Karen Armstrong

Karen Armstrong is a British author and commentator on comparative religion. Armstrong transitioned from a conservative to a more liberal and mystical Christian faith after her years as a Roman Catholic religious sister. By the early 1980s, she became a freelance writer and broadcaster, which led her back to the study of religion. She wrote and presented a six-part television documentary series on the life and work of the Apostle Paul, conducting much of the background research on-site in the Middle East, where she developed a renewed appreciation for Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

Armstrong has written more than 20 books that explore theology, religious history, and philosophy, making complex topics accessible to general audiences. "A History of God," which examines the development of the concept of God in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, became an international bestseller and established her reputation in religious studies. Other notable works include "The Case for God," "The Battle for God," "Holy War," "Islam," "Buddha," "The Great Transformation," and the memoir "The Spiral Staircase." Her book "The Lost Art of Scripture: Rescuing the Sacred Texts" further explores the interpretation of sacred texts. Armstrong's publications have been translated into 45 languages.

Armstrong's work emphasizes the commonalities among major world religions, such as the importance of compassion and the Golden Rule. She received the TED Prize and used the occasion to call for the creation of the Charter for Compassion, a document developed with input from religious leaders and thinkers worldwide. The Charter has been endorsed by global figures including Pope Benedict XVI, the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Deepak Chopra, and Muhammad Ali.

Armstrong has addressed members of the U.S. Congress, lectured to policymakers at the U.S. State Department, participated in the World Economic Forum in New York, Jordan, and Davos, and serves as an ambassador for the UN Alliance of Civilizations. Several of her books have appeared on The New York Times bestseller list, and she has been invited to discuss Islam in Congress. Armstrong's honors include the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Medal, the British Academy's Nayef al-Rodhan Prize for Transcultural Understanding, and the Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences. She was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Through her writing, public speaking, and global advocacy, Armstrong is recognized as a leading voice in religious studies, interfaith dialogue, and the study of compassion in world religions.