Certainly the most important thing across human experience is how you feel. There is no value, no aspiration, no activity or situation, no reality that is not measured ultimately by how it makes you feel.

This means that in contriving a universal values system, feelings have to be absolutely at the top of the apex. Everything should flow from that central wisdom. Everything should be understood in relation to it.

This idea in its many forms is contained in the kernel philosophy of all the world religions. Compassion is always paramount despite the terrible atrocities carried out in the name of spiritual belief. Genuine empathy presupposes consideration for how actions impact on the feelings of others.

It is an indicator of just how far the traditional religious orders have lost sight of their original goal when they take up arms against those who hold different beliefs.