The Charter for Compassion
The call to action that is inspiring people around the world to campaign for a more compassionate global community. 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 center of our world and put another there, and to honor 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 empathically 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.
We
therefore call upon all men and women to restore compassion to the
center 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; and to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of
all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.
We
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.
With
support from the TED Prize and the Fetzer Foundation, the Charter of
Compassion was initiated by Karen Armstrong and created through an
interfaith process. To join the more 60,000 people who have affirmed the
charter since its announcement in 2009, go to www.charterforcompassion.org.
SEE ALSO: All religions
preach it, we’re all taught it, but how many of us live it? Religious
historian and compassion activist Karen Armstrong says the Golden Rule
holds the key to humanity’s future.
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