Karen Armstrong on Religion and the History of Violence

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Filmed at the Royal Institution of Great Britain on 1st October 2014.
Is religion is to blame for most of the bloodshed throughout human history? Many would concur, but this is a view strongly countered by Karen Armstrong, one of the world’s leading thinkers on religion and spirituality. Armstrong is the former Catholic nun who abandoned her religious creed and has described herself as a ‘freelance monotheist’, while also taking inspiration from Buddhism. She has sold hundreds of thousands of books around the world and won huge audiences for her powerful oratory in which she challenges her listeners to reappraise their prejudices about religion. She has addressed the US Congress and Senate, and as a testament to her bridge-building abilities she has filled venues across the Muslim world, including Malaysia, Turkey, Jordan, Singapore, Egypt and Pakistan where up to 5000 have come out to hear her.
She 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 celebrated the religious ideas and movements that have opposed war and aggression and promoted peace and reconciliation.

[@TehJaytius]

Interesting talk. But she seems to dodge a lot of the challenges posed to her and her assertion that life hasn't gotten any better as we've become more secular is nonsense. We have made huge strides in equality and science precisely because those who would oppose such progress can no longer use their beliefs as a justification.

[@COEXISTential]

Indeed. On the one hand she says that religion was not a separate entity, but part of life, and in effect part of politics and governance. Later she says that religion needs to be separate from politics, because all states have blood on their hands. Having in the interim said that religion is not specifically violent... but by her own words, when religion was part of the politics of the state, it must have had blood on its hands.

[@Reckless-mindfulness]

there is whole subject on this topic of sub-alternism ..that is in every human society a groups exists which have no way to communicate with masses...and they can not be represented in their original state because when a researcher approaches the target group and records the opinions, data is deformed and polluted though the process. what you said about improvement of science in secular society is not exactly a product of secular ideology but a organic process which is going on since long but got accelerated due to luxurious lives in west due to high importunity from the colonies, people had time to think and reflect more and that is why you see that science and empire always coincide...there are the example of Abbasid, and ummayds and other european powers....while also its a fact the suffering in your part of world has diminished but in many parts of the world its on the rise ..but you don't feel empathy for them because you can not see them.....in simple words your society has exported its problem to other societies and imported opportunities of those societies to home.

[@nickbreen287]

Correct, I remember all the shops being closed on Sundays, you could do nothing or go anywhere. Very glad that is over.

[@SanaullaMohammedNazrulla-zx2my]

James Lyon, I do not know ehere you live, here are some statistics of so called secular country: 23% of women report sexual assault in college, study finds Kelly Wallace-Profile-Image By Kelly Wallace, CNN Updated 8:43 AM ET, Wed September 23, 2015 Drug overdose deaths in the United States continue to increase in 2015 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose (that includes prescription opioids and heroin).Drug overdose deaths and opioid-involved deaths continue to increase in the United States. The majority of drug overdose deaths (more than six out of ten) involve an opioid.1 Since 1999, the number of overdose deaths involving opioids (including prescription opioids and heroin) quadrupled.2 From 2000 to 2015 more than half a million people died from drug overdoses. 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. We now know that overdoses from prescription opioids are a driving factor in the 15-year increase in opioid overdose deaths. Since 1999, the amount of prescription opioids sold in the U.S. nearly quadrupled,2 yet there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain that Americans report.3,4 Deaths from prescription opioids-drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone-have more than quadrupled since 1999. Gun violence in the United States results in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries annually. In 2013, there were 73,505 nonfatal firearm injuries (23.2 injuries per 100,000 U.S. citizens), and 33,636 deaths due to "injury by firearms" (10.6 deaths per 100,000 U.S. citizens).

[@markhaus]

First of all, not terribly easy to decipher what you're going for here Sanaulla, but it seems like you're awkwardly trying to establish that secularism is somehow making things worse. Regardless of what your view is, you post a single study result of 23% sexual assault in college without specifying what time period that percentage represents, or if it is an increasing or decreasing number. You don't post any kind of link or authors of the study or even a title. So I can't even read further to figure out just what it is that study discovered or in what context. You don't establish that secularism is the cause or even correlation of this number regardless of if it's getting worse or better. You also don't establish how this occurring in colleges affects the entire country. So your statistics up till now are utterly useless at establishing anything for or against your view. Then we get to your statistics on opioids and deaths by overdose of them. Again, you don't link your sources or give us any way to verify these numbers. It looks like something the CDC might say, but you don't link or explain the context of these statements so who the hell knows. You don't establish the inferred cause of the rise in opioids usage. Interestingly you seem to have copied some source material that says most of the overdoses are due to increase prescribing of prescription opioid painkillers. Nothing there suggests secularism helps or hinders the situation. One could, for just one example of many possibilities that make sense in light of that statement, that the US has an overly permissive pharmaceutical system. That's only one guess and it could well be wrong, but at least that is a guess that's actually related to the stats that you gave. On guns, you again don't link or explain the sources. You don't establish how this related to secularism making things worse over time. You don't even post stats that show how that number either increases or decreases over time. You've managed to post a bunch of copied and pasted numbers and letters from different sources and somehow not managed to make them represent anything resembling an argument. Please learn how to think critically. It's so important.

[@BooksWeCanRead]

Brilliant woman. Wish I could shut that man up though so she could speak without interruption 😫🤦‍♀️

[@PrivateAccountXSG]

As an American, I find the way you damn Brits speak to be absolutely hypnotic in A Good way

[@joedias7946]

Maybe you speak American not English.

[@cesafacamah]

What a bad interviewer, so frustrated. Interrupting so often, really bad job.

[@Erin-Thor]

He is a man. 🤣

[@coperthwaite777]

Love Karen Armstrong! Have read almost all her books. She is a brilliant educated great woman! She gives an informational overview with no bias of all religions so, someone like me can make a better informed decision.

[@TheRobdarling]

John Cowperthwaite better get more information from other sources to make those decisions.

[@madeleinecrown1596]

Agreed!

[@TheApeVine]

I remember an analysis by a marketing prof on how humans make decisions to buy a car for example....He claimed that humans primarily make an instinctive decision for emotional, self esteem reasons, it makes me feel good and then. when their neighbour askes them why they bought the car...the rationalizations appear, it a good value, has good reviews, good gas milege, high performance etc, etc. I think this underlies much of what Karen is trying to explain about religion and politics......these are simply the rationalizations people use to justify actions based on their underlying tribalism, honour, disgust or sense of injustice.

[@flounderrobinson891]

The Joan of art and insight award must go to this lady if I ever had a tangible it was on listening to her perspectives on the crusades,I'm wealthier in temperance for it.

[@osmanshh11]

She is outstanding. One likes to continue listening.

[@johndoeiii9767]

Christendom and Western Civilization's imprint on the world is so dark. The legacies and remnants still withstand to this day. Particularly in non-white communities. The fetal alcohol syndrome, the unemployment, all the addictions, the mass incarceration, the poverty, and so much more. Not only were cultures and communities disintegrated and destroyed, but so too were natural ecosystems. The expansionist zeal at the rotten core of Christendom and Western Civilization has been a plague to mother earth and her peoples. And still, they've got the nerve to call non-white peoples backward, barbaric, criminals, rapists, and terrorists. Sickeningly ironic.

[@elainehiggins713]

Humans are not good people.

[@brian177]

33:27 Armstrong says "That's what we must do now in our secular world. Create mythologies, just as they did in the best of the scriptures, right from ancient Mesopotamia, that made the people aware -- told stories and myths -- that made people aware of the profound injustice and violence that was being done to the poor and peasants." We already have those stories and myths. They're called literature. It's astounding to me that Armstrong feels that these myths and stories need to be codified as a religion for them to work.

[@Erin-Thor]

You are assuming people read and comprehend like you do. The average number of books read used to be 12 per year, now its less than one.

[@0bservationis1]

I realize this is an 8 year old comment, but I have to say that I am so relieved that someone else gets it.

[@brian177]

@@0bservationis1 Thanks buddy. I'm a little less militant in my atheism than I was 8 years ago, but I stand by this comment 100%!

[@SAFbikes]

It's very interesting how religious people will jump to defend other religious because.. they think any honest criticism about the teachings of pretty much any religion is an insult to their personal religious beliefs?

[@0bservationis1]

I am glad she brings up how most religious people did not read the books themselves, but instead they were interpreted to them by the humans designated with the authority and provided with the education to do so by those who have been in charge. hm

[@chriswhitenack5446]

She's a brilliant woman- she also gets easily annoyed if the guy doesn't jump right on board with her way of thinking- that's rather close minded and makes me take a step back from her position; people that are that easily dismissive and tbh, rather condescending in their arguments means they are more interested in being right than understanding. So, my conclusion is her "facts" are going to be tainted with bias towards her model to the point that other takes, specifically in common daily politic, have no real relevance in this discussion or any other in her field. This is disappointing, one would expect more intellectual give from a sociological standpoint. I can almost hear her mind screaming "secular bastards!" That's contradictory to her own point.

[@0bservationis1]

I would love to see a world where people don't need mythical punishment to convince them to be kind.

[@viaravialli7503]

You love the world without religion? There was no religion and God didn't like what human did to each other. So if a very gruesome mythical punishment can't convince human to be kind, what do you think will?

[@0bservationis1]

There will always be unkind people. Many of those people will act against society regardless of whether the consequences are from a government's laws or fables. Religion is a useful tool for control and that is why you see it adapted by Rome and other nations, however it also leads to a lot of death between religions and even their own denominations. Besides that religion is so open to interpretation that you can see countless cases where people do things that violate their own beliefs to they just change the interpretation. These fairytales have held back science for centuries. Why explore science if everything was made by magic. Religion has always taken away freedom and inspired violence. I don't know what will convince anyone to be kind other than empathy and everyone doesn't have it or it is selective. @@viaravialli7503

[@askingalexandriaaa]

Karen Armstrong is sophistry at its best. I learnt a few things: 1. In England there were White Catholics and Whiter Protestants 2. Armstrong went to convent for political - not religious - reasons 3. The division between Catholics and Protestants is political 4. Non-religious people have also suicide bombed, QED religion is not a cause in suicide bombing 5. Karen Armstrong is right about the need to avoid claiming to be right 6. Armstrong studied religious people from Mars. 7. The Bible says God is the same transcendence in all religions. The same one as bin Laden's. Read the Qur'an, Hadiths and history of Islam. Muslims are good people. The prophet and texts are morally horrendous and superstitious.

[@windokeluanda]

So true!

[@meanytunes]

Irritating interview - give her some space to answer ffs!

[@andygray]

A typical apologist. A complete waste of time listening to this. Especially in the light of the recent murders in Paris.

[@andrewrivera1054]

Doesn't Catholicism and Eastern orthodoxy make the distinction between secular and religious life at least nowadays like protestantism, even if the hierarchy of the churches don't like to recognize that distinction the majority of believers do, which in my mind is the important thing? I live in Massachusetts where the majority religion is Roman Catholicism yet where still one of the most secular States in America where religion and politics don't really mix. Also there's plenty of Protestants mostly American evangelicals and the places they helped evangelize that don't believe in a separation between church and state.

[@joejohnson6327]

It's ridiculous to argue that suicide bombings & other types of gruesome murders of "infidels" have nothing whatsoever to do with a widespread interpretation of Islam. 🙄

[@pepesassy2730]

I wonder why people cannot appreciate life on earth and leave the gods busy in the sky.

[@MatthewMcVeagh]

(a) because they invented the gods (b) because they are not all in the sky, that's a post-Christian bias - many original gods were in the Earth.

[@Erin-Thor]

@@MatthewMcVeagh - Ever think it could all be distilled down to a simple belief in a higher power?

[@MatthewMcVeagh]

@@Erin-Thor I don't think that's why some people can't appreciate life on Earth.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Now reading her book "The Battle For God". She is among the smartest women I've read.

[@craigthurlow9308]

You OBVIOUSLY haven’t met many🤪

[@brahimakante4614]

Mostly woman are very smart, but they need more space love freedom.

[@rationalbeing5848]

She is honest with her Knowledge

[@futureZbright]

Caldeism? What is this thing called Caldeism. Google is remarkably sparse on this word, although it shows up quoted in Inside the Vatican as though it's a current, known thing? Anyone know any relevant sources?

[@pimwiersinga8822]

Lucretius (99 - 55 BC) has the word 'religio' in his magnificent poem -- as something to be condemned: it leads to evil deeds. Now Lucretius' term will differ in some nuances to what we mean by 'religion'; obviously, it has no connection with the Protestant creed. even so, it is clearly connected to all religious practices he had knowledge of. So I don't think Armstrong is being quite honest here, even if I appreciate her reassessment of the dominant narrative of the Crusades -- to some extent.

[@JaguarRonin]

Armstrong isn't describing secularism. She is describing totalitarian ideology (calling it secularism).

[@UniversalBrother108]

"Vanity Fair" ...nuff said

[@Johnnydazguy]

Basically, Armstrong's belief is that nothing bad can be associated with religion and she's going to ignore the mountain of evidence to the contrary. Considering that she doesn't believe in an afterlife, what is the point of all her sophistry?

[@Beastinvader]

+John Campbell She just wants to have her cake and eat it too. She doesn't like violence. She obviously a pacifist. She is also spiritual. So how to combine those three things with reality? By making up her own complete, inconsistent second tier philosophy.

[@MatthewMcVeagh]

She actually gave several examples of things associated with religion that she thinks are bad.

[@Critic224]

We don't know what we will do without our pet hate! We don't know what to do without them! What a line..... !!!!!!!!

[@0bservationis1]

An idol is "worshipping a human" but an icon is different.. well an icon is still just a man made idea. Religion helps make dying for your cause much easier if you think there is reward or no end.

[@Fot113]

I’m doing research on religion and violence based on the art works of al farrow

[@billwalkerable]

Please help America, Mithra. You can do it.

[@Sagefrakrobatik]

LOL I forgot about Cao Daoism

[@KerrieFoleyBates]

Love Armstrong's message. Have to say it seams ironic behind a podium touting VANITY FAIR as a media partner... Vanity Fair seams all that is wrong with our culture... a celebration of greed, ostentation, parading a complete lack of compassion....

[@Erin-Thor]

Gee, and here I thought it was an inspiring magazine about leading a better life. Something we should all aspire to.

[@Beastinvader]

Throughout the whole video, regardless of the religion she is mentioning, she is confusing the impact of the religion for the truth value of it. Let's say that there is a god who is evil and want you to rape and murder and pillage. That would lead to chaos. But the chaos wouldn't mean that there isn't a god since a god "should" be this or that. We should be careful not to confuse our conceptions of how we want things to be, or the type of god we want to have, with how things are, or the type of god that IS.

[@bigy4360]

+Beastinvader Exactly. That's the main thing to be said about Karen Armstrong and the religious left. Religion is an earthly thing for them. Armstrong is always talking about redistributing wealth and making every religion equally to blame and equally special. And any "Christian" who believes that the Gospels are a subjective mythos but is still a "Christian" is just political. All I care about is the theological truth of our relationship with God. You can find a lot through philosophical reasoning and life experience -nothing "self indulgent" about that.

[@Beastinvader]

Frank Theodore I couldn't have said it better. They miss the point which is Christ. If you are one to read, read G. K. Chesterton's The Everlasting Man (it's in the public domain). It is extremely unique and in one chapter he gives a good critique of the notion of comparing religions, as though they are always the same. Anyway, God bless.

[@bigy4360]

Thank you. I will read it this summer. Same to you.

[@spearhead5940]

The last question is briliant. sharia law ( islamic law) believes that entire land belongs to muslims and they have to wage a war whenever they are strong to either wipe out others or bring them into their fold. Muhamed himself was atrocious if you see when his first wife passed away.and he goes to madina. In mecca also, he is talking with benign political correctness. Ayan hirsi ali of AGHA explains it in detail .

[@flounderrobinson891]

I believe in the idea of transcendental theory through my bones came an everlasting heart and soul I have this by having a faith so that's my truths even so,even though I respect what you say/why should I compromise a poet for a thief I don't think so.

[@ec1385]

This is a prime example of overstating your case. She sounds like the people who say the American Civil War had nothing to do with slavery.

[@walawsome9244]

Religion means way of life

[@Bssese]

What is cow die ism tho?

[@gardenerr.o.m7828]

When people of the book speaking on real historical facts.

[@philodonoghue3062]

No notes!

[@yasernor1202]

INSIGHTFUL

[@carriesing]

Yaser Nor is

[@birditrem4563]

Karen missed the theme. She should have spoken about the christian crusades, about Inquisition, the war of 30 years in Europe etc. And especially: from 376 a.c. all people in the roman empire were forced to convert to christianity if they did not want to loose their heads.

[@philodonoghue3062]

Margaret MacMillan is the other academic whose work on humanity and war is well worth cross-reference with Armstrong

[@JAYDUBYAH29]

"Our theology is weak because we don't realize that god is merely a symbol of transcendence..." As if somehow the vast majority of religious folks on the planet don't have a literalist supernatural faith. As if a western postmodern Joseph Campbell influenced intellectual and academic mysticism is the norm amongst those in societies that have yet to benefit from this specifically post enlightenment perspective... She condescendingly castigated secular westerners for not having a sophisticated enough concept of religion while letting the extremists, fundamentalists and ordinary believers off the hook..... Bizarre.

[@JAYDUBYAH29]

Ooooh let her just keep going on about religion being like swimming or driving and not about being right, and commitment to a specific religion not being about thinking it is right, or her expression of ideas here not being a claim to being right.... How do people so smart and educated become so muddled?

[@JungleJargon]

Separation of church and state is to keep the state out of the church.

[@janrc]

Not enough, it is also to keep the church out of the state!

[@JungleJargon]

Jan Lolling The state is run by the people that go to church and whatever else there is.

[@lebo3793]

Secular myth is theory of evolution

[@tajbibishamim8085]

When the Len holder of religious scripture use microphone and loud spear on high volume on the gathers who are with weave and tired workers who easily get aroused. I have seen this with my husband who gave away all his savings into charity.

[@ForcedRejection]

I like hearing Progressive Christians, but I would like to know one YES-NO question Immediately From Each One...for them to answer.... before I listen to them. Yes or No, is Jesus Christ our Savior? (A) "Yes he is, and i have progressive viewpoints on other things" -OR- (B) "No, im just into Christianity because Jesus taught some good stuff, and there are other paths that work jeust as well" I want to an answer to the TWO-Multiple-Choice Question for each Progressive Christian. Is it A or B? Each Progressive Christian must answer, A or B, im not searching through their books to find out if its A or B or them being ambiguous about A or B. They shoudl all answer on the first page of their books, A or B?????

[@luckyman1829]

Wait Neil Armstrong had a daughter named Karen

[@Erin-Thor]

When you wrote this “has” would have been appropriate. Now you are correct, he passed last week.

[@gigapedia38]

strange and disappointingly misunderstanding of all the religions she writes about!

[@JAYDUBYAH29]

"The afterlife is a bad religious idea" yes, precisely..... And the basis for all religious belief. You are the classic example of someone no longer intellectually able to be religious but also psychologically unable to completely let it go. Split down the middle and critical of those who have come to a more complete movement forward.

[@marioricomeza2839]

Jews don't believe in the after life. The shinto faith usually doesn't talk about the afterlife, because it's a bad place, and that's exactly why most funerals in Japan are Buddhist, where the Indian idea of recycling your soul comes into place. Which isn't really the afterlife so much as another life you have to live, where you'll be just as miserable as you are right now, reading this reply, without a doubt suffering as everyone else does. And I think she's okay with secular people, as long as they're not hounding on religious people. Because the hounding's just a sign of the ego man. Beware the ego son.

[@JAYDUBYAH29]

***** well, a more integrated, existentially honest embrace of our mortality is for me a more sustainable spirituality. less deluded, more compassionately engaged -a move forward away from untenable beliefs that can only be protected by dishonesty and denial.

[@JAYDUBYAH29]

***** i appreciate you wanting to discuss and am open to hearing more from you on your ideas and assertions here. while some of my language may seem aggressive, i am not intending to offend, merely to clarify and identify -though i will admit to finding the types of arguments folks like armstrong make quite frustrating in what i see as their willful dishonesty and sophisticated tap dancing. my central point is this: belief in an afterlife is a psychological defense against facing what we are: mortal biological organisms. when someone we love dies: whether they are a dog, cat, horse, pet snake, human child or adult -they are in fact dead. gone. there is no immaterial essence that somehow continues in any meaningful sense. this will happen to each of us as well. accepting this is part of growing up emotionally. belief in an afterlife requires then that the body is a temporary shell for some kind of immaterial soul, this then sets up a tension between the mortal, animal, sexual body, and some more pure, eternal, asexual soul or spirit. this is deeply related to so much of the suffering we see in every outdated tradition and it's unskillful ways of dealing with sexuality in particular -both vilifying healthy and natural sex, as well as non heteronormative sex, and unwittingly creating pockets of safe haven for serial abusers who pretend to be celibate. we see the threads of this in things like the catholic pedophile priest scandal as well as in the harsh edicts of radical islam with regard to women, gays and sex in general. there even was a case recently of a hindu guru who ordered 400 of his male followers to be castrated so as to supposedly have direct contact with god! even in the classical yoga tradition there is the "mortification of the flesh" in order to demonstrate one's disidentifying with the material body. in many cases this includes various forms of damage to one's genitals too.. the dualism between body and soul necessary for a proposed and promised afterlife make us susceptible then to grand narratives about the metaphysical purpose of life, how we are either granted or denied eternal life, what the immaterial and eternal overseer of this narrative wants from us in terms of how we behave etc.. the psychological/emotional power of these beliefs is very powerful and is central to the religious wars, sectarian conflicts, crusades, inquisitions we have seen again and again, based on who's particular holy book has the correct version of such unfalsifiable claims. how many suicide bombers do we really think are not convinced they are merely stepping through a doorway into a paradise beyond this fallen world, as they advance the cause of god's true wishes for humanity being enacted? it also then opens the door to believing in ghosts, demons, angels, evil spirits and by extension in the charlatans who claim knowledge of and communication with such supposed beings. in general the afterlife is a very bad, completely un-evidenced, existentially dishonest, disadvantaging idea, which then requires intellectual dishonesty to protect, inevitably leading to a lot of impenetrable confusion about science, psychology and philosophy -and, i suggest, hamstringing spirituality from becoming more integrated and mature. what i am proposing is that there is a way to perhaps think of an adult, integrated spirituality as being rooted in truthfulness, in penetrating our self-deluded beliefs and perceptions, and becoming more free, more resilient, more alive and awake to the preciousness of our lives in the context of death and a universe that is vast and lacking in any meaning except that which we create for ourselves. my thesis here is that the idea of an afterlife is a problematic red herring that throws us off track on living a meaningful life by confusing us into thinking this has something to do with what happens after you die, and an imaginary context for human life that is simply nonsensical and untrue.

[@JAYDUBYAH29]

***** thanks for chatting. not sure which assertion you are asking to see evidence for, so i'll leave that alone for now... creating a psychological/philosophical argument doesn't necessarily require evidence to be coherent and logically consistent. this is especially the case when no claims are being made that rely on supernatural agency or entities. a little thing called occam's razor comes in quite handy in this regard! i also usually hear that "what evidence do you have" retort as a way of setting up a straw man caricature of someone expressing a science-informed worldview. a transparent maneuver designed to try and show how perhaps evidence itself is suspect, or that it doesn't apply to religion etc... by pouncing on every statement as if by the atheist's own standards they should also be rejected as not being evidence-based. this is usually an attempt to undermine statements about the lack of evidence for supernatural faith -as if all claims/assertions are somehow equally requiring of evidence. that then ends up being an epistemological quagmire that abdicates all common sense and intellectual honesty. personally i also find the supposed mechanistic/materialist vs idealist/quasi-supernaturalist dichotomy to be a false one and a red herring. we can be mortal biological organisms in evolutionary relationship with all other life, with a complex emergent capacity for meaning, conscious experience, emotional bonds, compassion etc, without any recourse to paranormal phenomena or literalized myth. relinquishing supernaturalism does not imply that life is not meaningful, consciousness is not remarkable, or an inner life is not possible -it just all exists in the context of reality rather than make believe. but i am not sure we have much more to discuss beyond this, as we are largely speaking different languages. bottom line for me: a spirituality that integrates effectively with modern scientific knowledge and existential psychological honesty is more sustainable, healthy and beneficial to humanity than the attempt to wring meaning out of iron age tests written by superstitious, uneducated people from another culture. mythic images and poetry remain fascinating to me, but in the context of a grounded sense of the reality of being human in a universe made of matter and energy.

[@JAYDUBYAH29]

***** the fact that life is harder for you since adopting a religious worldview has no impact on my observation that choosing to believe in an afterlife is a way of denying death, or that believing that there is an eternal immaterial overseer who is guiding what happens for some higher purpose is a way of trying to manage our distaste for and fear about injustice, randomness and unfairness that are unfortunately part of life.

[@ElChicleSeMePego]

Maybe one way to explain the secularism better is, when politics and religion are one, it kinda just feels like morals - throughout society - one level, that everyone's on. 😂

[@johndoeiii9767]

What

[@BooksWeCanRead]

Oh my god he irritates me so much. No one is here to hear from you stop interrupting her for Gods sake. Ask the question and let her answer.

[@minhaaj]

What a mish mash of truth and falsehood? There is no theological difference between Shia and Sunnis? What a mouthful!

[@inaguluyux]

She’s talking about the beginning, the difference was just pure political, it was just disagreement of who gonna lead the nation.

[@willywombi]

It's the person who commits violence not the religion, if the person has violence in them they will find whatever motivates them to be violent. Islam's core teachings ARENOT violent. Islam is in the firing line as us Muslims are unsensible. Modern western world is where it is because it's UNCHRISTIAN. ANCIENT ISLAM was far more modern than most modern Muslim countries today. Modern in fair education,culture,art,architecture,women's rights and so on. England in the 1400s is grim, islamic world of the same era is blooming . why? the Muslims were not today's Muslims for sure. England of the 1400s and so soon was based on Christianity. Go figure!

[@xxBlackBryonyxx]

This is such a good point. Some people use religion to live a good life, others use it to justify their violence. And everyone claims their interpretation is the 'right' and 'just' one

[@darkgrayred2710]

You are the money makers and one with technology make stuff happen.why preach it do something about it grow a pair.and do it

[@Erin-Thor]

She is. She is trying to enlighten others. Education IS doing something.

[@boomerdoomer7534]

*Insert metal metal memes nOw!!!*

[@berrissoulbelaid]

Praise God for the blessing of Islam and Islam is the religion of God Praise God for the blessing of Islam and Islam is the religion of God

[@MatthewMcVeagh]

Interesting that Karen's never heard of Caodaism. Oh well, you can't have everything - she's still a brilliant, compassionate, tenacious scholar and witness.

[@pauluspauli5774]

Look at communism: the Manifest of Marx. It is a wonderful book: all men are equal, all men should share their part of what they have generated. The book condems exploitation etc. Communism is a wonderful approach to solve our problems - but has it done yet? Religions are a wonderful approach to solve our problembs - but has it done yet?

[@Critic224]

PAULUS Pauli and Atheism is also a wonderful book/idea/ideal But has it solved any problems ?

[@pauluspauli5774]

Critic224 Atheism solves problems everyday - religions have never solved a problem. Satelites f.e. help to produce more food and to find new resources. If scientists would believe in a caring god, they would to nothing. 99% of western cientists think religion is bulshit and does not help to solve any human problems.

[@elsabahnur3019]

+PAULUS Pauli doing things faster is not solving problems or helping people...nor do I believe technology increases life expectancy..... no problem that matters has been solved

[@bobsaturday4273]

PAULUS Pauli "Atheism solves problems everyday" you farting idiot are you really that stupid and brainwashed ?

[@birditrem4563]

Bob Saturday The idiot is surely you to believe in fairytales. Wake up and become a real human being who think hinself without the help of lunatics who teach religion as science.

[@areciboKCK]

Just finished reading "God is not Great", I cannot begin to imagine how Hitchens would react to this! Dawkins and Krauss too!

[@monitoradiation]

I envision the word "bullocks" to be used with some frequency.

[@jithinsunny1323]

So bold. hats off

[@danger_noodle_snek1113]

SPROET

[@brianscates5225]

SUBTITLES please; not everybody can hear well and it helps non-English speakers understand too - auto-generated into many languages - is that not feasible? I cannot listen to this interesting lecture now; thanks for that.

[@Free12609]

Mind your garden and we will live in the jungle

[@davidmacfarlane3376]

P

[@marvelcomiks8078]

20 years ago, Karen Armstrong would probably be able to fool alot of people. But these days, everyone knows how violence and terror is CONNECTED inextricably to Islam. Everyone knows you cannot have 300 idols destroyed except 1 to escape idolatry. That 1 remaining entity remains an idol, and the people remain idol worshippers.

[@BenETaylor]

What a waste of time.

[@sharonlee8070]

This is BS👎 Killing in the name of God is the worse sin that will not be forgiven

[@johndoeiii9767]

Precisely. Why kill an innocent man on a Roman cross in order to be able to be forgiving and merciful. Makes zero sense.

[@NameRequiredSoHere]

I really wanted her to convince me that religion could be a force for good, but despite all the erudition, ultimately the talk was a series of "No true Scotsman" fallacies: No TRUE Muslim would condone violence.... No TRULY religious person takes scripture LITERALLY... Terrorists start off quoting the Quran but then wander into politics than back to the Quran. So you see their terrorism REALLY about religion... And get this one: TRUE Religion isn't REALLY about belief... Uh-huh. I wouldn't be surprised to hear her say, "And when I see a spade, I am looking at something one should most definitely not call a 'spade'...."

[@NameRequiredSoHere]

NameRequiredSoHere I meant to write "their terrorism ISN'T really about religion." Mea culpa.

[@SamsungGalaxy-nd6po]

In the Name of Allah.The Most Benificent,The Most Mercifull All Praise is due to Allah.Lord of All World(s). The Most Benificient,The Most Mercifull. Lord of the Day of Judgement. We only Worship the Lord and we only Ask Him for Help. Guide us to the Straight Path. Not the Path of those who Inflict your Anger. Nor those on the Path of Dis-illusions. Quran Chapter One Al Fatiha(The Opening). The Creator is the All Loving.

[@Beastinvader]

+Samsung01, so?

[@SamsungGalaxy-nd6po]

Beastinvader So

[@h.ashrafi9586]

Her name is Karen and she actually has a Karen haircut LMAO

[@tobiasrodrigues1]

I thought I was going to hear a good argument against religion is the greatest cause of conflict. She really has weak arguments as she ignores obvious facts.

[@tenoroyal]

complete bunk!

[@perfectraceway]

BS.

[@Erin-Thor]

Trumpet I’m guessing?

[@andrewdomenitzdmd]

This woman is delusional.

[@dis4980]

she is the biggest excuse maker on the planet.

[@berrissoulbelaid]

Praise God for the blessing of Islam and Islam is the religion of God Praise God for the blessing of Islam and Islam is the religion of God

[@pepesassy2730]

berrissoul belaid , sure it is!