Fundamentalists are not friends of democracy. And that includes your fundamentalists in the United States. Karen Armstrong democracyfriendfundamentalist Change image and share on social
Compassion is not a popular virtue. Karen Armstrong compassionpopularvirtue Change image and share on social
Alas, all traditions lose their primal purity and we all fail our founders. Karen Armstrong alafailfounder Change image and share on social
Religion is a search for transcendence. But transcendence isn't necessarily sited in an external god, which can be a very unspiritual, unreligious concept. Karen Armstrong conceptexternalgod Change image and share on social
Today we often think that before we start living a religious life we have first to accept the creedal doctrines and that before one can have any comprehension of the loyalty and trust of faith, one must first force one's mind to accept a host of incomprehensible doctrines. But this is to put the cart before the horse. Karen Armstrong acceptcartcomprehension share on social
Mohammed was not an apparent failure. He was a dazzling success, politically as well as spiritually, and Islam went from strength to strength to strength. Karen Armstrong apparentdazzlefailure Change image and share on social
There are some forms of religion that are bad, just as there's bad cooking or bad art or bad sex, you have bad religion too. Karen Armstrong artbadcook Change image and share on social
I am not interested in the afterlife. Religion is supposed to be about losing your ego, not preserving it eternally in optimum conditions. Karen Armstrong afterlifeconditionego Change image and share on social
We are addicted to our egotism, our likes and dislikes and prejudices, and depend upon them for our own sense of identity. Karen Armstrong addictdependdislike Change image and share on social
I was a lousy nun. I couldn't do it. I couldn't find God. It wasn't suitable for me. It is suitable for very few people. Karen Armstrong findgodlousy Change image and share on social