Do We Need Religion? - Suzanne Rutland

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2008/08/19/Would_We_Be...

Suzanne Rutland, Chair of the Department of Hebrew, Biblical & Jewish Studies at the University of Sydney, argues that human beings need to belong to groups that provide altruistic and loving relationships and beliefs in higher principles - elements that, in Rutland's view, secular society alone often does not provide.

-----

While the world's religions have inspired stunning acts of creation, they also have been implicated in some of the darkest deeds in human history.

If God cannot be blamed for such moments of evil, His priests and prophets at least have a case to answer.

So what might they say? That religion is unfairly blamed -- and that we should look to other factors? Admit that there are problems but argue that on balance the good outweighs the bad? That there is no alternative; that people need religion like they need air? - Intelligence Squared

Suzanne Rutland is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Hebrew, Biblical & Jewish Studies at the University of Sydney and the main lecturer in the program of Jewish Civilization, Thought and Cultures. She has published widely on Australian Jewish history, edits the Sydney edition of the AJHS Journal, as well as writing on issues relating to the Shoah and Israel. Her latest books are The Jews in Australia and Triumph of the Jewish Spirit: Forty Years of the Jewish Communal Appeal. In January 2008 she received the Medal of the Order of Australia from the Australian Government for services to Higher Jewish Education and interfaith dialogue.

Comments : 0

No comments yet..

Add comment: (Sing Up or Log In)