Karen Armstrong: 2008 TED Prize wish: Charter for Compassion
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- čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
- www.ted.com As she accepts her 2008 TED Prize, author and scholar Karen Armstrong talks about how the Abrahamic religions -- Islam, Judaism, Christianity -- have been diverted from the moral purpose they share to foster compassion. But Armstrong has seen a yearning to change this fact. People want to be religious, she says; we should act to help make religion a force for harmony. She asks the TED community to help her build a Charter for Compassion -- to help restore the Golden Rule as the central global religious doctrine.
She is definitely an amazingly brilliant mind! Thank you, Karen.
Thanks Ms. Karen. What a great lecture.
Any ideology that doesn't promote global understanding and global appreciating for each other is failing in the test of the time...
Karen's books have had a profound impact on my own journey - this is the first time I've ever heard her speak at length though & it's absolutely brilliant
Having gone through a lot in Life's Journey this TED Talk of hers is an inspiring one with a Global Impact.
Nonsense.
04:45 Compassion
05:45 G. rule
07:00 Scriptures should be interpreted w/ g. rule
08:50 Apply compassion to everyone, not just own grp.
13:30 G. rule/global
17:30 Wish: charter of compassion based on g. rule
18:15 Guidelines for how to interpret the scriptures
18:30 Scripture should be governed by principle of charity
19:20 Get this to everybody on the planet
She represents what TED is all about. I am listening to a speech wonderfully told, well constructed, and most importantly stack full of truth.
Karen Armstrong is a wonderful scholar and inspiring speaker. I heard her at Greenbelt where she talked about religious fundamentalism. I've read a number of her books and they're like balm for my soul. It's so good to see someone guiding people through religion with understanding and deep compassion.
5:31 - in Compassion, when we feel with the other, we dethrone ourselves from the center of our world and we put another person there. And once we get rid of ego, then we're ready to see the Divine.
It is Compassion (says the Buddha) which brings you to Nirvana.
to read: The Spiral Staircase: My Climb Out of Darkness by Karen Armstrong
re: comparative theology .
.
This is pure common sens, not a religious matter. Religions take that common sens value that is rooted in human consciousness and put it into theirs scriptures, not the other way mourned. Many laic institutions have compassion as their main driver and do not invoke religious matter : human right watch, Amnesty International, Oxfam, and so on...
She is a legend ❤Reading her books and listening to her thoughts is very inspiring. It really impresses me that her works are full of information.
The key is simple: foster altruism. Teach people to 1. Advocate altruism 2. Organise it with Free Collaboration Networks to meet people's needs
This woman is the most brilliant religious scholar alive. I'm a Christian, her speech gives me hope for a return to compassion, and a reconciliation between the world faiths. We should not pay as much attention to dogma but have compassion for everyone!
I'm watching this again today after having seen it just the other day. It's brilliant.
thanks for the comment: I think this quote helps to give light to the essentials of Karen Armstrongs message:
"My heart has opened unto every form: it is a pasture for gazelles, a cloister for Christian monks, a temple for idols, the Ka'ba of the pilgrim, the tablets of the Torah and the book of the Qur'an. I practice the religion of love...."
-Ibn 'Arabi, a Spanish Sufi, or Islamic mystic
"de-throne yourself". I like that.
Wonderful message. I hope this charter of compassion spreads quickly for humanity's sake :)
You can help with that. Everyone can read, affirm, and share it with their networks of family, friends, colleagues, church leaders etc. Everyone can learn about the Compassionate City movement that this led to and there are now 450 compassionate cities around the world and that number grows all the time.
O que falta para o mundo é compaixão. Carta para compaixão ❤ mensagem boa
Many thanks for this message!
She's making a serious, intelligent, reasoned informed and eloquent case for recognising the positive things that underlie all faiths. There is no apology for Islam or any other religion in anything she says.
Geez.! Where did we get off into conversion and how many of you have read the Baha'i Writings? Hmmm...didn't think so... well, I think you'd be surprised.
If you were happy to learn of Karen Armstrong you should seriously check them out. NOT to become a Baha'i but to see the history of these ideas, the larger picture of fitting them in place and the progress already made toward these goals. But reinventing the wheel has much merit too. Have at it! All work along these lines is good work. Peace.
sign me up! Each person can change their little spot of the planet. Teach your children. Talk to your neighbors. Talk to your family. Be a member of the golden rule club. Well done indeed!!
May Peace Prevail On Earth
Watched this for David. RIP ✌️🕊
I find it interesting in reading these quotes that the spirit of compassion so often fails to reveal itself. As a citizen of this planet on this journey through life I strive to accept my other passengers who each and every one is experiencing their own personal journey. If we focus too much on the stupid things that any one of us or our predecessors has done in the past the less we might be willing to try and do better in the future. Lets at least give ourselves the hope of a better world?
Karen Armstrong is the great ambassador for peace of our generation. "Religion should be a cause of love and affection; otherwise, we are better off without it." From the Baha'i Writings
I believe that science is the best tool we have to understand our universe. It's results are empirically verified, it's strange that I should learn morality without dogma, and that has made me relaize that life is better with it than without it. Simple logic is all that is required when the evidence is gathered. My morality stems from science. In many circumstances my lack of belief in God is what leads to altruism.
I am not a religious person, nor do i prescribe to anyone holding religious ideologies, but it is my utmost duty to understand where people are coming from. Because, we are all in the same boat anyway, we all want to understand something, one way or another. It is arrogant of some theists and some atheists to bash eachother. They act like a bunch of children who do not understand how tolerance and humility truly can save us from ourselves. Karen Armstrong has jagged teeth.
We need more and more of the woman in leadership positions
noone speaks more truth today than karen armstrong and if you haven't read her books, then you don't have a clue.....
god bless Karen Armstrong!
I want reason, logic, etc. to be grasped by the world in a way that no other generation of humanity has ever done. I want this time period to be the next enlightenment. You think I am being intellectually dishonest, ignorant, even naive, but you have no idea how much I want the world to understand everything. Do not judge by words, judge by meaning.
OK,I give in. You are the expert on reasoned arguments.
i came with ridicule, i am leaving with love and compassion!
Therein lies the paradox of spirituality. You seek fulfillment in the dreams of another. Yet you fail to discover for yourself your own meaning. Your meaning does not have to be magical or immortal. It can just be, and with that, make the most of what you can with it. No-one can tell you what your meaning is. If they do, they are trying to control you. It's right in front of your face, can you see it? There is no test, there is no examiner, just you, and how you choose to live.
Acknowledge a basic fact, as a child I marveled at the size of the universe. I have to be stoic regardless, because there are always going to be people who can be led on a leash by other people who want to rule the world. Being stoic means realizing you are going to die, and still not being afraid, not giving in to false promises of heaven or anything which is too good to be true. Just because you really, really want it, doesn't make it so.
Armstrong is right on the mark when she says religion has been highjacked and misused. By emphasizing the Golden Rule she is reminding us that the essence of religion is for goodness to be made manifest among us regardless of doctrinal belief. The essence is in teh HEART not the head. Well done lady!!
@50kT the only thing you have to 'give in' to, is the idea of treating others as you would want to be treated. It's not a global conspiracy - it's natural and beneficial. Power brokers have wanted to benefit from this compassion, but the compassion always comes first - what is done with it is a whole different idea.
''We ask, then, for peace for the gods of our fathers and of our country. It is just that all worship should be considered as one. We look on the same stars, the sky is common, the same world surrounds us. What difference does it make by what pains each seeks the truth? We cannot attain to so great a secret by one road.''
- Quintus Aurelius Symmachus (340--402)
Hopefully, the perception that I have where material things are not important, a view also shared by many religious will become more pertinent as necessities and even luxury is provided for. We will be able to channel our competive energy in a more positive way.
irajkhodadoost I totally agree! I didn't say she should become a Baha'i. I think she would find interesting that many of the amazing things she stands so brilliantly for are spoken about in the Writings of the Baha'i Faith. By seeing the same things from numerous worthwhile perspectives I, myself, derive so much deeper an understanding! In fact, that is the first tenet of the Faith, independent investigation of truth. No clergy. You must take responsibility for your own spiritual growth.
Brilliant!
I give in. Please put us out of our suspense and tell us.
"Do not be afriad of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28, quoting Jesus)
The point is that integrity and honesty are important values, and anyone purporting to be a scholar has a duty to tell the truth; it is not their job to presume that their audience is too immature or naive to cope with reality, or to patronise them by protecting them from 'hurtful' truths. They should do them the justice of allowing them to make their own informed judgements.
My day job is as a teacher working with international students who are muslims, buddhists, hindus, siekhs, catholics, atheists, etc. So I have no time for factions. We are two legged mammals with a short lifespan. Way too short to argue about whose perception of the divine is right or wrong.
I want give this woman a huge hug and let her know that at least once in her life, she touched another's soul and changed their way of thinking, my way of thinking. So all of you that are arguing and disrespecting Karen's very subject of material in this video is without a doubt ridiculous and idiotic in a way that I cannot even describe to you.
how extraordinary.
Bravo!!!!
I agree with your assessment of the golden rule alone being insufficient. There are other basic rules and many more complex rules for how to treat people. Do onto others as they would have done onto them whenever possible. Our goal should be to generate as much happiness as possible.
Cultura religiosa Ulbra 🙋
Hahahaha, eu também!
Estamos aí também, cultura religiosa Ulbra
é noses kkkkk
Pois então...kkkk
tamu junto!! ahahahah
Me parece una visión preciosa y verdadera de la religión: empezar por cambiar, por comprometernos, por dialogar con otras cultruas y religiones y no convertir la religión en ideologia para discutir y pavonearnos de nuestras brillantes ideas. La vida de Jesucristo está totalmente en línea con la charla, lo primero es la compasión, dejar que Dios te llene de amor, voluntad y servicio a los demás. Lo que me extraña es que haya tantos comentarios en contra de sus ideas, si estas personas se sienten religiosas que las presenten en oración ante Dios para que hable el corazón.
so true, to critically analyse all religion in an academic setting and they will make the decision themselves if they should be an atheist or choose amongst the religion. though sometimes it's a little hard to be logical with religion, i still think it's a good idea.
The courage comes in when despite the inability to affect change, you have the courage to try. We are not insignificant if we don't allow ourselves to be. The church loves the Hellinistic version becauses it causes people to give up and submit. Why? Control, no different than previous warring religions, like the Egyptians or the Aztecs, it's all about control. This is my life, not the popes, nor the preachers, no-one knows me except me. Other people want to think they are nothing, good for them.
She is remarkably articulate. The religion she describes is wonderful. But it's not being practiced by any of the three monotheistic faiths. Even though I am in complete opposition to religion of any sort, I find her an intelligent and fascinating woman.
Sorry to hear that. What she says is so close to what the Baha'i Faith talks about! Well she has a cool surprise awaiting her when she does find out. The Faith is logical, mystical, and learning about it has really provided key pieces of the Big Puzzle for me. Like Progressive Revelation: the Prophets from God (there is only ONE God, do we agree?) have built upon the foundation of the former ones, like teachers do at school! Same stuff re: capacity of humans thru time. No competition! Check it
Finally an intelligent comment on KA and her credentials and purpose!
It's time to tell a different story. One where humanity ends war. Ends poverty. Explores farther than they ever have before into reliaty. Accepts their place in the universe and tries in ernest to seek truth rather than giving in to political and religious authority.
@bohemiandeborah: most people probably don't want conversion. I think it's a very practical standpoint to try to increase the amount of interdialogue and compassion among different religions.
wow, it is amazing how so many posters completely missed the point she was making about compassion and religion.
@bohemiandeborah According to Abdu'l-Baha, someone may call himself a Baha'i for 50 years but does not exhibit the necessary attributes and reverse is also true. It takes a lot of good people from all different persuasions to bring about peace and unity on earth. Karen Armstrong is one of those voices and is respected in different parts of the globe because of her genuine compassion for harmony and interfaith dialogue. Thanks for listening.
Religious Fundamentalist of all faiths need to listen to this. Most Atheist already understand this
Stay brave, internet warrior, for you fight the good fight. May you never run out of Mountain Dew and Doritos, and may your neckbeard grow to lengths never before seen. You are an inspiration to us all.
thank you for this
However pleasant the wrapping, this woman is still doing Stan's bidding.
Zo inspirerend! Let's do it!
I am an agnostic Pandeist and I think it is largely intolerant to put down religions, no matter how unintelligent or ridiculous they can be or are. I do not find the broad religions such as christianity, islam, and judaism to be evil or idiotic. I believe the political religions are the ones that I am both afraid of as well as intolerant of. These ones include, especially in america, religious conservatism, protestantism such as mormonism, and any type of religion focused on putting down a group
I am also not strictly stoic as I do not deify the universe, but percieve the universe only for what I can perceive it as, a place where we exist. What we can accomplish with that is up to us. Those who worship Gods are waiting to die. I am living this life as though it is all I have, for that is what I believe, and I have no other reason to believe otherwise. We all have to die, but our time is now, not to be wasted worshipping false entities.
I would read it.
In addition, in this day in age, when religion is pretty much a boatload of crazies, for someone who is religious to stand up and say that sacred documents, such as the Bible or the Torah are only "commentary" and what is really important to religion is treating others with respect....well, that takes some guts, and I have to hope she keeps impressing this point on religious and non-religious folk. I happen to agree with her that society can't advance too far without compassion for all people
Matthew 10:34 - "I come not to bring peace, but to bring a sword"
It is you who shows bias, that the scripture and thus, the doctrince can't promote evil. It can, and it does.
Jesus spoke in parables. You are a fool for misinterpreting that parable and spreading your message.
In revelation 2.16 Jesus said "Repent or else I will come unto you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." This is the word of God that we cannot fight against because it shows us the sin in our hearts.... The metaphor of a sword is quite popular, in this case, philosophies or words do separate families and nations (this is not his wish, but a fact of life) profound words can also pierce through the hardest of hearts. Once you read the new testament, you can quickly conclude that Jesus was a pacifist, and inviting to war would be to take his words out of context. (By the way, I am not a Christian but a Buddhist who reads the New Testament and anything else that I find of value, because truth is truth regardless of the source)
@@playmesalsa I did not reach the conclusion that the character Jesus was a pacifist. I reached the conclusion that he was an amalgamation of myths that was hateful and hypocritical. Mathew 10:34.
SWAM, with all due respect I think your belief would stand in the way of your knowledge and wisdom. It is this dam that keeps us from swimming to the sea and hearing the sound of the rushing rivers gracefully surrendering their chorus of, I to the silent secrets in the ocean of all.
Very good idea though! I hope this will become a big thing.
Corruption in secular society is dealt with as the general morality of people see fit. We tolerate certain levels of immorailty and selfishness, realizing that some people will always be corrupt, good natured people try to accomodate until it becomes too much. I think people actually need to be less tolerant, given the circumstances, toward those who are overly selfish. It doesn't help that we overpay actors, musicians and sport stars, and underpay doctors and teachers.
Order is always apparent in any closed system or any system in which energy is contiguous due to coefficient of restitution. The question I have for you is what kind of good scientist would equate such order towards supernatural singularities?
@yigitinebolulu The world is moving, slowly but surely - because of faster and better means of communication including the internet, toward democracy, harmony, and unity. Whether you are from the East or from the West, we are all children of the same God, believe in the same essential truths, and want peace and compassion on earth for all God's children. We need to fight against superstitions, dogmas, prejudices, greed, and injustice first and foremost in our own selves. God bless you.
The answer to all these questions is neither A nor B. Like every other religion, Islam is man made, and its writings reflect the morals of the age in which they were written.
One earth
One law
One brotherhood
One God
One love
❤
Sonha ULBRA que eu vou ver esse video !
hahahahahah
Se passou 2 anos, e eles ainda pedem pra assistir hahaha.
cats are people too
i think you are correct :) but sadly there are people who can only feel special and important by belittling and denigrating others, especially if those others are championing kindness or tolerance.
Karen Armstrong looks enough like Neil Armstrong to be the daughter Karen he lost as a toddler.
@frid9999 I have read many of Karen Armstrong's books, the History of God, the Battle for God, The Holy War, Buddhism, Islam, etc. and been very much enlightened by it. Am I missing something? I have no connection to this author and love to read different perspectives, but I am curious to know why you think that she "is full of ...." Respectfully, Iraj
❤❤❤
@stevenweir76: Promoting intolerance, do you then feel that being compassionate makes one accept ill-doings? For me, compassion makes it possible to intervene when I see someone fucking up. Intolerance often creates action blinded by emotional upsurge. If feel that compassion increases the ability to accept what is, and act accordingly.
@jamesharrel I think there is an element of truth in what you say - although she has evolved through years with her writing as well.
I don't think compassionate people are those who act against immorality although I see nothing wrong with that. It seems to be like you see a bad path chosen by another and want to help them, or you see a set of unfortunate circumstances and want to rectify them. So compassion is simply understanding the human condition in the broader sense. It is empathy, knowing what it is like to walk in another's shoes. So I try to accept people, but not the situation. Religion is a bad situation IMO.
I find Alain De Botton's ideas about trying to 'rescue' the good ideas from religions. I am serious when I suggest that I think that the mystical or whatever you want to call it should be an 'optional extra'.
Armstrong rightly argues that in stressing 'belief' above 'action' they are putting the horse before the cart, but I also wonder whether we need the horse at all, especially post-industrial revolution :)
thank you o'peacfull christian for your kind and decent way..
What's with the 'short of time' bit?
What a title for a debate! It'd take so long just to work out what it's supposed to mean we'd have no time to resolve it. Is it just a roundabout way of saying 'Christians are right and everybody else is wrong'?
Thank goodness for utube, I would not have the chance to know there is such a person as Karen Armstrong if not for it..
Frankly, the practice of fostering harmony between such egomanical religions seems immpossible given the immovable holybooks they are based upon..
I am uncertain if the harmony will last without the texts recited daily by the followers being edited..
"Then he [the King] will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Matthew 25:41)
"The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." (James 3:6)
Did you actually listen to what she said? She's saying that religion needs to STOP being "boatloads of crazy people telling the sane and rational folk that they are wrong." She's saying religion needs to revive the golden rule: "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." I am not a religious person. I do not believe in God. But any person, religious or not, who believes in treating others as you would like to be treated yourself deserves my respect.
She is an amazing women =) I read two of her books ; Muhammed, and Islam a short history
Karen really seems like a wonderful woman with a intelligent mind. I love her idea to stop trying to tolerate and instead trying to appreciate people.
I don't totally agree with her conclusion religion is inherently peaceful and that it's been 'hijacked' by political agendas (though it is true in some cases). I think religion tends to be this consolidating of different ideas (some good, some bad) under a single banner.
Why does the wish involves only the three Abrahamic traditions; Why doesn't Armstrong involve Buddha? (she certainly spoke highly of it in her book on Buddha)
awesome message :)
When jesus said kill those who do not believe in me(Luke 19. 27) which part are people misinterprating?
No, I would not say I have a strictly utilitarian point of view. My primary goal in life is Stoicism. I believe that courage is the path to all truth and happiness. Which is a philosophy and type of morality that was rejected by the Christian faith and ended the great schools of stoicism because of their pagan association. Yet another victory for Christianity in promoting ignorance.
espalhando essa ideia...
The hooligans as you call them, are the crowd.
Q1: Any bogus Prada does not detract from genuine Versace or Chanel.
Q2/Q3: Same as above
Q4: If the rulers of Rome are good, intelligent, civilised, compassionate beings, then of course.
Hello mr Hemmen's class.