Does Religion Do More Harm Than Good: Rupert Shortt

Oundle Festival of Literature is thrilled that Rupert Shortt is coming to talk about his latest book. Rupert is the religion editor of The Times Literary Supplement. His books include Benedict XVI (2005), Christianophobia: A Faith under Attack (2012), Rowan\’s Rule: The Biography of the Archbishop (2014) and God Is No Thing: Coherent Christianity (2016). History is littered with wars and atrocities apparently inspired by religion, and today there seems no end to reports of cruelty and violence carried out in the name of God. But is it belief in God that motivates these evils? Or do they spring from other motives? At the same time, history testifies to numerous benefits to humanity brought about by religious individuals and movements. But despite these positive outcomes might it be true, as some atheists suggest, that religion in general does more harm than good? Is religion itself inherently toxic? Or could it simply be that there is good religion and there is bad religion, and we just need to learn to tell the difference? All welcome to share in this debate, details at: http://www.oundlelitfest.org.uk/events/rupert-shortt-does-religion-do-more-harm-than-good-113.html