The worlds religions by huston smith is considered a classic in the genre by many. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 399 pages and is available in paperback format. He had authored at least thirteen books on world s religions and philosophy, and his book the world s religions originally titled the religions of man sold over three. This is an expensive book, but is often available at a reduced cost through amazon marketplace. A great deal of attention has been played to the religious right in america. 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. Or, religious thought and life in india, as based on the veda and other sacred books of the hindus. A selection of books from the worlds great religions. All books of a religious, ideological, philosophical or political nature have thus been excluded from the below lists of bestselling books for these reasons. Religions of the world and ecology book series yale forum on. Author huston smith states emphatically that the book is not one of comparative religions.
The book is harperones first on religion and war, freet says, and a rare examination of war through a religious, though critical, lens. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. World s great religions by sam welles editor of life author 5. A comparative anthology of sacred texts andrew wilson demonstrating the commonality of the world s religions and our common humanity, this rich and varied anthology of scripture offers a highly useful collection of religious quotations, passages, and excerpts from the holy texts, representing a new, holistic approach to the world s religions. What are the top ten religions and what is the holy book. In islam, the quran mentions three different categories. The main characters of this religion, non fiction story are.
One of the best, most cohesive books on the worlds great religions. The worlds great religions by timelife books goodreads. The little book is the culmination of a good 40 year study, listening, speaking, writing and rewriting. The worlds religions, revised and updated huston smith. Lives of great religious books princeton university press. 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 world s predominant faiths, including.
The book s superb reproduction allows the symbolism and meaning in religious imagery and iconography to be revealed in great detail. This is a six hour course 12 lectures on islam, and it is part of the great world religions series by the great courses. The only beef i have is that the book does not include zoroastrianism. Its such a respected book that its often used as a university textbook in world religion classes. Three ways of doing a book like this well would be 1 document what can be proven historically, 2 report what each of the religions say about themselves or 3 some combination of the both. This big religion chart is our attempt to summarize the major religions and belief systems of the world buddhism, christianity, hinduism, islam, judaism, and dozens more into a quickreference comparison chart. Huston cummings smith may 31, 1919 december 30, 2016 was a leading scholar of religious studies in the united states. This major religion comparison table includes judaism, christianity, islam, hinduism, and buddhism. There are well over 4,000 different religions in the world today. This book deals with 5 major spiritual systems in the east and west that still have relevance today. The world s religions can best be described by taking note of what it is not. Buddhism 376 million followers tripitaka pali canon 5.
While religion is hard to define, one standard model of religion, used in religious studies courses, who defined it as a system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and longlasting moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations. Some are bad, some are so so, other good and some are just great. Rebecca alpert has brought together 36 essays dealing. In indian culture, different religious philosophies were traditionally respected as academic differences in pursuit of the same truth. Laderman, gary 2003, religion and american cultures. Accessible and farreaching, world religions will engage the whole. Descriptions of the five major religions of the world with ac. Hinduism, buddhism, confucianism, taoism, islam, judaism, christianity, and the native traditions of the americas, australia, africa, and oceania. The distinctive identities of different faiths are explored in world religions by studying the main principles and thinking of each religion.
A religious left, exists within buddhism, christianity, judaism, even humanism, but has not often received significant media exposure. Surveying the worlds religions, from buddhism to zoroastrianism, and providing succinct yet thoughtprovoking insight into the philosophy and. This book was intended to be a brief survey without an indepth. The great faiths explored and explained bowker, john on. Lives of great religious books is a series of short volumes that recount the complex and fascinating histories of important religious texts from around the world.
Discover engaging books on buddhism, christianity, islam, judaism, and more. Muslims, the people of the book, and idol worshipers christian categorizations. A holy man reading the guru granth sahib, the holy book of sikhism. The holy books of world religions sacred texts in world.
Our great wisdom traditions was originally published in 1958. The first edition of the novel was published in 1958, and was written by huston smith. It is are a scriptural alternative to the many theories concerning the lords second coming and is in 3 parts. One of the oldest known religious texts is the kesh temple hymn of ancient sumer, a set of inscribed clay tablets which scholars typically date around 2600 bce. Adi granth, first book is the most sacred book of the sikh religion. The worlds religions, by beloved author and pioneering professor huston smith tales of wonder, is the definitive classic for.
Having sold more than 500 million copies worldwide, 6 7 8 harry potter by j. These conferences were organized by the center for the study of world religions at harvard divinity school, and cosponsored by bucknell university and the. Great religions of the world by national geographic society. He was widely regarded as one of the world s most influential figures in religious studies. Since a lot of the worlds problems are caused in part by the wrong interpretation of the basic message of these religions. List of religions and spiritual traditions wikipedia. This one is just so so, which is a pity as it is a subject that needs to be addressed. The world s great religions by life hardback 1957 hardcover january 1, 1957 by anonymous author 5. However, opposition to that movement has often been considered to be the secular left. In world cultures, there have traditionally been many different groupings of religious belief. The epic of gilgamesh from sumer, although only considered by some scholars as a religious text, has origins as early as 2150 bce, and stands as one of the earliest literary works that includes various mythological. The world s religions, originally titled the religions of man, is a book written by religious studies scholar huston smith. This book was intended to be a brief survey without an indepth analysis.
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. An encyclopedia of traditions, diversity, and popular expressions, santa barbara, calif. Originally titled the religions of man, this completely revised and updated edition of smith. Price new from used from hardcover, 1963 please retry. I was looking for a book for kids that shows all the religions and had been recommended the title the world s great religions from timelife. They vary by geographical spread, number of adherents, language, hierarchy and, of course, beliefs. Hinduism, buddhism, confucianism, taoism, islam, judaism, and christianity. The great awakening was a religious revival that impacted the english colonies in america during the 1730s and 1740s. The chart below compares selected religion characteristics such as prophets, adherents, founders, origination date, deity names, afterlife, path to redemption, place of worship, holy book name, and main sects. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions.