Voice of love louder than voice of extremism

Violence in the name of God and religion often arises from the way human beings find their identity in groups, competing with one another out of sibling rivalry, but the voice of love should speak louder than the voice of extremism according to Rabbi Lord Sacks FKC, PhD alumnus and Emeritus Professor of Law, Ethics and the Bible at King's College London. Speaking at 'Not in God's Name?', a special panel event at King's earlier this week Rabbi Sacks discussed the impact of his analysis outlined in his book of the same title and the consequences for Biblical studies, Islamic Studies, research into radicalisation and extremism and social, historical and political policy making. Rabbi Sacks maintains that religion is an essential part of the solution to the problems of extremism and violence carried out in the so-called name of God, as well as being its cause. Joining Rabbi Sacks on the panel were Douglas Alexander, former Secretary of State for International Development and more recently Shadow Foreign Secretary, and now a Visiting Professor in the Policy Institute at King's, along with Dr Meg Warner, who teaches on the Old Testament and Hebrew Bible, and Dr Carool Kersten, Lecturer in Islam and the Muslim World (both of the Theology & Religious Studies Department at King's). The event, which was designed as an open forum, was introduced by the Principal, Professor Ed Byrne, and chaired by the Dean of King's College London, the Revd Canon Professor Richard Burridge, and audience members put questions to Rabbi Sacks and other panel members about his work and the issues addressed by the panel.