Zionism was originally a rebellion against religious Judaism and the PLO Charter was essentially secularist. But because the conflict was allowed to fester without a resolution, religion got sucked into the escalating cycle of violence and became part of the problem. Karen Armstrong allowcharterconflict share on social
For centuries, the Muslims were able to co-exist perfectly well with Jews and Christians in the Middle East. Karen Armstrong centurychristianeast Change image and share on social
There is a danger in monotheism, and it's called idolatry. And we know the prophets of Israel were very, very concerned about idolatry, the worship of a human expression of the divine. Karen Armstrong callconcerndanger Change image and share on social
The hajj is one of the five essential practices of Islam; when they make the pilgrimage to Mecca, Muslims ritually act out the central principles of their faith. Karen Armstrong actcentralessential Change image and share on social
Mythology and science both extend the scope of human beings. Like science and technology, mythology, as we shall see, is not about opting out of this world, but about enabling us to live more intensely within it. Karen Armstrong beingenableextend share on social
Let's use our stories to encourage listening to one another and to hear not just the good news, but also the pain that lies at the back of a lot of people's stories and histories. Karen Armstrong backencouragegood Change image and share on social
The first person to promulgate the Golden Rule, which was the bedrock of this empathic spirituality, was Confucius 500 years before Christ. Karen Armstrong bedrockchristconfucius Change image and 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
If we want to create a viable, peaceful world, we've got to integrate compassion into the gritty realities of 21st century life. Karen Armstrong 21stcenturycompassion Change image and share on social
But human beings fall easily into despair, and from the very beginning we invented stories that enabled us to place our lives in a larger setting, that revealed an underlying pattern, and gave us a sense that, against all the depressing and chaotic evidence to the contrary, life had meaning and value. Karen Armstrong beginbeingchaotic share on social