Karen Armstrong speaks about her progression from a disillusioned and damaged young nun into, in her words, a "freelance monotheist." She's a formidable thinker and scholar, but as a theologian she calls herself an amateur -- noting that the Latin root of the word "amateur" means a love of one's subject. Seven years in a strict religious order nearly snuffed out her ability to think about faith at all. Here, we hear the story behind Armstrong's developing ideas about God.

Author:  Krista Tippett American Public Media

Duration: 53:09

Published: 2008-05-08

Tag: karen armstrong   islam   jew   judaism   nun   christianity   jesuit   spiral staircase   krista tippett   catholic   muhammad   faith   religion   spirituality   morality