Karen Armstrong

Karen Armstrong, a former Roman Catholic nun, is considered a powerful voice for ecumenical understanding. One of the most provocative, original thinkers on the role of religion in the modern world, she has written more than 20 books exploring the commonalities shared by the religious faiths of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. As a speaker and writer, she asserts that all major religions embrace the core principle of compassion and the Golden Rule. She has also identified that many of today’s religions bear similar strains of fundamentalism which she argues is borne of frustration with contemporary life and current events. In 2008, she was awarded the TED Prize in recognition and support of her call for a council of Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders to draw up a “Charter of Compassion," which would apply shared moral priorities to foster greater global understanding.