Karen Armstrong

Karen Armstrong is a British author and one of the world's foremost commentators on religion and its role in the modern world. A former Roman Catholic nun, she left her convent and went on to become one of the most prolific and influential writers on comparative religion, producing bestselling books that span the history of faith, from the earliest human religious impulses to the fundamentalist movements of today. She was awarded the TED Prize in 2008 for her work promoting the Charter for Compassion. The Battle for God examines the rise of fundamentalism in Christianity, Judaism and Islam, tracing its roots to the modern period and arguing that fundamentalist movements are a response to the traumas of modernity rather than throwbacks to a pre-modern past. The book combines deep historical scholarship with accessible prose. Armstrong's many books and audiobooks include A History of God, The Case for God and Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life. Her work offers essential listening and reading for anyone seeking to understand religion's complex and continuing role in shaping our world.