Karen Armstrong

Karen Armstrong, a former nun and renowned author on religion, shares profound insights on shedding self-centeredness to lead a more authentic life. She discusses using nature to boost happiness and offers the Confucian practice of 'quiet sitting' as a transformative tool for awareness and connection. Armstrong reflects on her journey, describing how her nun experience sometimes heightened self-preoccupation. Ultimately, she encourages small acts of kindness as a pathway to ecological consciousness and a deeper appreciation for the sacredness of life.

Karen Armstrong, an expert on faith and the major religions, discusses the history of violence in connection with religion. She challenges misconceptions about jihad and suicide bombing, emphasizing their secular origins. The episode explores the intertwined nature of religion, politics, and warfare. It also delves into the origins of religion and its relationship with violence, highlighting the role of ideologies. The speaker acknowledges the connection between religion and violence but also emphasizes the influence of personal motivations and societal issues.

Karen Armstrong speaks about her progression from a disillusioned and damaged young nun into, in her words, a “freelance monotheist.” She’s a formidable thinker and scholar, but as a theologian she calls herself an amateur — noting that the Latin root of the word “amateur” means a love of one’s subject. Seven years in a strict religious order nearly snuffed out her ability to think about faith at all. Here, we hear the story behind Armstrong’s developing ideas about God.