The World's Religions, Revised and Updated

A Concise Introduction

Huston Smith

• Publisher: HarperOne
• Year: 2009
• Print ISBN: 9780060095574
• eBook ISBN: 9780061763489
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Asian Religions

The World’s 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. This essential guide to comparative religion covers 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 of religious studies has sold more than two million copies since it first appeared in 1958.

For decades, students and seekers have turned to this landmark text for its clear, objective, and engaging exploration of humanity’s most enduring spiritual traditions.

• Sympathetic Introductions: Go beyond doctrine to understand the world’s major faiths as they are experienced “from the inside,” with respect and profound insight.
• Covers Major World Religions: Journey through the essential teachings of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
• Scholarly Yet Accessible: Written by a pioneering professor, this book translates complex ideas into a readable and compelling narrative, perfect for students and general readers alike.
• A Foundational Text: Discover why this cherished classic has been a foundational text in religious studies for generations, selling more than two million copies.

Index

The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created.

• aborigines, Australian, 367—369
• Abraham, in Islam, 222—23, 230, 240, 243, 254;
  • in Judaism, 275, 284, 304, 306;
  • Abrahamic religions, the three, 221, 345
• age, respect for, in Confucianism, 176—77;
  • in primal religions, 373
• Albright, William, quoted, 286, 316n.4
• al-Ghazali, quoted, 262
• al-Halaj, 264;
  • quoted, 262
• Ali (Muhammad’s son-in-law), 258
• Allah, etymology, 222
• anatta, 115
• Anderson, Bernhard, quoted, 282—83, 316n.3
• Angelus Silesius, quoted, 262
• anicca, 116—17
• Apostle’s Creed, 342
• Arabs, language of, 233—34;
  • rise to greatness, 222
• arhat, 117, 128;
  • described, 119;
  • as Theravada Buddhist ideal, 124
• arrow smeared with poison, parable of, 95—96
• art(s), Confucius’ respect for, 179;
  • Taoist approach to, 213
• Aryans, 55
• asanas, 44, 20...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Epigraph
• Contents
• Foreword
• Preface to the Second Edition
• I. Point of Departure
• II. Hinduism
• III. Buddhism
• IV. Confucianism
• V. Taoism
• VI. Islam
• VII. Judaism
• VIII. Christianity
• IX. The Primal Religions
• X. A Final Examination
• Acknowledgments
• Index
• About the Author
• Also by Huston Smith
• Copyright
• About the Publisher