Summary: <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> One of the defining narratives of the twenty-first<br> century is the threat of global terrorism. It dominates the news cycle and is<br> one of our society’s greatest fears. <br> <br> <br> <br> According to a recent Pew study,<br> Australians consider the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) as the global threat<br> they are most concerned about – 69 per cent of people responded that they were<br> “very concerned” about ISIS, ahead of climate change and the economy.<br> <br> <br> This response means that for most<br> Australians, terrorism isn’t a vague global threat that we perceive from afar –<br> it’s real, frightening and near.<br> <br> <br> In this episode, we look at how terrorism<br> affects people in our everyday lives. <br> <br> <br> Richard Shumack talks about what it’s like<br> to live alongside Muslim people and being a part of their community.<br> <br> <br> “Some people told me they hated me,”<br> Richard says. Some of the people he worked with were grateful for his<br> friendship, while others were bitter about their circumstances. Nevertheless,<br> Richard says his first response is always compassion.<br> <br> <br> Professor Greg Barton explains what’s involved in the work that’s<br> happening on the ground to counter violent extremism.<br> <br> <br> “Almost invariably, radicalisation happens through peer networks,” he<br> says. “Friendship tends to be the first thing that moves people to the ideas.” Professor<br> Barton talks about society as a whole having a ‘duty of care’ to steer young<br> Australians away from a pathway towards radicalisation and violent extremism.<br> <br> <br> To round off our conversation on terror, clinical psychologist Leisa<br> Aitken explores our greatest fear and suggests ways we can counter our<br> collective and individual anxiety around terrorism.<br> <br> <br> “Work out a way not to avoid what you’re anxious of,” Leisa says. “Every<br> time you avoid it, you send a message to yourself – I’m safe because I avoided<br> it.” With terror attacks happening in places that we visit every day – a coffee<br> shop, the airport, on a bus or train – it’s important and helpful to keep doing<br> life normally.<br> <br> <br> ---<br> <br> <br> SUBSCRIBE<br> to our podcast: <a href="http://bit.ly/lifeandfaithpodcast">http://bit.ly/lifeandfaithpodcast</a><br> <br> <br> <br> READ MORE from Richard Shumack: <a href="http://bit.ly/1nhMQfB">http://bit.ly/1nhMQfB</a> <br> <br> <br> <br> FIND OUT MORE about Professor Greg Barton’s<br> work: <a href="http://bit.ly/1S6Q43P">http://bit.ly/1S6Q43P</a> <br> <br> <br> CONNECT with Leisa Aitken: <a href="http://www.eaglepsychology.com.au">www.eaglepsychology.com.au</a> <br>
