Compassion is a practically acquired knowledge, like dancing. You must do it and practice diligently day by day. Karen Armstrong acquirecompassiondance Change image and share on social
All religions are designed to teach us how to live, joyfully, serenely, and kindly, in the midst of suffering. Karen Armstrong designjoyfullykindly Change image and share on social
I believe in holiness and sacredness in other people. It doesn't mean that the clouds part and I see God. That's a juvenile way of thinking about it. Karen Armstrong cloudgodholiness Change image and share on social
Compassion is the key in Islam and Buddhism and Judaism and Christianity. They are profoundly similar. Karen Armstrong buddhismchristianitycompassion Change image and share on social
Ironically, the first thing that appealed to me about Islam was its pluralism. The fact that the Koran praises all the great prophets of the past. Karen Armstrong appealfactgreat Change image and share on social
Compassion doesn't, of course, mean feeling sorry for people, or pity, which is how the word has become emasculated in a way. Karen Armstrong compassionemasculatefelt 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
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
We have domesticated God's transcendence. We often learn about God at about the same time as we are learning about Santa Claus; but our ideas about Santa Claus change, mature and become more nuanced, whereas our ideas of God can remain at a rather infantile level. Karen Armstrong changeclausdomesticate share on social
Yes, all fundamentalists feel that in a secular society, God has been relegated to the margin, to the periphery and they are all in different ways seeking to drag him out of that peripheral position, back to center stage. Karen Armstrong backcenterdrag share on social