As I explored, I found this interview at Powell's Books. Two sections I found quite inspiring.
Compassion, the meaning of compassion — that comes up a lot. And, "What is the role of belief in faith? Do you believe in God?" I point out that that's a very Christian question, a very Western, modern question. It's not actually the proper question, but nevertheless it's what people want to know. For them, that is the question.
Dave: And what is the question that you prefer to ask instead?
Armstrong: I say that religion isn't about believing things. It's ethical alchemy. It's about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and sacredness.
People have such clear ideas of what God is — you know: creator, father, personality watching over me. It's not what I believe in, even though I like to use the word sometimes. So people will ask, "Is traditional faith wrong?" And I say, "No." It doesn't really matter what you believe as long as it leads you to practical compassion. If your belief in a traditional God makes you come out imbued with a desire to feel with your fellow human beings, to make a place for them in your heart, to work to end suffering in the world, then it's good. Nobody has the last word on God, whether they're conservative or liberals.
and
Dave: What do you want readers to take away from your books? Is there one thing more than others?
Armstrong: The main thing I want them to get is this idea of compassion. That's what we need now.
Dave: That everything boils down to the Golden Rule.
Armstrong: I'm convinced of it. It's in all the traditions, ....
All the world religions developed in violent societies like our own. All of them came from societies where civilization seemed on the point of collapsing under the weight of aggression and violence. Where old values were going out, no new ones were coming to take their place. The first impulse in many of these religions was a revulsion from violence. That's what we need now, to get back to some of that.
See also:
Karen Armstrong Writes 'Biography' of the Bible
The age of the spirit
What to make of Suffering
Videos present a Fresh Take on several Old, Old Stories
Belief and teaching
Equating 'faith' with 'belief
Bumping into Zen, while waiting for God
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