The item in this photo is available at www.bahairesources.comRenowned religious history scholar Karen Armstrong wants you to know that compassion is cool and is leading an initiative known as the Charter For Compassion. Check it out:
"Compassion is indeed central to every one of the major world religions -- but sometimes you would never know it. Increasingly religion is associated with violence and intolerance; it seems preoccupied with dogma, belief, getting to heaven, or enforcing correct sexual behavior. There are magnificent exceptions, of course, but it is rare to hear religious leaders speaking of the primary importance of compassion. People don't even seem to know what it means. It is often assumed to mean "pity" or "feeling sorry" for somebody. But the root of this Greco-Latin word is "to experience with;" compassion compels us to dethrone the egotism, self-preoccupation and selfishness that hold us back from the divine and put ourselves in the place of another.
All the great religious sages insist that compassion is the chief religious duty. The first person to do so was Confucius, who, five hundred years before Christ, was the first to formulate the Golden Rule: "Do not do to others what you would not like them to do to you." It was the central "thread" that ran through all his teaching and should be practised "all day and every day." Every single faith has evolved its own version of the Golden Rule, which requires us to look into our own hearts, discover what gives us pain and refuse, under any circumstance whatsoever to inflict that pain on anybody else." (Read the whole statement here)
In the spirit of this effort, I'll be posting on compassion soon but wanted to make sure that people who might be interested in participating are aware of the Charter. I especially want to make sure that Baha'is are part of this global discussion as I think we might have a little something to say about the topic.
Phillipe,
ReplyDeleteMs. Armstrong is in error regarding several statements as shown on your blog. First, the "Golden" rule that she attributes to Confucius is usually known as the "Silver Rule" since it consists of negatives and thus has less value than positives. Secondly, Confucius was not the first person to formulate that rule; Pittacus of Mytilene (c. 640-568 BC) wrote ""Do not to your neighbor what you would take ill from him" before Confucius was born. It is probable, however, that others provided both the Silver Rule and Golden Rule even earlier.
By Ms. Armstrong holding up the Silver Rule as the ruler to measure ourselves, as she says "...requires us to look into our own hearts, discover what gives us pain and refuse, under any circumstance whatsoever to inflict that pain on anybody else.", she falls far short of the teaching of Moses and Jesus - "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" - which is positive. The even greater call came from Baha'u'llah when He said "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself."
Reed, interesting points. I'll have to think about them. All in all I think her impulse is positive though and it some ways echoes some of the spirit of the message of the Universal House of Justice to the worlds Religious leaders. I just wanted people to know about this initiative so they could decide if they want to be part of it. In general I think Baha'is need to contribute more to the discourse regarding the challenges facing humanity at this time, it's part of having an outward looking orientation so hopefully we'll seize whatever opportunities present themselves.
ReplyDeletePhillipe,
ReplyDeleteSome problems arise for Baha'is in Ms. Armstrong's approach.
One, she is very critical of the various world religions in their current state. As Baha'is we are to consort with people of other religions - with unconditional love. We should not be looking for, nor pointing out, the missteps that may have occurred during the maturation of their religion; that is an internal matter for their own fellows.
Two, we already have an answer to the need for a focus of compassion - that is Baha'u'llah and His call to us to serve all men. Not, as Ms Armstrong would have it, avoid doing others harm, but to actively seek to do good for them.
Third, the appointment of Sages is contrary to the teachings of the Baha'i Faith. That anyone would accept the title illustrates a tremendous hubris or, hopefully, only a misguided sense of "pastoring" sheep.
IMO, the Charter for Compassion would be a step backward for Baha'is and yet another way to distract us from the progress that is possible within the Faith.
Just my opinions, of course.
Warmest Baha'i greetings,
Reed
Of course...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update and reminder about Karen Armstrong's "Charter for Compassion" work, Philippe.
ReplyDeleteDavid at "Correlating" (Click on my name for the link) drew my attention to Karen's "Charter for Compassion". I was already a fan of her books, having read her book on Abrahamic fundamentalism - "The Battle for God". We can do without triumphalism thanks. :-)
Sorry, wrong link. Click on David's "Correlating" link, above.
ReplyDeleteSteve,
ReplyDeleteI don't understand your reference to "triumphalism." Do you think that Ms. Armstrong is exhibiting it by decrying all the existing religions? I suppose you might have a point, she does use broad, sweeping statements about what "people" know and do; on the other hand she doesn't offer any alternative unless it is her charter.
The Charter reminds me of so many well-intentioned episodes of the late '60s in the US. Some of us ran about frantically telling everyone to live in peace - while brutally criticizing their every word and action; thus providing them with many words but few deeds. We didn't know peace in a spiritual sense, so we really had nothing to give; though I'm sure many of us would have been happy to wear the mantle of "Sage".
Warmest regards,
Reed
Why are Baha'is so often involved in "oneupmanship?" Some of the Baha'i response to Armstrong's heartening talk is very discouraging. Do we think we have The Truth, The Way, The Answer? Are our tongues more active than our ears?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post, Phillipe.