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By Nomadic Chris, 24 December 2009
Do not do to others what you would not have done to you – The Golden Rule for the Charter of Compassion
With nearly 6.6 billion people on the planet and a diverse number of religions and faiths, just how close are all human beings?
It is possible to have ONE single Charter which unites people together regardless of differences in backgrounds?
The answer is YES! The individual making all this possible is an incredible ex-nun and now religious thinker and advocate for unity, Karen Armstrong. Back in February 28th, 2008, Armstrong won the prestigious TED.com prize and set about making her simple dream for greater global unity happen. After hard work, the ‘Charter for Compassion’ (now CFC) is now a reality!
Armstrong is a former nun (she has written two books about this experience: Through the Narrow Gate, about her seven years in the convent, and The Spiral Staircase) who grew disillusioned with her faith and fell away from religion and became an atheist for a period of time. With an undergraduate degree in literature from Oxford University, she eventually became a teacher but ill health (epilepsy) meant this career never truly took off.
In 1982, Armstrong began working on television documentaries. One particular cover story took her to Jerusalem. This trip re-energized her and re-sparked her then dormant interest in religion and fundamentally changed her earlier impressions about God and faith. Armstrong underwent a radical transformation and went from sworn atheist to "freelance monotheist" who believed that all religions should be used to promote peace and understanding as this concept was what each faith ultimately promoted.
Armstrong then embarked on a highly successful writing career and according to TED.com, has written more than 20 books on faith and the major religions, studying what Islam, Judaism and Christianity have in common, and how our faiths have fundamentally shaped world history and drive current events. From her studies, she again concluded that all faiths fundamentally sought peace and envisioned a world where all could follow a common understanding.
Pro-active Armstrong did not just talk the talk, she walked the walk! She was the main driving force behind the ground-breaking new idea, the 'CFC'. Armstrong stressed that many people want to be religious and have faith in something greater than themselves. Armstrong says people from all backgrounds should help make religion a force for harmony. This is the main concept behind the 'CFC' and it's simple golden rule: “Do not do to others what you would not have done to you”
After her TED.com win, she helped create and launch the ‘CFC’. Since the initial concept; thousands, including Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders, have contributed their ideas. Eager to include a vast variety of opinions, up to 150,000 people were able to make online comments about the draft. The final draft was refined and approved by a 'Council of Conscience' of respected religious leaders. On November 12th, 2009, the Charter was unveiled to the world and key signatories included Prince Hassan of Jordan, Desmond Tutu and Sir Richard Branson. The main aims of the Charter include:
- The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
- It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and emphatically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.
- The ‘CFC’ therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.
- The ‘CFC’ urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.
Empathy and understanding are key to the 'CFC' ! Peace is a collaborative effort and the ‘CFC’ emphasizes the similarities in people and not the differences!
Nothing on this planet is perfect! Religion included but individuals such as Karen Armstrong are working hard to make sure that at least we have an alternative template that ALL can learn from and abide by. Mankind desires the same thing, peace. The ‘CFC’ is at least one step in the right direction…..
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