This chapter delves into the problems associated with religion and its alleged cruelties, emphasizing how religion is not separate but rather intertwined with various aspects of society, including politics and warfare. The hosts also touch upon the connection between pre-modern states, elite oppression, and warfare, while featuring sponsor ads for HelloFresh, NetSuite, and ShipStation.
Karen Armstrong has written over 16 books on faith and the major religions, studying what Islam, Judaism and Christianity have in common, and how our faiths have shaped world history and drive current events. She came to the Intelligence Squared stage to talk about her forthcoming book 'Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence'. Journeying from prehistoric times to the present, she contrasted medieval crusaders and modern-day jihadists with the pacifism of the Buddha and Jesus’ vision of a just and peaceful society. And she demonstrated that the underlying reasons – social, economic, political – for war and violence in our history have often had very little to do with religion. Instead, Armstrong celebrates the religious ideas and movements that have opposed war and aggression and promoted peace and reconciliation. Armstrong was in discussion with journalist and broadcaster Tom Sutcliffe.
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