www.ted.com 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.
On May 15, 2010, In Uncategorized, by admin
www.ted.com 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 [...]
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She is remarkably articulate. The religion she describes is wonderful. But it’s not being practiced by any of the three monotheistic faiths. Even though I am in complete opposition to religion of any sort, I find her an intelligent and fascinating woman.
Evokes similar emotions as when Kissinger received the Nobel peace prize. Except that that was a criminal outrage and this is a cretinous one.
The content of her presentation may be laudable, but her delivery is terrible. Half the presentation is filled with “um” and “uh”, then peppered with big words that are completely gratuitous. Not to keen on seeing her preach again.
OM NAMAH SHIVAYA to you Karen Armstrong
everything she said is in fact written in details in the Holy Quran .. there is no Iliad or Homer tho in the Holy Quran but there are similer ones such as Joseph story or David and Goliath and many more .she is a great great lady i love ideas .
To broaden the aspects of this interview for even more understanding, please go to scribd online and read
Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow by Constance Cumby.
Youtube viewers who are arguing about doctrines: watch this. Maybe the Charter will help others see the Buddha nature in all.
Geez.! Where did we get off into conversion and how many of you have read the Baha’i Writings? Hmmm…didn’t think so… well, I think you’d be surprised.
If you were happy to learn of Karen Armstrong you should seriously check them out. NOT to become a Baha’i but to see the history of these ideas, the larger picture of fitting them in place and the progress already made toward these goals. But reinventing the wheel has much merit too. Have at it! All work along these lines is good work. Peace.
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The Christian texts were edited by the Romans for consolidation of power n allegiance of its followers, but that was a primitive society..
Its too late to ask for the holytexts to be cleaned up because its too ingrained in society.
BUT if a new of ALLEGIANCE PLEDGE could be compulsorily taught in ALL public schools about compassion kindness for one another above ALL ELSE, above ALL religions..
..only then can HARMONY reign above THEISTIC EGOTISM..
Thank goodness for utube, I would not have the chance to know there is such a person as Karen Armstrong if not for it..
Frankly, the practice of fostering harmony between such egomanical religions seems immpossible given the immovable holybooks they are based upon..
I am uncertain if the harmony will last without the texts recited daily by the followers being edited..
@stevenweir76: sounds like conflicting definitions of compassion
Religion, when it means blind faith, can be quite devastating. However, accepting that we are a world with a majority of people identifying as religious, it would, to me, seem like a total waste not to try to spread understanding between religions. As Armstrong says here, the core meaning of religion is not blind faith but action according to noble principles…
I don’t think compassionate people are those who act against immorality although I see nothing wrong with that. It seems to be like you see a bad path chosen by another and want to help them, or you see a set of unfortunate circumstances and want to rectify them. So compassion is simply understanding the human condition in the broader sense. It is empathy, knowing what it is like to walk in another’s shoes. So I try to accept people, but not the situation. Religion is a bad situation IMO.
@stevenweir76: Promoting intolerance, do you then feel that being compassionate makes one accept ill-doings? For me, compassion makes it possible to intervene when I see someone fucking up. Intolerance often creates action blinded by emotional upsurge. If feel that compassion increases the ability to accept what is, and act accordingly.
@bohemiandeborah: most people probably don’t want conversion. I think it’s a very practical standpoint to try to increase the amount of interdialogue and compassion among different religions.
She has great ideas. But why re-invent the wheel? Someone needs to tell her about the Baha’i Faith. All that she wishes for is already happening. It is embodied in the spiritual and social teachings. And Baha’i has been called the only religion that does not deny any of the others because it offers a way to see the progression of the world’s great religions as one ongoing story. Once you see that perspective it just makes so much sense…….and hating is just stupid. Peace.
i was lied toooo
It is difficult for people to give others their true value for what they contribute. For instance, janitors usually get near minimum wage, but what how well would we function without them. Would we have our best and brightest working cleaning floors. Those people should be valued more highly and those who play kids games for a living, or whose main goal in life is opulence at the expense of others should not be so well rewarded. But again, it’s what is tolerated.
I agree with that totally.
Corruption in secular society is dealt with as the general morality of people see fit. We tolerate certain levels of immorailty and selfishness, realizing that some people will always be corrupt, good natured people try to accomodate until it becomes too much. I think people actually need to be less tolerant, given the circumstances, toward those who are overly selfish. It doesn’t help that we overpay actors, musicians and sport stars, and underpay doctors and teachers.
I think that the doctor’s oath, “Do no harm”, is more effective and direct.
“Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.”
-> This does not take into account ignorance and self destructive choice brought about by misunderstanding.
‘what you put out is what you get back’ is as I presently understand the actual reflective nature of interaction between beings expressed in physical reality.
I’ll send the links to you in a PM later tonight then.
How do I deal with it? First I don’t deny it. Then I remember the faults of the past and seek to grow and learn from them. What you’re alluding to is ecclesiastical angelism. There’s nothing to say that when you become a member of the Church or even a priest or bishop of the Church that you attain a superhuman ability to avoid sin and temptation. Power is a dangerous thing no matter where it comes from. How do you deal with corruption in secular society?
Or should I say, it’s been dealt with, but never actually solved. As is the case with all religious paradoxes.
I would read it.