paul veraguth
compassion
Karen Armstrong, in accepting her 2008 TED Prize, has two things to say that I find very important to me these days. One is that compassion as expressed by the "golden rule" is common across all the major religions. Two is that our modern conception of belief as applied to religion is quite likely flawed.Belief, which we make such a fuss about today, is only a very recent religious enthusiasm. It surfaced only in the West in about the 17th century. The word belief, itself, originally meant to love; to prize; to hold dear. In the 17th century it narrowed its focus [...] to mean an intellectual ascent to a set of propositions. Credo -- [i.e.,] I believe -- it did not mean I accept certain creedal articles of faith. It meant "I commit myself. I engage myself."
[...] So, if religion is not about believing things, what is it about? What I've found across the board is that religion is about behaving differently. Instead of deciding whether or not you believe in God, first you do something -- you behave in a committed way and then you begin to understand the truths of religion. And religious doctrines are meant to be summons to action. You only understand them when you put them into practice. -- Karen ArmstrongThis trip I took last weekend to Tijuana to help with the building of homes there for families who need but can't afford them was, in part, a test of Ms. Armstrong's statement.
compassion
Karen Armstrong, in accepting her 2008 TED Prize, has two things to say that I find very important to me these days. One is that compassion as expressed by the "golden rule" is common across all the major religions. Two is that our modern conception of belief as applied to religion is quite likely flawed.Belief, which we make such a fuss about today, is only a very recent religious enthusiasm. It surfaced only in the West in about the 17th century. The word belief, itself, originally meant to love; to prize; to hold dear. In the 17th century it narrowed its focus [...] to mean an intellectual ascent to a set of propositions. Credo -- [i.e.,] I believe -- it did not mean I accept certain creedal articles of faith. It meant "I commit myself. I engage myself."
[...] So, if religion is not about believing things, what is it about? What I've found across the board is that religion is about behaving differently. Instead of deciding whether or not you believe in God, first you do something -- you behave in a committed way and then you begin to understand the truths of religion. And religious doctrines are meant to be summons to action. You only understand them when you put them into practice. -- Karen ArmstrongThis trip I took last weekend to Tijuana to help with the building of homes there for families who need but can't afford them was, in part, a test of Ms. Armstrong's statement.