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
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
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
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
I have nothing maternal in me, and men want to be mothered a lot of the time. Karen Armstrong lotmanmaternal Change image and share on social
Compassion is not a popular virtue. Karen Armstrong compassionpopularvirtue Change image and share on social
Today mythical thinking has fallen into disrepute; we often dismiss it as irrational and self-indulgent. But the imagination is also the faculty that has enabled scientists to bring new knowledge to light and to invent technology that has made us immeasurably more effective. Karen Armstrong bringdismissdisrepute share on social
Human beings have always been mythmakers. Karen Armstrong beinghumanmythmaker Change image and share on social
Well, the idea of God as a supreme being means that he is simply like us, writ large, and just bigger and better, the end product of the series; whereas this divine personality that we meet in the Bible was, for centuries, regarded simply as a symbol of a greater transcendence that lay beyond it. Karen Armstrong biblebigcentury 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