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Karen Armstrong: Charter for Compassion
As she accepts her 2008 TED Prize, author and scholar Karen Armstrong talks about how the Abrahamic religions -- Islam, Judaism, Christianity -- have been diverted from the moral purpose they share to foster compassion. But Armstrong has seen a yearning to change this fact. People want to be religious, she says; we should act to help make religion a force for harmony. She asks the TED community to help her build a Charter for Compassion -- to help restore the Golden Rule as the central global religious doctrine.
Jul 17, 2008 11:41 AM
Re: Karen Armstrong: Charter for Compassion
Compassion and sympathy come from human nature and I'm sick of religions taking the credit for it like they invented it.
By: derogatory
Re: Karen Armstrong: Charter for Compassion
I totally agree with you there mate. But you do see these religious folk saying they are compassionate they "claim" it was their religion, then damn other people for being homosexual or athiest etc. Where has their compassion gone when they see that ?
By: D3NIS
Re: Karen Armstrong: Charter for Compassion
I wonder what Richard Dawkins would say on this subject. He certainly is against religion causing violence, but could he oppose this approach if it encourages religion?
By: hypersapien
Re: Karen Armstrong: Charter for Compassion
I can appreciate the intent here but the simplistic idealism on display is really quite overwhelming.
If the core of religion is the golden rule, then the core of humanity is each individual doing what they think is right, and compassion is only one tiny piece of an endless equation. Expecting humans to love each other unconditionally is like expecting lions to become vegetarians.
You can't pretend they're something they're not. Be a little realistic about it.
If the core of religion is the golden rule, then the core of humanity is each individual doing what they think is right, and compassion is only one tiny piece of an endless equation. Expecting humans to love each other unconditionally is like expecting lions to become vegetarians.
You can't pretend they're something they're not. Be a little realistic about it.
By: Chewbot
