Quaker Universalist Conversations

Karen Armstrong, Jean Zaru and the “Charter of Compassion”

                                                                                                                                                  Karen Armstrong, author of numerous books on comparative religion, and  Palestinian Quaker peace activist  Jean Zaru collaborated on The Charter of Compassion, an important peace-building initiative that reaches out with a universal message:



The Charter for Compassion is a document that transcends religious, ideological, and national difference. Supported by leading thinkers from many traditions, the Charter inspires worldwide community-based acts of compassion.  http://charterforcompassion.org/site/



Karen Armstrong, former Catholic nun and author of The History of God (1993)   and The Case for God (2009), spoke at Friends House in London. You can hear an audio of her talk:

Jean Zaru is also well known and respected for her efforts to bring peace to Israel/Palestine.  She recently received the Lindh Prize in Stockholm for this work and also for her involement with the Charter of Compassion. http://www.fwccemes.org/news/charter-for-compassion


Jean Zaru was born in Ramallah, Palestine in 1940, eight years before the Palestinian diaspora. Her life has been devoted to dialogue and non-violent social change. Jean is the presiding clerk of the Ramallah Friends Meeting in Palestine and has served in that capacity for over 17 years. Recently, Jean spearheaded an effort with an international steering committee to restore the historic Meetinghouse and establish an International Friends Center with the aim of contributing to the building of a culture of peace and nonviolence in Palestine. In addition, Jean serves as a consultant and resource person for many faith-based organizations, including church related development agencies. In August 2008, a collection of her writings was published under the title, “Occupied With Non Violence: A Palestinian Woman Speaks”.

Hear what Jean Zaru hs to say about the Charter:


[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8VDT7-deI8&feature=player_embedded]

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