The World's Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions

In my years of teaching philosophy and religion I have read many textbooks intended for introductory college courses. Most of the religious textbooks are dumbed down to the point of worthlessness and Smith's certainly falls into that category. I have a special angst over Smith's book though because so many lazy college instructors use it for the wrong reasons.

Smith wrote this book in 1958 and though the text has been updated a few times (though not at all since 1991) it remains riddled with outdated myopic viewpoints. Smith takes a disppointingly detached viewpoint toward religions that only observes the surfaces and does not plumb the depths. Worse, he never looks at religions within their context but looks at them from an American 1950's standpoint. What results is a kind of "gee whiz look at what those people do" dog and pony show that doesn't give students any real insight or understanding. I am sure Smith did not mean to be disrepsectful to the religions he covered but he nevertheless ends up being so.

Instructors assign this book for two main reasons. One, it is cheaper than all of the rest. Two, because its outdated and superficial treatment does not challenge students or instructors. No one has to take religions seriously or try to truly understand believers in context. While instructors thus get students to like them they are really shortchanging the students. It is irresponsible to assign a textbook that does not take into account the many significant religious events of the past 50 years and does not treat believers of other religions as full people living in a diverse and complex culture. It is far more important to give students a meaningful education than save them a few dollars on a simplistic book. The publishers should retire this book and no religion instructor should assign it.

Huston Smith's _The World's Religions_ surveys the major world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and primal religions. Instead of focusing on the details of the history and rituals of those religions, he examines their underlying philosophical claims (metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical). Because Smith is so enamored of religion, the dubious and pernicious premises are laid bare, with little or no attempt at rationalization. In addition, he focuses on the ideas that unite the various sects of a religion, rather than divide them. (Thus, in Christianity, only Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism are differentiated and discussed.) The only major failing of the book, in my opinion, is Smith's bias towards monotheism, such that all religions are interpreted as monotheistic in some significant sense. Finally, I should note that the book is a bit too easy, truly written for the average reader, rather than the intelligent or well-read one.

This book was my textbook for my high school world religions class years ago, and I still have it, despite the fact that my copy is falling apart. It remains the best introduction to the major religions of the world that I've come across. Admittedly, the book is mostly high level theology and not day-to-day religious practice information, but as a first book on the underlying tenets of Hinduism, Buddism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and more, it just can't be beat. If anyone ever asked me for a book about various theologies, this would be the first book I'd recommend.

Huston Smith's outstanding "The World's Religions" has served scholars both amateur and professional as the main introductory text for religious studies for almost half a century. It has gone through two major revisions, updating both language and information based upon new directions in religious thought, and added a chapter on tribal, animistic traditions found among the rapidly-dwindling native peoples of the world.
"TWR" covers all the major faiths: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Smith explores each religion in its historical context, and uses examples from major religious texts to attempt to paint a picture of each tradition. His writing style flows easily, making for an easily-accessible book that literally anyone could read, although he can be a little spastic at times, switching from idea to idea and back again in ways that aren't always clear. This fault makes it difficult for Smith to explore any belief-structure to a major degree of depth, but since this is an introductory book, that's not a major problem. It's a taste, not the entrée.
But it still tastes good. Smith takes a very non-judgmental approach to how he presents each tradition: he covers only the good aspects, except for some major historical points (the conflict between Christianity and Islam, for example). This means that there is very little comparison between faiths, except where warranted when one religion came from another - Christianity from Judaism, and Buddhism from Hinduism. Be that as it may, "TWW" is an excellent introduction for anyone interested in learning about different religions in an objective way. It's not going to spell out which religion is right and which isn't - like any good scholar, Smith leaves that up to the reader. Instead, he offers something to be enjoyed in the spirit of learning.
Final Grade: B+

This book (which I first read as the less PC "Religions of Man) is the single best primer to the basic beliefs and tentets of the major world religions available. Smith's prose is accessible and a joy to read. He is able to distill some very complex theological principles down to their essence to allow their easy digestion by the reader. You will not know everything there is to know about the major religions of the world after reading this book (and if you think that you do you are sorely mistaken). But, you will have a greater understanding of all of them. (Don't make the mistake I did the first time and skip the chapter on the religious tradition to which you belong - you will learn something about your own beliefs too.) I think almost everyone would benefit from reading this book, in that you will come away with a greater understanding of the beliefs that shape the world's spirituality.

The book is astoundingly easy to read. If you are skeptical of religion or searching for more than your past knowledge this is the book for you. The is no hint of any effort to change the reader's views, but rather a magnificent sharing of knowledge by one of the great observers of all religions. The book's goal is to provide us with the basic wisdom of each of the seven major religions. I read each section at different times as my curiosity on each developed. I have reread many parts recently Islam. This is not a history of religion or a rigorous road map of comparative religion. It is a brilliant and successful effort to put the basic wisdom of the great major religions in one book of reasonable size.
The original book is now 43 years old. This revised 1991 edition is better than ever. As the leading most popular book of its kind you can not go wrong so long as you understand that this book is designed to make these vast subjects approachable.
No one can say with confidence that a particular religion is superior. Yet each religion is different. History shows the greatest folly pursues conversions from one religion to another or seeks a merging religions. The beauty has always been in the differences and at the same time that there are common tenants. There lies the greatest reason for reading this fabulous book. Secondarily, despite the great and accelerating advances of science--- little is provided on the subjects that humans yearn to understand.
A third valuable reason for reading this book is as follows. Each community and each nation has abundant experiences with religions (and secular beliefs) impinging on the freedoms of those not sharing the beliefs of rulers leaders or democratic majorities. Perversion of one of the world's great religions is now having a major global impact. The backlash against normal Islam believers is very misplaced.
To assess the variances between the great religions and their significance, the author sums up the common teachings. I try to condense the author's final summary chapter as follows. The universal ethics are to avoid: murder, thieving, lying and adultery. The virtues are: humility, charity and veracity. The three common visions follow. First, if we could see the whole we would find it more integrated that we suppose. Second, our lot in life is better than the senses discern. Thirdly, our role is more mysterious than can be comprehended. In light of this wisdom the author encourages us to go forward and listen. Limitless reasons require us to listen to the faith of others, science and the secularists. Science and trade has annihilated the great distances between people. Yet, people have to struggle to see each other as equals. By listening we will understand others in ways leading to loving one another. To speak without listening turns away from wisdom.

When I bought this book, I was looking for an interesting, comprehensible and overall study of world religions. Smith's book filled the requirement exactly. His work is detailed enough to educate the reader, yet not so thick as to bog him down with unnecessary information.

It is also beautifully written. Smith is a gifted writer whose words touch as they inform. At times the book almost seems to have a poetic quality to it, most pleasing to the mind.

And while it may come across as too uncritical at times, it should be remembered that a work like this demands all religions be treated kindly. Smith did not intend to push for any one set of beliefs, although other books are fully justified in doing so. It is as if Smith were introducing a restaurant patron to a menu. He fully describes the food available. The customer must then make his own choice.

This is not a bad overview of some of the World's religions, but the reader should take care. Although I originally considered the book as a text for a survey course I am teaching on the subject, after reading some of the selections more closely, I was unsure that the book would work. It is well-written and interesting to read, to be sure, but smacks of a certain condescension or has a patronizing tone that came off as a little biased. I might still use the text to demonstrate a point of view, but have concerns that some of the students in the class whose own traditions were discussed by the author might take exception at how he portrays or writes about them. The book is a product of its time -- pre civil rights, pre feminist, pre alot of things. Yet, like a number of sort of "classics", it has its merits.

Perhaps Miss Chambers might consult an English language reference herself... "most badly"?

As an Adjunct Professor of World Religions, I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject. I had the honor of participating in a conference with Mr. Smith many years ago and he is, without doubt, a fountain of knowledge with respect to religions. Mr. Smith's writing style is admittedly "old" but what does one expect from someone who was prime at his prime in the 60's and 70's? Mr. Smith was conscientious enough to completely rework his original version, "The Religions of Man", because he correctly understood the chauvenistic overtones of such a title. He is a man who introduces his wife in this fashion: "The woman whose husband I am". He is a wise, kind soul who knows his subject and stands in respectful awe of it. You will not go wrong purchasing this book. If you can read Tolkein, you can handle Mr. Smith (though I would not necessarily recommend this book for high school students simply because Mr. Smith is possessed of a deep vocabulary and has a grasp of syntax and grammar that Miss Chambers couldn't begin to comprehend)

This is and incredible resource for understanding the diverse religious traditions that surround us. Despite the age of the book (first published 50 years ago), the explanations and insights into a large number of world religions is suprisingly up-to-date. In addition to the quality of writing and the depth of understanding, it's a very enjoyable read. I purchased the book for a class and found that I couldn't stop reading. This comes highly recomended for anyone who desires to understand what we believe, including your own faith tradition.