Charter For Compassion

Karen Armstrong gives her TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) wish of a worldwide charter signed by leaders of the world's primary religions. The charter would recognize the common goals of compassion rather the divisive abstract beliefs of all these faith traditions. I've enjoyed several of her books and few people have as much knowledge of world religions as Karen Armstrong.

""Belief, which we make such a fuss about today, is only a very recent religious enthusiasm. The word belief itself originally meant to love, to prize, to hold dear. In the 17th century it narrowed its focus... to include an intellectual ascent to a set of propositions."

Stroke of insight

This TED talk, is amazing!

Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: One morning, she realized she was having a massive stroke. As it happened -- as she felt her brain functions slip away one by one, speech, movement, understanding -- she studied and remembered every moment. This is a powerful story about how our brains define us and connect us to the world and to one another. - ted.com