As a historian, surely you value British heritage and the manicured countryside. Yet my economists friends tell me we need millions more homes in southern England. What's your view? Well, I'm not an economist, so you will have a much more informed view on this. And I hate the impoverishment of our wildlife, of our biodiversity. If we had the space that you have in America, growth might be much easier than it's proving to be. So that sets up for us a very painful decision about what matters more: economic growth, economic success or the sustaining of the countryside?"
Historian Tom Holland joined Tyler to discuss in what ways his Christianity is influenced by Lord Byron, how the Book of Revelation precipitated a revolutionary tradition, which book of the Bible is most foundational for Western liberalism, the political differences between Paul and Jesus, why America is more pro-technology than Europe, why Herodotus is his favorite writer, why the Greeks and Persians didn’t industrialize despite having advanced technology, how he feels about devolution in the United Kingdom and the potential of Irish unification, what existential problem the Church of England faces, how the music of Ennio Morricone helps him write for a popular audience, why Jurassic Park is his favorite movie, and more.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.
Recorded February 1st, 2023
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Photo credit: Sadie Holland