Jan2011 understanding the worlds religions unitarian universalist. Remembering huston smith, noted worlds religions scholar smith, who died on friday, was a methodist minister who traveled the world studying. He is the focus of a fivepart pbs television series with bill moyers and has taught at washington university, the massachusetts institute of technology. Beyond the postmodern mind excerpt thinking allowed w jeffrey mishlove duration. The worlds religions, by beloved author and pioneering professor huston smith, is the definitive classic for introducing the essential elements and teachings of the worlds predominant faiths, including hinduism, buddhism, confucianism, taoism, judaism, christianity, islam, as well as regional native traditions.
Huston smiths masterpiece explores the essential elements and teachings of the worlds predominant faiths, including hinduism, buddhism, confucianism, taoism, judaism, christianity, islam, and the native traditions of australia, africa, oceania, and the americas. The paperback of the the worlds religions by huston smith at. A concise introduction kindle edition by smith, huston. The center for world spiritualitys marc gafni and mariana caplan interview huston smith and discuss his views and opinion of the idea of world spirituality.
Buy the worlds religions by huston smith online at alibris. Onethird of our western civilization bears the mark of its jewish ancestry. The worlds religions chapter ix, the primal religions. What lifted the jews from obscurity to permanent religious greatness was their passion for. Adventures chasing the divine, an autobiography by huston smith with jeffery paine winner. The worlds religions by huston smith, 9780061660184, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Renowned world religions scholar huston smith says, every society and religion has rules, for both have moral laws. The worlds religions, book by huston smith paperback. Huston smith is internationally known and revered as the premier teacher of world religions. Raised by missionary parents in china and a professor at m. I first used this an edition of this book in high school in the late 1950s. The worlds religions chapter vi, judaism, revelation. With a new preface and fresh package, this completely revised and updated version of the religions of man explores the essential elements and teachings of the worlds predominant faiths, including hinduism, buddhism. The worlds religions, by beloved author and pioneering professor huston smith tales of wonder, is the definitive classic for introducing the essential elements and teachings of the worlds predominant faiths, including hinduism, buddhism, confucianism, taoism, judaism, christianity, islam, as well as regional native traditions.
The worlds religions, by beloved author and pioneering professor huston smith tales of wonder, is the definitive classic for introducing the essential e. Its such a respected book that its often used as a university textbook in world religion classes. The worlds religions, revised and updated huston smith. The fate of the human spirit in an age of disbelief, huston smith argues the human heart seeks answers to questions left unexplained by the modern worldview. He is a current professor emeritus of philosophy and religion at syracuse university. Originally titled the religions of man, this completely revised and updated edition of smith.
But this book does more than present the history and spirit of the major religions as you. His book the worlds religions has sold over two million copies and remains a popular introduction to comparative religion. The book was first published in 1958 and has been translated into twelve languages. He was widely regarded as one of the worlds most influential figures in religious studies. And the essence of morality consists, as in art, of drawing the line somewhere. Smith was born in suzhou, china to methodist missionaries and spent his first 17 years there.
He taught at the universities of colorado and denver from 19441947, moving to washington university in st. Berkeley, among others, and his worlds religions serves as the standard introductory textbook for college religion. Huston smith does a break job breaking down the worlds religions. The worlds religions plus by smith, huston and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Smith talked about his book the illustrated worlds religions and how various forms of religion view the forces of good and evil. The author breaks down the the largest world religions in their most basic core form. Since then the book has remained a renowned literary and religiously popular among the literary as well as the religious circles. Huston smith the worlds religions huston smith first wrote this book the worlds religions with the name the mans religions in 1958.
Huston cummings smith was a leading scholar of religious studies in the united states. Louis, smith set out to meet with thenfamous author gerald heard. Our great wisdom traditions by smith, huston and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Louis, missouri for the next ten years, and then professor of philosophy at mit from 19581973. The worlds religions, originally titled the religions of man, is a book written by religious studies scholar huston smith. If you are remotely interested in learning about other cultures and their beliefs, i highly recommend this title.
Buy the worlds religions plus book online at low prices. He is the focus of a fivepart pbs television series with bill moyers and has taught at washington university, the massachusetts institute of technology, syracuse university, and the university of california at berkeley. This revised and updated edition provides sympathetic. During his career, smith intensely studied vedanta. Originally titled the religions of man, this completely revised and updated edition of smiths masterpiece, now with an engaging new foreword, explores the essential elements and teachings of the worlds predominant faiths, including. After perusing in the truly correct use of that word its pages, i honestly. Drawn from his masterful presentation of islam in the bestselling book the worlds religions over two million copies sold, huston smith offers a revealing look into the heart of a tradition with more than one billion adherents worldwide. His biographical sketch revealed something of the reason he understood the worlds religions so well. Huston cummings smith may 31, 1919 december 30, 2016 was a leading scholar of religious studies in the united states. Born and raised in suzhou, china in a methodist missionary family, huston smith moved back to the united st. He had authored at least thirteen books on worlds religions and philosophy, and his book the worlds religions sold over three million copies as of 2017 and remains a popular introduction to comparative religion. It describes a broad sweep of religions such as those practiced by the australian aborigines, by the native american indians of north and south america and the religions of the interior of africa.
Huston smith s the worlds religions our great wisdom traditions chapter vii. The worlds religions, revised and updated, by huston. He had authored at least thirteen books on worlds religions and philosophy, and his book the worlds religions originally titled the religions of man sold over three million. We were assigned this book in my philosophy class to learn about the eastern religions but i could not put the book down. Hinduism, buddhism, confucianism, taoism, islam, judaism, christianity, and the native traditions of the americas, australia, africa, and oceania. World religions chapter 2 the illustrated worlds religions. Updated and repackaged edition of the all time classic bestseller with more than two million copies sold, from the internationally celebrated authority on religion, huston smith. Augustine admonished potential adherents to christianity that to understand, you must first believe, something which smith seems to have taken to heart, and for more than just christianity. Huston smiths the worlds religions is one of the most significant books ive ever read. Huston smiths masterpiece explores the essential elements and teachings of the worlds predominant faiths, including hinduism, buddhism. It was through psychedelic drugs in the early 1960s that professor smith believed he came closest to experiencing god.
The world of religion according to huston smith mother jones. In 1996 bill moyers devoted a 5part pbs special, the wisdom of faith with huston smith, to his life and work. Our great wisdom traditions by huston smith online at alibris. He succinctly presents the precepts which constitute the foundation of the religions within the scope of this book. Huston cummings smith is a religious studies scholar in the united states. The worlds premier authority on religious traditions presents a concise and timely guide to the history, teachings, and practice of islam. Point of departure hinduism buddhism confucianism taoism islam judaism christianity primal religions final examination. In this book, huston smith provides an objective analysis of the worlds most influential religions including hinduism, confucianism, taoism, islam, christianity and some primal religions. The worlds religions by huston smith is considered a classic in the genre by many. He convincingly conveys the unique appeal and gifts of each of the traditions and reveals their hold on the human heart and imagination.