by Theos' director Elizabeth Oldfield, and produced by Hussein Kesvani and No Country Media.

Follow us on Twitter @sacred_podcast, and subscribe to us on Itunes, Acast & other podcast content providers. Do rate us on Itunes, as it helps us promote our show to a wider audience. And, as always, feel free to tell us what you think by contacting our twitter account, or talking to @theoselizabeth directly.

Giles Fraser is an Anglican priest, a columnist, author, and broadcaster. It's unlikely you haven't come across his work in one way or another. He wrote a frequent column in the Guardian called 'Loose Canon', dealing with issues around faith, spirituality and progressive politics. He's also a panellist on BBC Radio 4's 'Moral Maze' and has contributed to 'Thought for the Day'.

In this episode, Elizabeth speaks to Giles about growing up with a Jewish identity, how bullying during his childhood shaped his view of the world, and how he thinks people with opposing views and perspectives could communicate with each other better. He also talks about his controversial decision to vote and defend Brexit - one of the few public left wing intellectuals to have done so.

You can follow The Sacred on Twitter at @sacred_podcast. You can also follow Elizabeth Oldfield @theoselizabeth. You can follow Theos Think Tank on Facebook and Twitter @theosthinktank or at www.theosthinktank.co.uk.

This is a remastered edition of our conversation with award winning author Francis Spufford. Francis is a professor at Goldsmiths University, and the author of a number of books including "Golden Hill" and "Unapologetic: Why, despite everything, Christianity can still make surprising emotional sense"

Please follow us on Twitter @Sacred_Podcast, and our host, Elizabeth Oldfield (@theoselizabeth). This podcast is supported by Theos, the UK's leading religion and society think tank (@theosthinktank)

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.

Welcome to The Sacred, a new podcast about the things we cherish, hold dear, and how they bring us together.

In this episode, Elizabeth speaks to former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, who led the party until 2017, when he stepped down after claiming he could not be a committed political leader and a committed Christian. This came after a controversial interview in which he was grilled on his position on same-sex relations.

7 months on, Tim reflects back on that moment, as well as British politics as a whole. He talks about the crisis of liberalism, how 'identity politics' can prevent the free exchange of ideas in the public space, and how Christians wanting to enter politics should be willing to exert grace, and embrace humility, if they wish to make a real change.

You can listen, watch and read Tim Farron's Theos annual lecture here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/events/2017/11/28/tim-farron-what-kind-of-liberal-society-do-we-want

The Sacred is produced in association with Theos think tank, the leading religion and society think tank in the UK. The show is produced by Hussein Kesvani and No Country Media.

In the second episode of The Sacred, Elizabeth talks to comedian, writer and founder of the Sunday Assembly, Pippa Evans. Pippa is a regular on BBC radio 4 and has written and presented series for other broadcasters and networks.

She also helped found the Sunday Assembly, which had been dubbed the "atheist church" on its inception. The organisation has grown to become a global movement for people who value faith and spirituality, in spite of not identifying as 'religious'.

This episode also features an interview with Theos researcher Simon Perfect, on his project about free speech and university campuses.

The Sacred is a podcast about the things we cherish and hold dear to us. It is supported by Theos, the religion and society think tank, and is produced by Hussein Kesvani and No Country media.