Prof. Richard English - Nationalism, Terrorism and Religion

Professor Richard English delivers a Gifford Lecture entitled 'Nationalism, Terrorism and Religion'.

Between them, nationalism, terrorism and religion have substantially shaped the modern world. From the First World War to the 9/11 Wars, from the politics of Empire to the process of decolonization, from the establishment of national states to their rivalries and dissolution, these three phenomena have done much to create what we have inherited in the twenty-first century. They are also often viewed as destructive forces. But in this lecture Professor Richard English argues that the relationship between them needs to be reconsidered, and that the grand challenges we face in regard to these forces offer room for optimism, and for positive developments if we choose to make them.

Recorded 2 March 2017 at the University of Edinburgh's Playfair Library.

[ArumesYT]

Let's address the elephant in the room here. Richard claims that we could have saved a lot more lives if those trillions of dollars were spent on other things than counter-terrorism. He also acknowledges the fact that terrorism is a minor threat compared to climate change.

There's a clear link between climate change and overpopulation. So if Richard wants to spend that money on saving more lives, he still doesn't contribute anything to that huge problem we all face. We need LESS humans, not MORE.