Religion is a practical discipline and it's one that we have always done, ever since humanity appeared on the scene when Homo sapiens became Homo sapiens. Sapiens became a human being, our minds very naturally segue into transcendence.
Karen ArmstrongI think I get from my books what other people get from family or a relationship or from prayer.
Karen ArmstrongReligion isnโt about believing things. It's ethical alchemy. Itโs about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and sacredness.
Karen ArmstrongJesus did not spend a great deal of time discoursing about the trinity or original sin or the incarnation, which have preoccupied later Christians. He went around doing good and being compassionate.
Karen ArmstrongImportant thing about myth is that it's not just something that you believe, a myth is essentially a program for action. And unless you translate a mythical story, or a doctrine out of the church, into practical action, it just remains incomprehensible. Rather like the rules of a board game which seem very sort of dull and complicated and incomprehensible until you pick up the dice and start to play, when everything falls into place.
Karen Armstrong