Nomad: Not-So-Religious Thoughts on Faith, Doubt, and the Journey In Between

by Brandan J. Robertson

Go Beyond the Boundaries of Religion

Does your spiritual journey include wandering from place to place, denomination to denomination, church to church? If so, we invite you to join in the Nomad journey.

Often in Christianity, wandering is seen as negative. ‘Wandering’ can be seen as veering off the ‘narrow path’ and headed for destruction.

But what if wandering was your key to experiencing God in brand new ways?

In Nomad, Brandan Robertson invites you to embrace wandering as evidence that the untamable Spirit is drawing you into a deeper, richer faith than ever before.

While many feel condemned or disconnected for wandering, Nomad leads spiritual seekers on a liberating journey that recaptures the vastness and awe of faith. It opens the ‘un-churched’ up to a God whose greatness can’t be contained by man-made buildings. And for the ‘religiously unaffiliated,’ you might just see your journey, hear your voice and identify your struggles in the pages ahead.

To all the Nomads—it’s time to discover a faith without borders!

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2015

About the author

Rev. Brandan Robertson is a noted author, activist, and public theologian, working at the intersections of spirituality, sexuality, and social renewal. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, serving as the Pastor of Sunnyside Reformed Church in New York City and is the founder and Executive Director of DevOUT, a non-profit challenging far-right religious narratives in both digital and traditional media. He’s widely known as the "TikTok Pastor", with a vast digital reach of nearly 350k followers and 10 million views engaging his inclusive theological content across social media. His sermons can also be heard weekly on Star.FM in various states across the country.

A passionate writer, Robertson has authored, edited, or contributed to over twenty-seven books on spirituality, justice, and theology. Notably, his book "True Inclusion: Creating Communities of Radical Embrace" was recognized as an INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalist. His writings have appeared in the pages of esteemed publications like TIME Magazine, The Huffington Post, NBC, and The Washington Post. He’s currently a columnist for Baptist News Global and for Bishop John Shelby Spong’s Progressing Spirit Newsletter. As a prominent voice in progressive faith discussions, his insights are regularly featured across global media outlets such as CNN, NPR, MSNBC, and The Washington Post. In acknowledgment of his significant influence, Rolling Stone Magazine listed him in its 2021 “Hot List” spotlighting top creatives shaping the future.

Annually, Robertson's sought-after perspective takes him to prestigious platforms like The White House, Westminster Abbey, Oxford University, and The Parliament of World Religions. He's taught seminars for institutions such as the San Francisco Theological Seminary, The Lakelands Institute, Disciples Seminary Foundation, and The Wisdom Centre (Canada). Robertson has also been an honored member of many vital advisory committees for entities like the Democratic National Convention, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In 2020, he was named a Fellow of the Salzburg Global Seminar and in 2023 was named a Senior Digital Ministry Fellow of Convergence.

A stalwart champion for LGBTQ+ rights, the Human Rights Campaign lauded him as a top faith-leader fervently advancing LGBTQ+ equality. His tireless efforts encompass collaboration with global political figureheads and activists to eradicate conversion therapy and advocate for the rights of sexual and gender minorities. In 2024, the LGBTQ+ Religious Archives Network honored Robertson for his prophetic leadership for queer inclusion in the Christian Church. Robertson is also a part of the Red Letter Christians Leaders Network, is a founding member of The Union of Affirming Christians, a Patron of One Body, One Faith (UK), and an advisor for The Center for Progressive Christianity, LOVEBoldly, and The Global Interfaith Commission on LGBTQ+ Lives.

In his academic pursuits, Robertson acquired a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute, an Master of Theological Study from Iliff School of Theology, and an Master of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration from Eastern Illinois University. He's presently pursuing a PhD in Biblical Studies at Drew University. He currently resides in New York City.

Reviews

[Alexander Steward · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are all on a spiritual journey whether we want to admit it or not. Brandan Robertson takes us on his. Within each journey, we have the opportunity to learn from one another and it is in that community and relationships are built. His story is one of wonder and encourages us to wander. A great read for those in touch with their own journeys and those that are still skeptic.

[David Bowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me some time to finish this book. In the end it was worth it. The author is an inspired and inspiring man who has had his challenges.

He is come out the other side with amazing faith and a real skill in expressing it.

Well worth the read!

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea. I understand everything that he was trying to get acrossed, but it just didn't resonate well with me.

[Rich Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brandan Robertson is wise beyond his years. In Nomad, Brandan shares his courageous spiritual journey of wandering. We learn that to truly experience God we need to wander. Brandan also challenges us to wonder, which for him is synonymous with worship. Let me briefly share some key points that I particularly enjoyed. I think you will too.

“My faith doesn’t end my search; it inspires it. It amps up my curiosity and whets my appetite for discovering what God is doing in and through the world each and every day.” Brandan is on a journey. He wants to know who this God is and what this God is up to in this world. I agree! I too want to search. I must explore. I need to move out of my comfort zone. Brandan mentions that Jesus pushed his followers to move beyond their comfort zones. We serve a God that is on the move and He wants us to move with Him.

Love is powerful! Hate divides. “Love is what has the power to bring divided groups together.” We need to release our fear and scapegoating tendencies. “At the cross, Jesus revealed to us the way to deal with our fear and our impulse to scapegoat those who look, think, act, or worship differently – release it.” We must model what Jesus did. Jesus released all of these tendencies. Jesus taught that there is a new and better way: love, forgiveness and mercy.

“Most of us didn’t participate in small traditional practices like gathering around a common table for dinner each evening.” We have lost this. When I was young our family sat at the table each night. I now have my own family. We do sit at the table but it is not every night. We need to get back to this. It is important. Why? It holds us together. We share. We laugh. We cry. We enjoy each other’s presence. My family has five members. At the table a fifth member joins us, God.

“On this journey of faith, having a place of belonging and a people to walk alongside us are essential.” This is vital. We need to feel loved. We need a safe place where we can express ourselves. Each one of us is at different place on our journey. We can learn from each other. We can help each other. We can grow together.

“So when God calls us to be holy, we’re being called to embrace our ‘True Selves,’ the authentic Being God originally created us to be.” God created each one of us to bear His image. God certainly created diversity. Take a look all around you. We should feel free to express who we are and what we want to do. We are not what the world tells us to be or do. We must let our true selves shine and be expressed in this world. Brandan shines his true self!

“Time and time again, we find Jesus fleeing the crowds of people who followed after him to spend time communing with God in prayer and meditation.” I complement my verbal prayer with silent prayer. My silent prayer practice is centering prayer. Like Jesus, I need this time in silence with God. Silence teaches me who I am. Silence teaches me how to live. We can have union with God. “This radical notion of union with Christ has been lost in the Western Church today.” It does not need to be lost! We need to bring it back.

“Western Christianity has forgotten the truth of the incarnation, that God put on flesh in the person of Jesus and continues to reincarnate himself in the hearts of his children.” Just as Jesus is at once God and human, we are both human and divine beings with a little “d”. God is within each one of us and patiently waits to be shared with the world.

Like Brandan mentions, I too want to wander and seek God, patiently, courageously and openly. “I will continue to wander, seeking for God wherever he is to be found. Patiently. Courageously. With Openness.” I highly encourage you to read Brandan’s book. I do not think you will be disappointed.

Rich Lewis
silenceteaches.com

[Doug Houck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a timely read for me as the author challenged me to look at faith as a journey. I'd be raised in a tradition that taught it was something to be mastered.

[Jb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped me to take a look at my own faith journey. Of several phrases which stood out:
"When we live our lives with our eyes wide open, looking for God's presence in each and every moment, good or bd, we will live lives of peace. Lives filled with purpose. Lives filled with wonder." Brandan used his own live story well, to illustrate the steps and obstacles in the journey.

[Bolu Akindele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Brandan is brilliant. I had so many markings in this book which means I enjoyed and was able to engage with the book very well. I wished I had read it earlier though; at a time where my faith was crumbling. But reading it now has helped cement some of my growing thoughts about spirituality, religion and faith in the world.

[Sarah Bereza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this: "As we go about our exploring, it can be easy to think that because there is no church or group of people who see things exactly as we do that we're better off going at it alone. ... But when we disconnect from community, we miss out on the richness a diversity of perspective can bring, and find ourselves growing weary and alone."

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book took me a while to read it, I like to put books down and pick them up or leave them in my luggage to read while I am traveling. This one I will read again, with a highlighter in hand next time - so many excellent points and quotes of lasting value to re-visit.