Karen Armstrong on Religion and the History of Violence, Royal Institution

Is religion the root cause of violence, conflict and suffering? Karen Armstrong thinks not.

As a former nun, who left the strict doctrines of catholicism for a more mystical sort of spirituality, Armstrong offers a fascinating perspective on the concept of faith. She has since carved out an illustrious career writing 16 books considering the nature of religion. Her work centres on the idea of all world religion being united by an underlying preoccupation with compassion. Having penned acclaimed studies including The History of God , A Case for God,  she is well equipped to give a broad and detailed argument on the relationship between religion and violence throughout history and today.

After being lauded with a TED prize ("awarded to an extraordinary individual with a creative and bold vision to spark global change") Armstrong established a Charter for Compassion, which has over 55,000 signatures, induing that of the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu. 

Armstrong is an engaging and thought-provoking speaker, who has filled auditoriums, lecture halls and government offices all across the globe. Regardless of your own views on this thorny issue, the over-arching doctrine around which Armstrong bases her thesis is captivating. All her expertise and experience boils down to the beautifully simple, single 'Golden Rule' of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". It will eye-opening to hear how Armstrong's rule can be related to a history of violence.