Staff Pick
An admirably readable and respectful introduction to the basic tenets and philosophies of the world's major religions, written by religious scholar Huston Smith. As I read these chapters, I found myself developing an increased appreciation of each of these faith traditions, including my own. What can be found here is perhaps best summed up by Professor Smith's own words: "If we take the world's enduring religions at their best, we discover the distilled wisdom of the human race." Recommended By Lori M., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Huston Smith's masterpiece explores the essential elements and teachings of the world's predominant faiths, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the native traditions of Australia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.
Emphasizing the inner—rather than the institutional—dimension of these religions, Smith devotes special attention to Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, Sufism, and the teachings of Jesus. He convincingly conveys the unique appeal and gifts of each of the traditions and reveals their hold on the human heart and imagination.
Synopsis
Originally titled "The Religions of Man," this completely revised and updatededition of Smith's seminal work explores the essential elements and teachingsof the world's predominant faiths.
Synopsis
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 world's predominant faiths, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, as well as regional native traditions.
This revised and updated edition provides sympathetic descriptions of the various traditions, explaining how they work “from the inside,” which is a big reason why this cherished classic has sold more than two million copies since it first appeared in 1958.
About the Author
Huston Smith is internationally known and revered as the premier teacher of world religions. He is the focus of a five-part 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. The recipient of twelve honorary degrees, Smith's fifteen books include his bestselling The World's Religions, Why Religion Matters, and his autobiography, Tales of Wonder.