UK comedy legend Frank Skinner joined myself and Belle Tindall as we launched Season 2 of the Re-Enchanting podcast recently. It was a funny, engaging and deep conversation in which Frank opened up about returning to his Catholic faith.

At one point I asked Frank about the atheist comedians he meets on the comedy circuit, to which he responded:

“There is something I find a bit confusing about people in the 21st Century saying ‘this is how daring I am. I’m going to come out as an atheist’. You think, ‘Really??’. Atheism given over as if it’s a brave stance. I’ll show ‘em a brave stance… and that’s not atheism.”

Frank is well known for his comedy partnership with David Baddiel - who recently wrote a book ‘The God Desire’ on why he is an atheist. Amusingly, Frank says he has refused to read the book, commenting:

“If I wanted to read the views of an atheist I can basically go into a newsagent and gather up virtually every newspaper and magazine.”

But how does a comedian square edgy and sometimes crude standup routines with churchgoing and confession? Isn’t faith just very unfashionable in the comedy circuit? Or are comedians trying to fill a God-shaped hole along with everyone else?

You can listen via podcast here or watch on video.

Agnostic historian finds evidence for Jesus

Episode 2 of the new season of Re-Enchanting featured historian and journalist Molly Worthen who converted to Christianity just last year. She was writing a profile piece on megachurch pastor JD Grear and, in the process, became persuaded to investigate the historical evidence for the resurrection.

I find stories like Molly’s intriguing, and part of a wider case for the re-enchanting of our secular world with the Christian story of reality. Do make sure to Watch or Listen to Molly’s story.

Plus we’ve just released our 3rd Episode of Season 2 - discussing Disney at 100. Two fantastic guests -Esme Partridge and Yaroslav Sky-Walker join Belle and myself.

If you haven’t yet listened Re-Enchanting is a new podcast that I co-host for Seen & Unseen in which we talk to interesting people about how to re-enchant a secular world with the Christian vision of reality. We film at Lambeth Palace Library - a wonderful London venue with a rooftop view of Big Ben and the Houses Of Parliament.

Thanks for reading! As ever, if you feel able to support me as I transition into new freelance ministry projects you can do so here either via Paypal or Patreon.