The violence of our times

 

This first Signs of the Times talk explores ‘Moses as a war criminal’ and ‘cosmic child abuse atonement’. How does religion sanction violence, for whom, and at what spiritual cost?

Sometime in the future, someone will write a history of our fair islands. In it, the name Alastair McIntosh will be given special mention. Here is a man who coordinated the campaign to wrestle control of the Isle of Lewis away from its feudal landlords to give power back to the people, before going on to prevent a company turning the Isle of Harris into the largest open-cast mine in Europe. A poet, singer, trickster and theologian his latest book Hell or High Water takes the imperative to act on climate change to a deeper, richer level, while his current work with young people on the estates of Govan – using ancient crafts to reconnect them with the land – keeps his high ideas rooted firmly in reality. A unique spirit not to be missed.

Alastair McIntosh