Compassionate Stimulation

During this speech, religious historian Karen Armstrong discusses religion and modernity, namely the role compassion occupies in society today. While a large number of individuals may perceive themselves as dutifully abiding by the rules and laws of a religion, Karen Armstrong notes that far too many interpretations of compassion exist today, causing confusion and a lack of unity.

Karen Armstrong argues that in society today, individuals would much rather prefer to be correct than to be compassionate. She warns that if a universal rule of compassion, often referred to as the Golden Rule, is not implemented today on a global scale, there will be no viable world to pass down to the next generation. Karen Armstrong hopes to utilize the media to help stimulate and educate compassionate thinking, as well as disband some of the negative connotations surrounding religion today.