Thursday, January 29, 2015
Time: 6:00-7:30
Location:
Gressette Room in Harper College on the USC Horseshoe
Panel Discussion:
"Compassion in Our Many Faiths"
Panelists:
Baha'i Faith: Ethel Crawford
Buddhism: Dr Tomo Kawaguchi
Christianity: Karen "Zarah" Starks
Islam: Chaudhry Sadiq
Unitarian Universalism: John Halfacre
Carl Evans, Moderator
Co-Sponsors:
Department of Religious Studies
Interfaith Partners of South Carolina
Peace and Integration Council of North America
A number of the panelists participated in a 5-month study of "Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life" by
the well-known scholar, Karen Armstrong. In 2009 Karen Armstrong received a TED award of $100,000,
for her groundbreaking work. With that funding and the support of the TED organization, to grant one
wish, Armstrong chose to focus on compassion. Specifically, she asked TED to help her create, launch
and propagate a "Charter for Compassion, crafted by a group of leading inspirational thinkers from the
three Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam and based on the fundamental principles of
universal justice and respect."
The Charter for Compassion is a document that transcends religious, ideological, and national
differences. Supported by leading thinkers from many traditions, the Charter activates the Golden Rule
around the world.
The Charter for Compassion is a cooperative effort to restore not only compassionate thinking but, more
importantly, compassionate action to the center of religious, moral and political life. Compassion is the
principled determination to put ourselves in the shoes of the other, and lies at the heart of all religious and
ethical system.
Charter of Compassion
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