Charter for Compassion

In 2008, Karen Armstrong received a TED grant of $100,000 in support of her proposal to construct a "Charter for Compassion" based on the Golden Rule and uniting people regardless of faith.  In this interview she discusses the process of constructing the Charter.  One question was why she feel it important to orientt the Charter around religions (although as she points out there is no necessity for religious belief in order to have a strong compassionate ethos).  She answers by talking about the Charter as a counter to religious extremism: "The compassionate voice of religion has been drowned out by the strident voices of extremism. I wanted to restore compassion to the heart of the religious life."  Part of the Charter insists that “Any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate.”  And in discussing that section she mentions that St. Augustine said that if the Bible seems to speak of hatred then it must be read allegorically, not literally.

The interview is here: Making compassion cool

And the website is here: Charter for compassion

The site has links for learning, sharing and acting.  The action section includes stories of compassion which everyone is invited to contribute to.