Karen Armstrong

Karen Armstrong (born 1944) is a British comparative religion writer. Her first book, Through the Narrow Gate, described her seven years as a nun in a Roman Catholic order. She has written more than 20 book including A History of God, Islam: A Short History, Buddha, The Spiral Staircase, The Great Transformation, Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time and most recently The Case for God ; also numerous articles for The Guardian and other publications.

Karen Armstrong is a powerful voice for ecumenical understanding.

Armstrong's 2008 TED Prize wish asks us to help her assemble the Charter for Compassion, a document around which religious leaders can work together for peace. In late fall 2008, the first draft of the document was written by the world, via a sharing website. [1]

"I say that religion isn't about believing things. It's ethical alchemy. It's about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and sacredness." Karen Armstrong on Powells.com

The challenge of the XXIst century is to appreciate - not only to tolerate - to other religious traditions.

In 2008, the Freedom of Worship Award by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute was awarded to Karen Armstrong for her personal dedication to the ideal that peace can be found in religious understanding, for her teachings on compassion, and her appreciation for the positive sources of spirituality.

See also

• Martin Buber
• John L. Esposito
• Madalyn Murray O'Hair

External links

• Karen Armstrong: The Coherence of Her Incoherence
• Freedom of Worship - Four Freedoms Award. Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute.
• Charter for Compassion.