The launch of Karen Armstrong’s "Charter for Compassion" heralds a shift in the inter-religious movement of the last half-century. The movement began largely in response to the horrors of World War II, particularly what it revealed about religious intolerance. The isolation of religious communities from one another was thought to no longer serve the public’s well-being. Many felt they could no longer afford to consign religion to the privacy of their own homes and churches, where they could disregard the faith of their neighbors. Interfaith dialogue was born out of the need to overcome three failures of modern religion: ignorance, misunderstanding, and intolerance. The interfaith dialogue movement progressed from establishing comfort, to trust-building, to reciprocal education, to mutual understanding. Some conversations emphasize commonalities, while others highlight differences.

As a result of talking with and listening to people of different faiths, some religious communities have collaborated on social justice projects. Some have begun the process of disentangling intolerance from their religious texts and teachings. There is, however, a vast population who has not participated in this movement: the most traditionalist adherents of religion who believe their way is the only true path and all others are false. Karen Armstrong’s “Charter for Compassion” is the first global attempt to include traditionalists in the conversation between religions. By emphasizing the highest common denominator among all religions, a common ethical commitment, the Charter avoids the kind of relativism that traditionalists have found in the interreligious dialogue movement. The Charter’s website explains that its goal is to “proclaim a principle embraced by every faith, and by every moral code. It is often referred to as The Golden Rule.” For those who have been involved in interfaith dialogue, this seems rudimentary. Yet in its attempt to be maximally inclusive by establishing minimal commonality, the Charter is revolutionary. By focusing on ethics rather than religious doctrine, the Charter hopes to appeal to a wider audience. This global shift in inter-religious dialogue reflects the reality of the widening vision of our world, and the growing awareness that its survival depends on our ability to extend compassion beyond the borders of family, community, and nation.