The Department of Religion’s Week Five theme, “The People of Pakistan,” confronted widespread ignorance and misconceptions about the complexities of Pakistan and its peoples. During Friday’s 2 p.m. Interfaith Lecture, Karen Armstrong challenged the audience to bring the knowledge, insights and existing questions garnered from a week of study and turn them into compassionate action for the betterment of our world.

“Unless we learn at this perilous juncture of history to implement the Golden Rule globally so that we treat all people whoever they are as we wish to be treated ourselves, the world will not be a viable place,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong is a former nun, a religious scholar, author and the major contributor and proponent of the Charter for Compassion. The charter is a multi-faith international initiative that builds understanding, compassion and calls on people to live their lives and lead their countries according to the principle of treating others as you would be treated.