Karen Armstrong: 2008 TED Prize wish: Charter for Compassion

Summary

The speaker, a former convent member and now a prominent voice in religious studies, shares her journey from disengagement with religion to becoming a leading figure in interfaith dialogue. She emphasizes the importance of compassion and the Golden Rule as central to all major world religions, rather than mere belief in dogma. The speaker calls for a global movement, a Charter for Compassion, to reclaim the true essence of religion and promote peace. She envisions this charter, inspired by the Golden Rule and crafted by leaders from the Abrahamic traditions, to be a guide for interpreting religious texts with a focus on empathy and action, aiming to counteract the misuse of religion for violence and division.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker initially had no interest in writing or religion, but a series of unexpected events led to a career in television and a renewed engagement with religious studies.
• 🔄 After leaving a convent and avoiding religion for 13 years, the speaker found themselves exploring religious traditions, including Judaism and Islam, and realizing the deep connections between them.
• 🤔 The concept of 'belief' has evolved over time; originally meaning to love or hold dear, it later narrowed to mean intellectual assent to a set of religious propositions.
• 🌟 Religion is more about behaving differently and committing to action rather than merely believing in certain doctrines, which are meant to be summons to action.
• ❤️ Compassion is a central theme across all major world faiths and is considered the pathway to experiencing the divine or the transcendent.
• 📜 The Golden Rule, a principle of reciprocity, is a fundamental guideline in many religious traditions and is seen as a way to achieve moral and spiritual growth.
• 🚫 The speaker criticizes the misuse of religion for political means, terrorism, and to justify violence, stressing that these are human failures, not inherent aspects of religion.
• 🌍 The speaker calls for a broadening of compassion beyond one's own group to all of humanity, including enemies and strangers, as a true expression of religious conviction.
• 📉 The speaker dispels the myth that religion is the cause of major wars, instead pointing to political reasons and human nature as the root causes.
• 🌱 There is a global yearning for change and a return to the core principles of compassion and the Golden Rule within religious practices.
• 📝 The speaker proposes the creation of a Charter for Compassion, based on the Golden Rule, as a means to unite people across different religious traditions and promote peace.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial career aspiration after leaving the convent?

The speaker initially wanted to be an English literature professor and did not aspire to be a writer or be involved in religion.

How did the speaker's career path change after a series of career catastrophes?

After facing career catastrophes, the speaker found herself in television, where she started doing controversial religious programs.

What was a significant realization the speaker had during her time in Jerusalem?

The speaker realized the profound connection between the three major faiths - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - and that she knew very little about these faiths despite her religious background.

How did the speaker's understanding of the concept of 'belief' change through her studies?

The speaker discovered that the modern emphasis on belief as intellectual assent to a set of propositions is a relatively recent development. Originally, 'belief' meant to love, prize, or hold dear, and was more about commitment and engagement.

According to the speaker, what is the core of religion and how is it best understood?

The speaker believes that the core of religion is behaving differently, and it is best understood when one puts religious doctrines into practice, with compassion being a central aspect of this practice.

Why does the speaker argue that the Golden Rule is central to all major world faiths?

The speaker argues that the Golden Rule is central because it encourages a behavior that fosters compassion and understanding, which in turn leads to a sense of unity and connection with the divine.

What is the speaker's view on the current state of religion in the world?

The speaker views that religion has been hijacked and misused for nefarious gains, often being associated with violence and division, rather than its intended purpose of promoting harmony and compassion.

What is the speaker's proposal to address the misuse of religion?

The speaker proposes the creation of a Charter for Compassion, crafted by inspirational thinkers from the three Abrahamic traditions, based on the fundamental principle of the Golden Rule, to guide the interpretation of religious texts and promote peace.

How does the speaker suggest we should move beyond the idea of toleration?

The speaker suggests moving towards appreciation of the other, emphasizing the importance of compassion and understanding as a means to overcome the horror and fear associated with those deemed as enemies.

What is the speaker's wish for the Charter for Compassion?

The speaker wishes for the Charter for Compassion to be launched and propagated globally, with the aim of being present in every college, church, mosque, and synagogue, to help people reclaim their faith and make religion a source of peace.

How does the speaker plan to ensure the Charter for Compassion is not seen as a Western or Christian initiative?

The speaker plans to collaborate with the Alliance of Civilizations at the United Nations to provide neutrality and global representation, ensuring the Charter is seen as a worldwide effort rather than one originating from a specific cultural or religious background.