The Curse and the Promise: Religion and Violence

This year the St Martin-in-the-Fields Autumn Lecture Series focuses on religion and violence, reflecting upon both how faith can become the cause and perpetrator of conflict and persecution, and also the victim.

But can our faith and our understanding of God also provide the promise for the healing of our nations? Looking from the perspective of the three Abrahamic Faiths – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – we will be inviting our guest speakers to explore these themes from their own perspectives and faith traditions.

Karen Armstrong is the author of numerous books on religious affairs including A History of God, The Battle for God, Holy War, Islam: A Short History and Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life and most recently Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence. She has also written two memoirs and her work has been translated into over fifty languages. She has addressed members of the U.S. Congress, lectured to policy makers at the U.S. State and Defence Departments, participated in the World Economic Forum, addressed the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington and New York, is an ambassador for the UN Alliance of Civilizations. She speaks regularly in Muslim countries, most notably in Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and Indonesia. In February 2008 she was awarded the TED Prize for her vision of a Charter for Compassion which is now being implemented practically, realistically and creatively in countries, cities, schools and religious communities throughout the world.