Compassion: The Golden Rule of Religion
March 19, 2008
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I watched Karen Armstrong’s speech at TED today. She is very inspiring, having made a journey to, from and back to religion. You should watch it for yourself. Here are some higlights. These are not literal quotes, but you will get the main ideas:
Credo: does not mean that I accept without question, but I commit myself wholeheartedly.
Religion is about behaving differently. You behave in a committed way and then you begin to understand the truth about religion. You only understand the doctrine when you put them into practice.
Compassion is what brings you close to God. It dethrones ourselves and then we are able to see the divine.
Hillel, standing on one leg: That which is hateful to you, do not do it unto other. That is the Torah. The rest is commentary. Go and study it.
Todays religion has been highjacked. Christians endlessly judge other people. Religion has been used to oppress others.
We have a talent as a species, to mess up wonderful things.
You must have concern for everybody. Love your enemies. Concern for strangers.
The cause of our present wows are political. Religion is a fault line and can get set in and become part of the problem.
The golden rule is difficult. A lot of religious people prefer to be right, rather than compassionate.
The golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Overcoming the horror we feel as enemies.
Here is my wish: I wish that you would help with the creation, launch and propagation of a charter of compassion, crafted by a group of inspirational thinkers from the three Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
I am reminded of the quote by G.K. Chesterton:
The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.
Technorati Tags: armstrong, religion, faith, compassion, TED
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