Fundamentalists are not friends of democracy. And that includes your fundamentalists in the United States. Karen Armstrong democracyfriendfundamentalist Change image and share on social
After I left the convent, for 15 years I was worn out with religion, I wanted nothing whatever to do with it. I felt disgusted with it. If I saw someone reading a religious book on a train, I'd think, how awful. Karen Armstrong awfulbookconvent share on social
Jesus did not spend a great deal of time discoursing about the trinity or original sin or the incarnation, which have preoccupied later Christians. He went around doing good and being compassionate. Karen Armstrong christiancompassionatedeal 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
Religious people often prefer to be right rather than compassionate. Often, they don't want to give up their egotism. They want their religion to endorse their ego, their identity. Karen Armstrong compassionateegoegotism Change image and share on social
Even before 9/11 I was gripped by a sense of dread: our lack of criticism about what we were doing in the Middle East - the slagging off of a whole religious tradition. Karen Armstrong criticismdreadeast Change image and share on social
The values of Islam are expressed by Muslims clearly. September 11 changed the world, and put Muslims on the spotlight. Karen Armstrong changeexpressislam 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
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 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
