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The World's Religions, Revised and Updated
Originally titled The Religions of Man, this completely revised and updated edition of Smith's masterpiece, now with an engaging new foreword, explores the essential elements and teachings of the world's predominant faiths, including:
Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the native traditions of the Americas, Australia, Africa, and Oceania.Emphasizing the inner -- rather than institutional -- dimensions 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.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1958
1983 people are currently reading
35091 people want to read
About the author
Huston Smith
127 books322 followersSmith 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 1944–1947, moving to Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri for the next ten years, and then Professor of Philosophy at MIT from 1958–1973. While at MIT he participated in some of the experiments with entheogens that professor Timothy Leary conducted at Harvard University. He then moved to Syracuse University where he was Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion and Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Philosophy until his retirement in 1983 and current emeritus status. He now lives in the Berkeley, CA area where he is Visiting Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.
During his career, Smith not only studied, but practiced Vedanta Hinduism, Zen Buddhism (studying under Goto Zuigan), and Sufism for over ten years each. He is a notable autodidact.
As a young man, Smith, of his own volition, after suddenly turning to mysticism, set out to meet with then-famous author Gerald Heard. Heard responded to Smith's letter, invited him to his Trabuco College (later donated as the Ramakrishna Monastery) in Southern California, and then sent him off to meet the legendary Aldous Huxley. So began Smith's experimentation with meditation, and association with the Vedanta Society in Saint Louis under the auspices of Swami Satprakashananda of the Ramakrishna order.
Via the connection with Heard and Huxley, Smith eventually experimented with Timothy Leary and others at the Center for Personality Research, of which Leary was Research Professor. The experience and history of the era are captured somewhat in Smith's book Cleansing the Doors of Perception. In this period, Smith joined in on the Harvard Project as well, an attempt to raise spiritual awareness through entheogenic plants.
He has been a friend of the XIVth Dalai Lama for more than forty years, and met and talked to some of the great figures of the century, from Eleanor Roosevelt to Thomas Merton.
He developed an interest in the Traditionalist School formulated by Rene Guenon and Ananda Coomaraswamy. This interest has become a continuing thread in all his writings.
In 1996, Bill Moyers devoted a 5-part PBS special to Smith's life and work, "The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith." Smith has produced three series for public television: "The Religions of Man," "The Search for America," and (with Arthur Compton) "Science and Human Responsibility." His films on Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Sufism have all won awards at international film festivals.
His latest DVD release is The Roots of Fundamentalism - A Conversation with Huston Smith and Phil Cousineau.
During his career, Smith not only studied, but practiced Vedanta Hinduism, Zen Buddhism (studying under Goto Zuigan), and Sufism for over ten years each. He is a notable autodidact.
As a young man, Smith, of his own volition, after suddenly turning to mysticism, set out to meet with then-famous author Gerald Heard. Heard responded to Smith's letter, invited him to his Trabuco College (later donated as the Ramakrishna Monastery) in Southern California, and then sent him off to meet the legendary Aldous Huxley. So began Smith's experimentation with meditation, and association with the Vedanta Society in Saint Louis under the auspices of Swami Satprakashananda of the Ramakrishna order.
Via the connection with Heard and Huxley, Smith eventually experimented with Timothy Leary and others at the Center for Personality Research, of which Leary was Research Professor. The experience and history of the era are captured somewhat in Smith's book Cleansing the Doors of Perception. In this period, Smith joined in on the Harvard Project as well, an attempt to raise spiritual awareness through entheogenic plants.
He has been a friend of the XIVth Dalai Lama for more than forty years, and met and talked to some of the great figures of the century, from Eleanor Roosevelt to Thomas Merton.
He developed an interest in the Traditionalist School formulated by Rene Guenon and Ananda Coomaraswamy. This interest has become a continuing thread in all his writings.
In 1996, Bill Moyers devoted a 5-part PBS special to Smith's life and work, "The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith." Smith has produced three series for public television: "The Religions of Man," "The Search for America," and (with Arthur Compton) "Science and Human Responsibility." His films on Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Sufism have all won awards at international film festivals.
His latest DVD release is The Roots of Fundamentalism - A Conversation with Huston Smith and Phil Cousineau.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 623 reviews
August 26, 2012
I picked up this book thinking that this would be a good refresher, after all I'm a worldly woman who knows so much about other religions! Right? Yeah, I'm embarrassed about how smug that sounds, too. After perusing (in the truly correct use of that word) its pages, I honestly cannot believe how little I knew. And to be completely honest, I am still struggling to grasp all of the information presented by Smith.
This book is amazing. Smith readily admits that his work is not comprehensive (and really, how could it be?), but what I really appreciated was how effectively he ties in the history of each religion with its spirit. He delves into the core beliefs of each major religion, beginning with Hinduism and ending with Christianity, with a chapter at the end on the primal religions.
His parting advice to us is simply to listen. That in listening we are communicating, and in communicating we are loving. It doesn't get more beautiful than that.
It took me much longer to read than I initially assumed it would, so give yourself some time. But it was totally worth it, and I will read it again.
This book is amazing. Smith readily admits that his work is not comprehensive (and really, how could it be?), but what I really appreciated was how effectively he ties in the history of each religion with its spirit. He delves into the core beliefs of each major religion, beginning with Hinduism and ending with Christianity, with a chapter at the end on the primal religions.
His parting advice to us is simply to listen. That in listening we are communicating, and in communicating we are loving. It doesn't get more beautiful than that.
It took me much longer to read than I initially assumed it would, so give yourself some time. But it was totally worth it, and I will read it again.
December 27, 2015
فى البداية احب اشكر اصدقائى على مشاركتهم فى قراءة الكتاب لقد عاونونى فى فهم الكثير من خلال المناقشات
□■□■□■□■□■□■□■
ذكر الكاتب فى مقدمة الكتاب ان هذا الكتاب هو غوص فى روح الدين وليس فى بنائه الاساسى او تاريخه وانه اهتم بشكل اساسى ان يستعرض كل دين من خلال وجهه نظر معتنقيه وليس من خلال وجهه نظر الكاتب او خلفيته الثقافية والدينيه
وذكر المترجم ايضاران الكاتب درس الاديان من مصادرها الاصلية ورحل الى بلدانها واعتنقها ومارسهاﻻلفترات زمنية
تحدث الكاتب عن الهندوسية وهى اكثر الاديان تشعبا وتعقيدا وفلسفة ثم تحدث عن البوذية والكنفوشية والطاوية
اليهودية:شعرت فى بعض الاحيان ان الكاتب يحب اليهودية ويدافع عنها بشدة
المسيحية:كنت انتظر المزيد من الشرح والتفاصيل يمكن لشغف خاصعندى للمزيد من المعرفة عن المسيحية-
(الاسلام:كنت متخوفة من حديثه عن الاسلام الا انه جاء منصفا وحيادياوشارحا لاهم سمات الاسلام ومميزاته وافكارة)(الا انه كان يخلط احيانا بين القران والسنة-
تحدث عن الصوفية كاحد الفرق الاسلامية واختلف معه فى ذلك فهناك جدل كبير حول الصوفية وحتى فى طريقة تناوله لها شعرت انه لايتحدث عن فرقة من فرق الاسلام ولكن يتحدث عن ديانة اخرى
وختم الكتاب بالحديث عن الاديان البدائية-
فى النهاية الكاتب كان يمتلك الكثير من الحيدة فى الحديث عن الاديان ولم يسخر او يتهكم مهما كانت الفلسفة غريبة -
واعتبر هذا الكتاب مدخل مدخل جيد للتعمق فى القراءة عن الاديان-
الكتاب شيق وممتع لكنه ثقيل بعض الشئ ويحتاج الى قراءة الفقرات لاكثر من مرة الا انه بالقليل من الجهد يمكن فهمه-
□■□■□■□■□■□■□■
ذكر الكاتب فى مقدمة الكتاب ان هذا الكتاب هو غوص فى روح الدين وليس فى بنائه الاساسى او تاريخه وانه اهتم بشكل اساسى ان يستعرض كل دين من خلال وجهه نظر معتنقيه وليس من خلال وجهه نظر الكاتب او خلفيته الثقافية والدينيه
وذكر المترجم ايضاران الكاتب درس الاديان من مصادرها الاصلية ورحل الى بلدانها واعتنقها ومارسهاﻻلفترات زمنية
تحدث الكاتب عن الهندوسية وهى اكثر الاديان تشعبا وتعقيدا وفلسفة ثم تحدث عن البوذية والكنفوشية والطاوية
اليهودية:شعرت فى بعض الاحيان ان الكاتب يحب اليهودية ويدافع عنها بشدة
المسيحية:كنت انتظر المزيد من الشرح والتفاصيل يمكن لشغف خاصعندى للمزيد من المعرفة عن المسيحية-
(الاسلام:كنت متخوفة من حديثه عن الاسلام الا انه جاء منصفا وحيادياوشارحا لاهم سمات الاسلام ومميزاته وافكارة)(الا انه كان يخلط احيانا بين القران والسنة-
تحدث عن الصوفية كاحد الفرق الاسلامية واختلف معه فى ذلك فهناك جدل كبير حول الصوفية وحتى فى طريقة تناوله لها شعرت انه لايتحدث عن فرقة من فرق الاسلام ولكن يتحدث عن ديانة اخرى
وختم الكتاب بالحديث عن الاديان البدائية-
فى النهاية الكاتب كان يمتلك الكثير من الحيدة فى الحديث عن الاديان ولم يسخر او يتهكم مهما كانت الفلسفة غريبة -
واعتبر هذا الكتاب مدخل مدخل جيد للتعمق فى القراءة عن الاديان-
الكتاب شيق وممتع لكنه ثقيل بعض الشئ ويحتاج الى قراءة الفقرات لاكثر من مرة الا انه بالقليل من الجهد يمكن فهمه-
May 8, 2020
-En su temática, clásico por derecho propio.-
Género. Ensayo.
Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Las religiones del mundo (publicación original: The World’s Religions. Our Great Wisdom Traditions, 1958, aunque que en un primer momento se llamó The Religions of Man) intenta, parafraseando al propio autor, acercar “al lector laico e inteligente” (ahí cito a Smith, que quede claro) a las religiones más perdurables de mundo a lo largo de la historia para que quizá pueda ver, o tal vez sentir, la razón de que sean guías y motivaciones en las vidas de aquellos que las practican. La edición en español que poseo se basa en la segunda edición del original, que amplió los contenidos en 1991 para hablar de otras creencias minoritarias, añadió material sobre algunas de las mayoritarias y abrió espacios para tradiciones orales religiosas.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Ensayo.
Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Las religiones del mundo (publicación original: The World’s Religions. Our Great Wisdom Traditions, 1958, aunque que en un primer momento se llamó The Religions of Man) intenta, parafraseando al propio autor, acercar “al lector laico e inteligente” (ahí cito a Smith, que quede claro) a las religiones más perdurables de mundo a lo largo de la historia para que quizá pueda ver, o tal vez sentir, la razón de que sean guías y motivaciones en las vidas de aquellos que las practican. La edición en español que poseo se basa en la segunda edición del original, que amplió los contenidos en 1991 para hablar de otras creencias minoritarias, añadió material sobre algunas de las mayoritarias y abrió espacios para tradiciones orales religiosas.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
September 9, 2015
I hope to have time to reflect more on this one in writing. For now, a quote:
"But we also listen to the faith of others, including the secularists. We listen first because, as this book opened by noting, our times require it. The community today can be no single tradition; it is the planet. Daily the world grows smaller, leaving understanding the only place where peace can find a home. We are not prepared for the annihilation of distance that science has effected. Who today stands ready to accept the solemn equality of peoples? Who does not have to fight an unconscious tendency to equate foreign with inferior? ...Those who listen work for peace, a peace built not on ecclesiastical or political hegemonies but on understanding and mutual concern...Understanding, then, can lead to love. But the reverse is also true. Love brings understanding; the two are reciprocal. So we must listen to understand, but we must also listen to put into play the compassion that the wisdom traditions all enjoin, for it is impossible to love another without hearing that other." (390)
"But we also listen to the faith of others, including the secularists. We listen first because, as this book opened by noting, our times require it. The community today can be no single tradition; it is the planet. Daily the world grows smaller, leaving understanding the only place where peace can find a home. We are not prepared for the annihilation of distance that science has effected. Who today stands ready to accept the solemn equality of peoples? Who does not have to fight an unconscious tendency to equate foreign with inferior? ...Those who listen work for peace, a peace built not on ecclesiastical or political hegemonies but on understanding and mutual concern...Understanding, then, can lead to love. But the reverse is also true. Love brings understanding; the two are reciprocal. So we must listen to understand, but we must also listen to put into play the compassion that the wisdom traditions all enjoin, for it is impossible to love another without hearing that other." (390)
December 26, 2015
اظن بهذا الكتاب اختتم قراءاتى لعام 2015 .على الرغم من ان هذا العام على الصعيد الشخصى كان ملئ بالخيبات وضاعت به الكثير من الأحلام
على الرغم من الألم الشخصى الاانه من اكثر الاعوام التى غيرتنى عقلياً وفكرياً ويرجع السبب الأساسى فى هذا التغيير وفى القدرة على تجاوز الأوقات العصيبة للقراءة .اصدقائى الأعزاء الكتب فانا من القلة التى تعتقد ان للكتب ارواح وانه فى كل مرة اطالع كتابا يعطينى جزء من روحه .
انتقلت لأنواع جديدة من الكتب لم تكن عناوينها تسترعى انتباهى من قبل ودخلت عوالم لم يطأها عقلى من قبل يرجع الفضل فى التعرف عليها لأصدقاء الجودريدز الذين يشكلون جزء كبير من عالمى حالياً.
من اكثر الكتب التى تركت علامة بداخلى وجعلتنى اعيد تقييم اشياء كثيرة فى حياتى كتاب "بحار الحب عند الصوفية "وهذا الكتاب :أديان العالم .
جميل أن تؤمن من جديد أن تتحول لأنسان يعقل وليس انسان يمشى مع القطيع .أن تقتنع بدينك عقلياً وفكرياً وليس عن طريق الوراثة .
يستعرض الكاتب فى هذا الكتاب الأديان التى يحتل كل منها جزء من الخريطة الجغرافية للعالم
بداية من الهندوسية والبوذية فى الهند للكونفوشية والطاوية فى الصين وصولاً للديانات السماوية الثلاث : اليهودية ,المسيحية ,الأسلام .
تناول الكاتب الأديان من ناحية الافكار التى تميز كل منها بالأضافة لنكهة تاريخية عن مؤسسيها.لم يتطرق كثيراً للطقوس والعبادات التى يعتبرها كثيرون لب الديانة واساسها .
.يتميز الكتاب بالحيادية التامة والموضوعية لا تستطيع اتهام الكاتب بالتحيز لأى من هذه الديانات فقد درس الكاتب كل الديانات واعتنق الكثير منها
ما يعاب على الكتاب هو طريقة السرد الصعبة والمستعصية على الفهم فى كثير من الأوقات لاأعرف هل السبب يرجع للمؤلف ام هو من عيوب الترجمة
فالكتاب يحتاج لقدر كبير من التركيز اثناء القراءة .
بالاضافة لعدم استرسال الكاتب فى بعض الأفكار التى احتاجت للمزيد من التوضيح خاصة فى الديانتين اليهودية والمسيحية مثلاً عدم الوقوف كثيراَ عند
الأسباب التى أدت للأنفصال بين الكنيستين الشرقية والغربية والتى تعتبر من صميم العقيدة بالأضافة لعدم التركيز على موضوع التثليث والذى يشكل جوهر العقيدة المسيحية وهو ما شكل بالنسبة لى نقطة قصور .
فى المجمل الكتاب يعد خريطة لأديان العالم تساعد فى التعرف على الجانب الروحى لهذه الأفكار والديانات أكثر من التعرف على الجانب العقائدى منها .
هو كتاب بالتأكيد يستحق القراءة .
اخيراً شكراً للأصدقاء الذين شاركونى فى القراءة والذين شكلت مناقشتهم للكتاب اهم العوامل فى استمتاعى وفهمى له.
على الرغم من الألم الشخصى الاانه من اكثر الاعوام التى غيرتنى عقلياً وفكرياً ويرجع السبب الأساسى فى هذا التغيير وفى القدرة على تجاوز الأوقات العصيبة للقراءة .اصدقائى الأعزاء الكتب فانا من القلة التى تعتقد ان للكتب ارواح وانه فى كل مرة اطالع كتابا يعطينى جزء من روحه .
انتقلت لأنواع جديدة من الكتب لم تكن عناوينها تسترعى انتباهى من قبل ودخلت عوالم لم يطأها عقلى من قبل يرجع الفضل فى التعرف عليها لأصدقاء الجودريدز الذين يشكلون جزء كبير من عالمى حالياً.
من اكثر الكتب التى تركت علامة بداخلى وجعلتنى اعيد تقييم اشياء كثيرة فى حياتى كتاب "بحار الحب عند الصوفية "وهذا الكتاب :أديان العالم .
جميل أن تؤمن من جديد أن تتحول لأنسان يعقل وليس انسان يمشى مع القطيع .أن تقتنع بدينك عقلياً وفكرياً وليس عن طريق الوراثة .
يستعرض الكاتب فى هذا الكتاب الأديان التى يحتل كل منها جزء من الخريطة الجغرافية للعالم
بداية من الهندوسية والبوذية فى الهند للكونفوشية والطاوية فى الصين وصولاً للديانات السماوية الثلاث : اليهودية ,المسيحية ,الأسلام .
تناول الكاتب الأديان من ناحية الافكار التى تميز كل منها بالأضافة لنكهة تاريخية عن مؤسسيها.لم يتطرق كثيراً للطقوس والعبادات التى يعتبرها كثيرون لب الديانة واساسها .
.يتميز الكتاب بالحيادية التامة والموضوعية لا تستطيع اتهام الكاتب بالتحيز لأى من هذه الديانات فقد درس الكاتب كل الديانات واعتنق الكثير منها
ما يعاب على الكتاب هو طريقة السرد الصعبة والمستعصية على الفهم فى كثير من الأوقات لاأعرف هل السبب يرجع للمؤلف ام هو من عيوب الترجمة
فالكتاب يحتاج لقدر كبير من التركيز اثناء القراءة .
بالاضافة لعدم استرسال الكاتب فى بعض الأفكار التى احتاجت للمزيد من التوضيح خاصة فى الديانتين اليهودية والمسيحية مثلاً عدم الوقوف كثيراَ عند
الأسباب التى أدت للأنفصال بين الكنيستين الشرقية والغربية والتى تعتبر من صميم العقيدة بالأضافة لعدم التركيز على موضوع التثليث والذى يشكل جوهر العقيدة المسيحية وهو ما شكل بالنسبة لى نقطة قصور .
فى المجمل الكتاب يعد خريطة لأديان العالم تساعد فى التعرف على الجانب الروحى لهذه الأفكار والديانات أكثر من التعرف على الجانب العقائدى منها .
هو كتاب بالتأكيد يستحق القراءة .
اخيراً شكراً للأصدقاء الذين شاركونى فى القراءة والذين شكلت مناقشتهم للكتاب اهم العوامل فى استمتاعى وفهمى له.
January 26, 2024
Религии for dummies, надъхан фундаментализъм или мъдрост от зората на човечеството до днес? С подобни заглавия, въпреки рецензиите и оформлението, никога не съм сигурна, докато не затворя и последната страница. Хюстън Смит не ме разочарова.
Роден през далечната 1919 г. и прекарал първите си 17 години в Китай, син на протестантски мисионери, изповядвал в различни периоди от живота си няколко източни религии, без да се отказва от християнството, преподавал религии в Масачузеткия Технологичен Университет, Хюстън Смит е сладкодумен и начетен събеседник.
Всяка от разгледаните религии е крайно интересен експеримент с живота. Имаме късмет, че живеем във време, в което имаме достъп до такъв пъстър букет от идеи. Както и порядъчно свободен избор коя, кога, къде и дали да приложим.
Отделяйки по около стотина страници на всяка от разгледаните религии, Смит влиза в диалог с всяка и поднася един, доста идеалистичен в интерес на истината, кратък обзор и - неизбежно субективна - интерпретация на основните им идеи. На ръба с концепцията за справочник, Смит изхвърля от изложението си историческите, географските, теологичните и културните влияния, оголвайки чисто идейния скелет на всяка религия, без който тя би рухнала. Връща се към изворите и, които с времето неизбежно са се размили и заблатили в безбройни разклонения и ритуали.
Индуизмът - с преднината си на древна философия - спокойно преценява, че пътят (йога) към духовното осъзнаване ще е различен за различните хора. Склонните към размисъл ще поемат по стръмния път на знанието с джнана йога. Емоционалните ще изберат пътя на любовта с бхакти йога. Дейните ще се заемат с работа и с карма йога. Учените с емпирична нагласа ще се заемат с психофизични упражнения и с раджна йога. Въвеждайки причинноследствената връзка с концепцията за кармата, индуизмът стоварва върху всеки личната отговорност зa делата му. Нещо повече, с ужасни последици, избили в закостеняла и брутално несправедлива социална йерархия, се опитва да създаде и организира идеалното общество посредством кастовата система. Старата идея - обществото да е организирано на база на разделение на дейностите според различните способности - се съчетава с обречеността завинаги да си заклещен в кастата, в която си роден.
Будизмът е психология, приложена на практика, още от стари времена. Тя прецизно формулира проблема (страданието), поставя клиничната диагноза (желанието е източник на страдание) и предписва лечение в осем просто формулирани, но нелеки за изпълнение, стъпки. Правилни възгледи, намерение, реч, поведение, занятие, усилие, бдителност, концентрация. Великолепна програма за себепознание и усъвършенстване, залагаща на избягване на крайностите и баланс между състрадание и непривързаност, съчетана с пълната лична отговорност за постигнатия резултат, изчистена от мистицизъм и упование на посредници, и непризнаваща касти.
В Китай един кажи-речи (по днешните мерки) атеист ще се превърне почти в Бог и ще се роди конфуцианството, за което и днес се спори дали е религия, но пък незаличимо е формирало китайския национален характер. Конфуций ще приложи на практика етиката, за да моделира идеалното общество, лишено от мистика. То се опира на колективното усилие и взаимозависимост. Базира се на правилното изпълнение на всяка от петте основни житейски роли на всеки човек (родител - дете, съпруг - съпруга, по-голям - по-малък брат/сестра, стар - млад приятел, владетел - поданик). Докато всяка роля се изпълнява правилно, семейството, общността и държавата ще са в хармония. Индивидът винаги е пресечна точка в различни взаимоотношения, а не самостойна единица - като такава ще наруши реда и хармонията.
За да не се изгуби все пак индивидът в тази обществена паяжина от нелеки взаимосвързаности, той може винаги да се разтвори в поезията, неуловимостта и съзерцателността на даоизма.
Единственото леко дразнещо в тази източна секция беше опитът за буквален “превод” на “западен” език на част от концепциите. Точно такъв не е нужен, но все пак книгата е предназначена за американци, и то относително религиозни.
След Изтока, Хюстън Смит обръща поглед към Запада и религиите, базирани на книгата. Ето тук ме позагуби. Може би шокът след Изтока бе твърде голям, но на моменти същността на казаното доста ми убягваше.
Смит се захвана първо, по неизвестна за мен причина, с Исляма. Това изцяло обърна логиката на изложението, тъй като според мен ислямът трябва да бъде разглеждан едва след Юдаизма и Християнството, чийто наследник е в известен смисъл. И ето че имаме религия, която е много ясна, безусловна и категорична правна норма. Няма мърдане - едно от задълженията на добрия мюсюлманин е отдаването на Бога. Буквално всеки аспект от живота на вярващия е изрично дефиниран, включително какъв процент от имуществото му да отива за благотворителност. Тук индивидът има лична отговорност само доколкото се подчинява на Бог, а Бог му говори в първо лице, единствено число из страниците на Корана. Връзката е строго йерархична и еднопосочна, диалог не е предвиден.
Много векове по-рано Яхве си избира един малък народ, чрез който да говори на света и да го ползва като образец за добра практика. Така се ражда Юдаизмът и се налага монотеизмът като цяло. И за да не се самозабравят чедата на избрания народ, Бог редовно им праща гневни пророци, предвестници на бъдещите световни революции, които да разбиват заблудите, да громят несправедливостите и да завръщат в правия път. Светът може и трябва да се променя към по-добро.
Един от синовете на този народ, следвайки нелекия път на тези пророци, ще разпростре аудиторията си далеч извън земите на Палестина и ще влезе в историята като Исус Христос и основател на Християнството. Неговата първоначална проповед ще се поизгуби в по-късните и институционални интерпретации. Първият Вселенски Събор в Никея от 325 г. ще вземе соломоновското решение да разглежда Христос хем изцяло като Бог, и същевременно изцяло като човек. Само така може да обоснове тезата, че Бог в пълната си мощ е изкупил греховете на човечеството, страдайки същевременно изцяло като човек. Концепцията за светата Троица пък и досега хвърля в недоумение юдеи и мюсюлмани (а сигурно и част от християните) доколко християнството изобщо може да се брои за монотеистична религия.
Конкретно в частта за западните религии умишленото абстрахиране от историята за мен се оказа по-скоро минус, тъй като се избягват щекотливи въпроси. Различните течения в юдаизма, християнството и исляма не са ясно очертани, а за православието Хюстън Смит няма кой знае каква представа, освен че може правилно да напише името и знае, че там няма папа. В Исляма пък разглежда ненужно дълго суфизма, който той самият е практикувал и познава отблизо, пренебрегвайки други важни течения и аспекти.
В заключение: приятно ми беше са се запозная с Хюстън Смит, и съм напълно съгласна с цитирания от него св. Августин: ”Обичай [Бога] и прави каквото искаш.”
Роден през далечната 1919 г. и прекарал първите си 17 години в Китай, син на протестантски мисионери, изповядвал в различни периоди от живота си няколко източни религии, без да се отказва от християнството, преподавал религии в Масачузеткия Технологичен Университет, Хюстън Смит е сладкодумен и начетен събеседник.
Всяка от разгледаните религии е крайно интересен експеримент с живота. Имаме късмет, че живеем във време, в което имаме достъп до такъв пъстър букет от идеи. Както и порядъчно свободен избор коя, кога, къде и дали да приложим.
Отделяйки по около стотина страници на всяка от разгледаните религии, Смит влиза в диалог с всяка и поднася един, доста идеалистичен в интерес на истината, кратък обзор и - неизбежно субективна - интерпретация на основните им идеи. На ръба с концепцията за справочник, Смит изхвърля от изложението си историческите, географските, теологичните и културните влияния, оголвайки чисто идейния скелет на всяка религия, без който тя би рухнала. Връща се към изворите и, които с времето неизбежно са се размили и заблатили в безбройни разклонения и ритуали.
Индуизмът - с преднината си на древна философия - спокойно преценява, че пътят (йога) към духовното осъзнаване ще е различен за различните хора. Склонните към размисъл ще поемат по стръмния път на знанието с джнана йога. Емоционалните ще изберат пътя на любовта с бхакти йога. Дейните ще се заемат с работа и с карма йога. Учените с емпирична нагласа ще се заемат с психофизични упражнения и с раджна йога. Въвеждайки причинноследствената връзка с концепцията за кармата, индуизмът стоварва върху всеки личната отговорност зa делата му. Нещо повече, с ужасни последици, избили в закостеняла и брутално несправедлива социална йерархия, се опитва да създаде и организира идеалното общество посредством кастовата система. Старата идея - обществото да е организирано на база на разделение на дейностите според различните способности - се съчетава с обречеността завинаги да си заклещен в кастата, в която си роден.
Будизмът е психология, приложена на практика, още от стари времена. Тя прецизно формулира проблема (страданието), поставя клиничната диагноза (желанието е източник на страдание) и предписва лечение в осем просто формулирани, но нелеки за изпълнение, стъпки. Правилни възгледи, намерение, реч, поведение, занятие, усилие, бдителност, концентрация. Великолепна програма за себепознание и усъвършенстване, залагаща на избягване на крайностите и баланс между състрадание и непривързаност, съчетана с пълната лична отговорност за постигнатия резултат, изчистена от мистицизъм и упование на посредници, и непризнаваща касти.
В Китай един кажи-речи (по днешните мерки) атеист ще се превърне почти в Бог и ще се роди конфуцианството, за което и днес се спори дали е религия, но пък незаличимо е формирало китайския национален характер. Конфуций ще приложи на практика етиката, за да моделира идеалното общество, лишено от мистика. То се опира на колективното усилие и взаимозависимост. Базира се на правилното изпълнение на всяка от петте основни житейски роли на всеки човек (родител - дете, съпруг - съпруга, по-голям - по-малък брат/сестра, стар - млад приятел, владетел - поданик). Докато всяка роля се изпълнява правилно, семейството, общността и държавата ще са в хармония. Индивидът винаги е пресечна точка в различни взаимоотношения, а не самостойна единица - като такава ще наруши реда и хармонията.
За да не се изгуби все пак индивидът в тази обществена паяжина от нелеки взаимосвързаности, той може винаги да се разтвори в поезията, неуловимостта и съзерцателността на даоизма.
Единственото леко дразнещо в тази източна секция беше опитът за буквален “превод” на “западен” език на част от концепциите. Точно такъв не е нужен, но все пак книгата е предназначена за американци, и то относително религиозни.
След Изтока, Хюстън Смит обръща поглед към Запада и религиите, базирани на книгата. Ето тук ме позагуби. Може би шокът след Изтока бе твърде голям, но на моменти същността на казаното доста ми убягваше.
Смит се захвана първо, по неизвестна за мен причина, с Исляма. Това изцяло обърна логиката на изложението, тъй като според мен ислямът трябва да бъде разглеждан едва след Юдаизма и Християнството, чийто наследник е в известен смисъл. И ето че имаме религия, която е много ясна, безусловна и категорична правна норма. Няма мърдане - едно от задълженията на добрия мюсюлманин е отдаването на Бога. Буквално всеки аспект от живота на вярващия е изрично дефиниран, включително какъв процент от имуществото му да отива за благотворителност. Тук индивидът има лична отговорност само доколкото се подчинява на Бог, а Бог му говори в първо лице, единствено число из страниците на Корана. Връзката е строго йерархична и еднопосочна, диалог не е предвиден.
Много векове по-рано Яхве си избира един малък народ, чрез който да говори на света и да го ползва като образец за добра практика. Така се ражда Юдаизмът и се налага монотеизмът като цяло. И за да не се самозабравят чедата на избрания народ, Бог редовно им праща гневни пророци, предвестници на бъдещите световни революции, които да разбиват заблудите, да громят несправедливостите и да завръщат в правия път. Светът може и трябва да се променя към по-добро.
Един от синовете на този народ, следвайки нелекия път на тези пророци, ще разпростре аудиторията си далеч извън земите на Палестина и ще влезе в историята като Исус Христос и основател на Християнството. Неговата първоначална проповед ще се поизгуби в по-късните и институционални интерпретации. Първият Вселенски Събор в Никея от 325 г. ще вземе соломоновското решение да разглежда Христос хем изцяло като Бог, и същевременно изцяло като човек. Само така може да обоснове тезата, че Бог в пълната си мощ е изкупил греховете на човечеството, страдайки същевременно изцяло като човек. Концепцията за светата Троица пък и досега хвърля в недоумение юдеи и мюсюлмани (а сигурно и част от християните) доколко християнството изобщо може да се брои за монотеистична религия.
Конкретно в частта за западните религии умишленото абстрахиране от историята за мен се оказа по-скоро минус, тъй като се избягват щекотливи въпроси. Различните течения в юдаизма, християнството и исляма не са ясно очертани, а за православието Хюстън Смит няма кой знае каква представа, освен че може правилно да напише името и знае, че там няма папа. В Исляма пък разглежда ненужно дълго суфизма, който той самият е практикувал и познава отблизо, пренебрегвайки други важни течения и аспекти.
В заключение: приятно ми беше са се запозная с Хюстън Смит, и съм напълно съгласна с цитирания от него св. Августин: ”Обичай [Бога] и прави каквото искаш.”
December 20, 2009
No doubt a popular book in terms of numbers of copies sold. The author is a highly respected scholar on world religions who has taught at some of the most prestigious universities in America. He also grew up in China and has imbibed the rituals of most of the religions he's studied. So why the two stars:
* Smith is a pluralist. I find this position doesn't allow for the most rigorous and critical analysis of the religious positions presented.
Indeed, I find this position ironically gives the least respect to other religions. When everyone become special and unique, no one is special and unique.
* Smith barely delves into the doctrines of the world's religions, and this is what I'm interested in leaning and knowing.
This, of course, helps out with the pluralism. If we mainly look at the moral aspects of religions, well, they seem quite similar. Confucius say nice things and Jesus does nice things too. After all, WWJD, baby!
* Smith was raised a Christian (well, a moralist), but ironically he seems to know the least about Christianity.
He reads the OT prophets as proto advocates of a social gospel, and he reads the NT like a liberal protestant.
But if that weren't enough, he tries to "defend" the trinity by comparing the triune God of the Bible water's three stages. But the good doctor fails to see that this is simply the modalist heresy.
And if that weren't enough, he misquotes the Bible more than once.
* The book is depressing, but upon reflection, uplifting. One is sad for the adherents of the other religions and the constant working they do so as to "get saved" (however that is cashed out in their particular religion). How tiring. How impossible a task.
But then the Christian reflects. Christianity is based on something it claims actually happened in history. This is Jesus, the God-man, who fulfilled the demands of the law, and then took the punishment due lawbreakers, and then rose from the dead. By faith the Christian believes that these things were done for him and he simply rests and trusts in the work of another. How utterly beautiful is the gospel of Christianity to the ears of weary sinners tired of doing what Confucius say, or bending and contorting their bodies in hopes that the yogic rituals will make them ready to enter nirvana.
I would not recommend this book for anyone who wants to take a serious looks at the beliefs of the world's religions and wants to know why the adherents of those religions find those beliefs compelling and true.
* Smith is a pluralist. I find this position doesn't allow for the most rigorous and critical analysis of the religious positions presented.
Indeed, I find this position ironically gives the least respect to other religions. When everyone become special and unique, no one is special and unique.
* Smith barely delves into the doctrines of the world's religions, and this is what I'm interested in leaning and knowing.
This, of course, helps out with the pluralism. If we mainly look at the moral aspects of religions, well, they seem quite similar. Confucius say nice things and Jesus does nice things too. After all, WWJD, baby!
* Smith was raised a Christian (well, a moralist), but ironically he seems to know the least about Christianity.
He reads the OT prophets as proto advocates of a social gospel, and he reads the NT like a liberal protestant.
But if that weren't enough, he tries to "defend" the trinity by comparing the triune God of the Bible water's three stages. But the good doctor fails to see that this is simply the modalist heresy.
And if that weren't enough, he misquotes the Bible more than once.
* The book is depressing, but upon reflection, uplifting. One is sad for the adherents of the other religions and the constant working they do so as to "get saved" (however that is cashed out in their particular religion). How tiring. How impossible a task.
But then the Christian reflects. Christianity is based on something it claims actually happened in history. This is Jesus, the God-man, who fulfilled the demands of the law, and then took the punishment due lawbreakers, and then rose from the dead. By faith the Christian believes that these things were done for him and he simply rests and trusts in the work of another. How utterly beautiful is the gospel of Christianity to the ears of weary sinners tired of doing what Confucius say, or bending and contorting their bodies in hopes that the yogic rituals will make them ready to enter nirvana.
I would not recommend this book for anyone who wants to take a serious looks at the beliefs of the world's religions and wants to know why the adherents of those religions find those beliefs compelling and true.
November 8, 2024
اذا ركزت الله واحد عالميا ربما هو في دين اله عادل وفي دين اخر اله رحيم وفي دين اخر هو السيستم والكون وفي دين اخر هو الوعي والانسانية….لكنه واحد عالميا...اين المشكل المشكل في التطرف...عندما يخرج لك ذكر متطرف ويعتبر التقاليد مقدسات ...فيعتبر زواج الصغيرة مقدسات او العبودية مقدسات هنا يجرون لنا العصر الحجري وامور تجاوزها الانسان واصبحت من الماضي...والاسوء عندما يلتقي متطرفان هنا لا يعود هناك مجال للنقاش سوى الدمار والخراب …..والاسوء عندما تدخل انثى متطرفة تكره الذكور فتقدس الانوثة وتريد سيستم كله اناث كله سلام كله تعايش فيخرج لنا الالوان...وبين متطرف والوان ضاع اسلامنا...الاسلام ليس انثى ولا ذكر بل رجووولة وحق واعتدال ووسطية
وجدت صعوبة في فهم الديانات الاربعة الاولى الهندوسية البوذية الكونفوشية الطاوية ربما يرجع ذلك لاني قبل قراءة الكتاب لم تكن لدي ادنى فكرة عنها و اغلبها
يرتكز على استعمال اليوغا التي تتنوع طقوسها لكن الهدف واحد هو الصعود و الترقي الباطني بعيدا عن العالم المادي عالم التجربة و الحس من اجل التحرر من عجلة الحياة لكي تتلاشى فرديتنا في الروح العالمية.هناك تشابه كبير بين الهندوسية و البوذية و يرجع ذلك الى ان بوذا جاء مصلحا و رافضا لنظام الطبقات التي كانت تفرضه الهندوسية فليس من العدل تواجد طبقة المنبوذين. اما الكونفوشية و الطاوية فهما مختلفتان تماما في الوقت الذي تركز فيه الكونفوشية على الانسان و الجانب الاجتماعي فالطاوية تركز على ما وراء الانسان .ما ادهشني في الجزء الاول الذي يتحدث عن الديانات الوضعية هو الكم الهائل من الاساطير التي تبدو في بداية الامر مضحكة لكنها تحمل معاني عميقة.
بعد شرح الكاتب للديانات الوضعية جاء دور الديانات السماوية في الوقت الذي كان يعتبر فيه المصريون و البابليون و السوريون ان واحدة من قوى الطبيعة تمثل الها كالشمس جاء اليهود بفكرة جديدة فكرة رب واحد لكل الكون ان الله خيرو ان البشر جسم و روح و لديهم حرية الاختيار صحيح ان الثعبان( رمز الشيطان) هو الذي اغوى ادم و حواء لكن كان بامكانهما ان لا ينصاعا لاغوائه تبدو القصة رمزية و معناها هي الهفوة الانسانية. يعتبر التاريخ مهما في الديانة اليهودية جنة -الطوفان –الخروج من مصر-النفي الى بابل تجربة تعليمية لشعب الله و افضل فكرة اتت بها اليهودية هي التغييرعندما لا تكون الاشياء كما ينبغي يجب التغييروجاءت بوصايا عشرو منها لا تقتل لا تزن لا تسرق لا تشهد على جارك شهادة الزور كل انسان ابن الله يمتلك حقوقا يجب على الجميع احترامها حتى الملوك. بعدها ظهرت المسيحية بانقساماتها الثلاث الكاثوليكية الارثوذوكسية و البروتستانتية ولد يسوع في فلسطين و هو يهودي كان نبيا مرشدا انطلق من التراث الديني اليهودي حول الوسطاء الذين كانوا يمتلكون الروح كان يقوم بعمليات الشفاء و يحث على الرحمة و الشفقة وحب الاعداء وكان يقول ان حب الله شامل للانسانية وان البغايا و المنبوذين يدخلون في رحمة الله قبل المستقيمين( استقامة ظاهرية لم يتعرضوا للظروف التي تكشف معدنهم الحقيقي بعد ) ان حب الله لنا يذيب كل مشاعر الخوف و الذنب و يجعلنا نحب الاخرين بدورنا يمكن القول انه جاء مصلحا لليهودية حيث ظهر فيها تمييز بين المقدسين و العاديين لقد جاء ليجعل الوحي الذي اختص به اليهود شعب الله المختار رسالة الى كافة الناس مما جعله يتعرض لعداوة مواطنيه و شكوك روما فادى ذلك الى صلبه في القدس هذا هو السيد المسيح الذي بعد موته اصبح اتباعه يعتقدون انه الله الذي تجلى في مظهر انسان فهو في الانجيل فوق الطبيعة البشرية و تعاليمه مثالية. لكن تبقى بعض التساؤلات تحوم حول الديانة المسيحية هل ولد المسيح من عذراء هل صعد جسمه الى السماء هل الاناجيل الاربعة اصيلة و موثوقة.
وصلت الى افضل جزء في الكتاب الاسلام كلمة مشتقة من السلم الذي يعني اولا السلام و ثانيا التسليم و المعنى التام السلام الذي يحصل عندما يسلم المرء نفسه كاملا لله و الذين يتصفون بهذه الصفة هم المسلمون. اول انسان خلق هو ادم و من ذرية ادم نوح الذي كان احد ابنائه سام فاليهود و العرب يعتبرون نفسهم شعبا ساميا انهم ذرية سام التي وجد منها ابراهيم تزوج ابراهيم سارة و لم تنجب فتزوج بهاجرالتي انجبت له اسماعيل ثم حملت سارة و انجبت اسحق عندها طلبت سارة ابعاد هاجر وابنها اسماعيل الى مكة و اصبحت ذريته هم المسلمون في الجزيرة العربية اما ذرية اسحق بقيت في فلسطين وهم اليهود.في عصر مشحون بالافكار فوق الطبيعة ظهر محمد (ص) وقال للوثنيين لم يرسلني الله لصنع العجائب و الغرائب و انما ارسلني للهداية و الارشاد و اذا كان الناس يريدون علامات فلينظروا للنظام الذي لا يصدق للكون وهذا الاحترام لعقل الانسان قاد المسلمين للعلوم قبل المسيحيين ولم يدع محمد (ص) الا معجزة واحدة و هي القران كانت رسالته ديمقراطية في جوهرها كان يصر على ان جميع الناس متساوون في نظر الرب و هذه التعاليم لم تكن تناسب زعماء مكة لم يشهد العالم مثل هذا الاستيقاظ و النهضة للحياة الروحية و للايمان الذي يتحمل صاحبه كل تلك التضحيات. كان محمد (ص) نموذجا مثاليا و مع ذلك فان المسلمين لم يخلطوا بينه و بين مركز ايمانهم القران الذي يعني لغة القراءة او التلاوة فهو معجزة الله الدائمة. الاسلام شانه شان كل تقليد ديني انقسم الى فرق و مذاهب السنة( الشرق الاوسط تركيا و افريقيا شبه القارة الهندية باكستان بنغلاديش اندونيسيا)و الشيعة (العراق و ايران)و الصوفية.
اخيرا تحدث الكاتب عن الاديان البدائية هناك فكرة شائعة تصم الاديان البدائية بانها شركية و هذا ليس خطا اذا قصد به ان الاله الواحد يتجلى في اشياء معينة لكن هذا لا علاقة له بالشرك و تعدد الالهة الذي كانت الديانات السماوية تحاربه كل قبيلة كانت تؤمن باله خالق يعمل في الكون من خلال نوابه كانوا يعبدونه من خلال مخلوقاته
كلما كبرت جزيرة المعرفة كلما صار شاطىء الحيرة اكبر نحن مختلفون والعالم اصبح قرية صغيرة و ليس من المعقول ان لا تنصت للاخرين حتى لو خالفوك الراي يجب ان نصغي الى ايمان و ديانة الاخرين بما في ذلك العلمانيين(اللادينيين) فكما لديك الحق في الدفاع عن ايمانك الراسخ و افكارك عليك ان تعطي نفس الحق للاخر.
September 22, 2014
هذا الكتاب أشبه بموسوعة عن الأديان السماوية منها والأرضية والبدائية وما يميزه أن مؤلفه لم يسخر من أي دين بل قدم كل دين من وجهة نظر معتقنيه , حاول أن يبرز الجوانب الجميلة في كل الأديان وشرح فلسفتها بطريقة مبسطة وسهلة , الكتاب ضخم ومرهق لكنه ملىء بالمعلومات المفيدة التي ستجعلك تفهم أديان الآخرين أكثر وفهمك لكل الديانات سيجعلك تدرك أن نقاط الاتفاق بين الأديان أكثر من نقاط الاختلاف ومع ذلك فإنك يجب أن تحترم هذا الاختلاف وتدرك أن كل دين هو طريقة مختلفة للوصول إلى الله
January 24, 2016
إن الله يتحدث إلينا في ثلاثة مواضع: في الكتب المقدسة، وفي أعماقنا، وفي صوت الغرباء
|توماس ميرتون|
لذا كان لابد من الاستماع دائما للغرباء والمختلفين عنّا فكريا وعقائديا.
قدم هوستن سميث مجهودا ممتازا في محاولة توضيح الديانات التي تناولها من منظور معتنقيها ومحاولة تبسيطها ولكن يظل عمله في الأخير هو محاولة أولية لفهم تلك الديانات . . وبالطبع كل ديانة تملك كمّا هائلا من الأدبيات الخاصة بها بالإضافة لتشعب مذاهبها وعمقها التاريخي.
يظل الجزء المفضل لي في الكتاب هو الخاص بالهندوسية التي افتتح بها كتابه . . فالديانة الهندوسية معقدة لأبعد حد وقد حاول تبسيطها وعرضها في مائة صفحة بصورة ممتازة جدا تظل تدهش المهتمين والمتعمقين في الديانات عموما.
الكاتب خالط البوذيين وجالسهم ومارس طقوسهم لذا كان كلامه عن البوذية نابع من تجربة خاضها فكان توضيحه للديانة ممتاز جدا.
الجزء الخاص بالكونفوشية والطاوية جيد لحد بعيد ولكنه يظل غير كافي لفهمهما.
تناوله لليهودية كان مثيرا بالنسبة لي، شعرت أنه يريد الدفاع عنها لا أعرف لماذا، ولكنه أمر جيد للتعرف على اليهودية بصورة مغايرة غير التي نتناولها دائما.
هوستن سميث مسيحي بروستانتي وجاء الجزء الخاص بالمسيحية جيد . . أظهر فيه تحامل على الديانة وصدق نابع من رفضه لبعض المواقف التي اتخذتها الكنائس المختلفة، وقام برسم جيد لصورة الديانة العامة.
تناوله للإسلام ممتاز من وجهة نظري وجعله آخر الاجزاء الخاصة بالديانات التاريخية وتناوله للإسلام كان بمثابة رسم للكمال الذي امتازت به الديانة الإسلامية . . تناول المفهوم الصوفي للإسلام . . وبرغم اهتمامي بالتصوف بصورة عامة شعرت بالاختلاف بين تناول الإسلام والتصوف كجزء خاص منه يمكن أن يكون ناتجا عن قصور في توضيح الكاتب للتصوف.
الجزء الأخير تناول فيه الديانات البدائية وتصورها للحياة برمتها كشيء مقدس واهتمامها بالطبيعة ورؤيتها للآلهة . .
في الأخير حاول أن يناقش العلاقة بين الديانات وتعاملنا معها وورؤية كل دين للآخر وإمكانية التوحّد على المشتركات أو نواميس الحكمة كما اسماها كسبيل للتعايش.
4 علامات للمؤلف
والخامسة للمترجم
April 29, 2022
4.4 ⭐
January 2, 2016
وجدت صعوبة في فهم الديانات الاربعة الاولى الهندوسية البوذية الكونفوشية الطاوية ربما يرجع ذلك لا ني قبل قراءة الكتاب لم تكن لدي ادنى فكرة عنها و اغلبها يرتكز على استعمال اليوغا التي تتنوع طقوسها لكن الهدف واحد هو الصعود و الترقي الباطني بعيدا عن العالم المادي عالم التجربة و الحس من اجل التحرر من عجلة الحياة لكي تتلاشى فرديتنا في الروح العالمية.هناك تشابه كبير بين الهندوسية و البوذية و يرجع ذلك الى ان بوذا جاء مصلحا و رافضا لنظام الطبقات التي كانت تفرضه الهندوسية فليس من العدل تواجد طبقة المنبوذين. اما الكونفوشية و الطاوية فهما مختلفتان تماما في الوقت الذي تركز فيه الكونفوشية على الانسان و الجانب الاجتماعي فالطاوية تركز على ما وراء الانسان .ما ادهشني في الجزء الاول الذي يتحدث عن الديانات الوضعية هو الكم الهائل من الاساطير التي تبدو في بداية الامر مضحكة لكنها تحمل معاني عميقة.
بعد شرح الكاتب للديانات الوضعية جاء دور الديانات السماوية في الوقت الذي كان يعتبر فيه المصريون و البابليون و السوريون ان واحدة من قوى الطبيعة تمثل الها كالشمس جاء اليهود بفكرة جديدة فكرة رب واحد لكل الكون ان الله خيرو ان البشر جسم و روح و لديهم حرية الاختيار صحيح ان الثعبان( رمز الشيطان) هو الذي اغوى ادم و حواء لكن كان بامكانهما ان لا ينصاعا لاغوائه تبدو القصة رمزية و معناها هي الهفوة الانسانية. يعتبر التاريخ مهما في الديانة اليهودية جنة -الطوفان –الخروج من مصر-النفي الى بابل تجربة تعليمية لشعب الله و افضل فكرة اتت بها اليهودية هي التغييرعندما لا تكون الاشياء كما ينبغي يجب التغييروجاءت بوصايا عشرو منها لا تقتل لا تزن لا تسرق لا تشهد على جارك شهادة الزور كل انسان ابن الله يمتلك حقوقا يجب على الجميع احترامها حتى الملوك. بعدها ظهرت المسيحية بانقساماتها الثلاث الكاثوليكية الارثوذوكسية و البروتستانتية ولد يسوع في فلسطين و هو يهودي كان نبيا مرشدا انطلق من التراث الديني اليهودي حول الوسطاء الذين كانوا يمتلكون الروح كان يقوم بعمليات الشفاء و يحث على الرحمة و الشفقة وحب الاعداء وكان يقول ان حب الله شامل للانسانية وان البغايا و المنبوذين يدخلون في رحمة الله قبل المستقيمين( استقامة ظاهرية لم يتعرضوا للظروف التي تكشف معدنهم الحقيقي بعد ) ان حب الله لنا يذيب كل مشاعر الخوف و الذنب و ي��علنا نحب الاخرين بدورنا يمكن القول انه جاء مصلحا لليهودية حيث ظهر فيها تمييز بين المقدسين و العاديين لقد جاء ليجعل الوحي الذي اختص به اليهود شعب الله المختار رسالة الى كافة الناس مما جعله يتعرض لعداوة مواطنيه و شكوك روما فادى ذلك الى صلبه في القدس هذا هو السيد المسيح الذي بعد موته اصبح اتباعه يعتقدون انه الله الذي تجلى في مظهر انسان فهو في الانجيل فوق الطبيعة البشرية و تعاليمه مثالية. لكن تبقى بعض التساؤلات تحوم حول الديانة المسيحية هل ولد المسيح من عذراء هل صعد جسمه الى السماء هل الاناجيل الاربعة اصيلة و موثوقة.
وصلت الى افضل جزء في الكتاب الاسلام كلمة مشتقة من السلم الذي يعني اولا السلام و ثانيا التسليم و المعنى التام السلام الذي يحصل عندما يسلم المرء نفسه كاملا لله و الذين يتصفون بهذه الصفة هم المسلمون. اول انسان خلق هو ادم و من ذرية ادم نوح الذي كان احد ابنائه سام فاليهود و العرب يعتبرون نفسهم شعبا ساميا انهم ذرية سام التي وجد منها ابراهيم تزوج ابراهيم سارة و لم تنجب فتزوج بهاجرالتي انجبت له اسماعيل ثم حملت سارة و انجبت اسحق عندها طلبت سارة ابعاد هاجر وابنها اسماعيل الى مكة و اصبحت ذريته هم المسلمون في الجزيرة العربية اما ذرية اسحق بقيت في فلسطين وهم اليهود.في عصر مشحون بالافكار فوق الطبيعة ظهر محمد (ص) وقال للوثنيين لم يرسلني الله لصنع العجائب و الغرائب و انما ارسلني للهداية و الارشاد و اذا كان الناس يريدون علامات فلينظروا للنظام الذي لا يصدق للكون وهذا الاحترام لعقل الانسان قاد المسلمين للعلوم قبل المسيحيين ولم يدع محمد (ص) الا معجزة واحدة و هي القران كانت رسالته ديمقراطية في جوهرها كان يصر على ان جميع الناس متساوون في نظر الرب و هذه التعاليم لم تكن تناسب زعماء مكة لم يشهد العالم مثل هذا الاستيقاظ و النهضة للحياة الروحية و للايمان الذي يتحمل صاحبه كل تلك التضحيات. كان محمد (ص) نموذجا مثاليا و مع ذلك فان المسلمين لم يخلطوا بينه و بين مركز ايمانهم القران الذي يعني لغة القراءة او التلاوة فهو معجزة الله الدائمة. الاسلام شانه شان كل تقليد ديني انقسم الى فرق و مذاهب السنة( الشرق الاوسط تركيا و افريقيا شبه القارة الهندية باكستان بنغلاديش اندونيسيا)و الشيعة (العراق و ايران)و الصوفية.
اخيرا تحدث الكاتب عن الاديان البدائية هناك فكرة شائعة تصم الاديان البدائية بانها شركية و هذا ليس خطا اذا قصد به ان الاله الواحد يتجلى في اشياء معينة لكن هذا لا علاقة له بالشرك و تعدد الالهة الذي كانت الديانات السماوية تحاربه كل قبيلة كانت تؤمن باله خالق يعمل في الكون من خلال نوابه كانوا يعبدونه من خلال مخلوقاته
كلما كبرت جزيرة المعرفة كلما صار شاطىء الحيرة اكبر نحن مختلفون والعالم اصبح قرية صغيرة و ليس من المعقول ان لا تنصت للاخرين حتى لو خالفوك الراي يجب ان نصغي الى ايمان و ديانة الاخرين بما في ذلك العلمانيين(اللادينيين) فكما لديك الحق في الدفاع عن ايمانك الراسخ و افكارك عليك ان تعطي نفس الحق للاخر.
February 11, 2010
Huston provides a powerful punch of wonderous delight for the world's historical religions. I was left in awestuck wonder at how beautiful, pragmatic, and well thought out information that he articluates in this excellent book. This is an unbias fact base book that adhears to the positive side that religion provides (aside from the negativity that is obviously present within every religion, he bypasses that notion and delves into the heart and soul of each practice.)
I sat on my comfy sofa feeling the flecks of Eurika moments when my Westernized lacking of the Eastern religious became known to my clear concious. For example I erronously never knew that Hinduism was in actually embodiments of God (Brahmin), and never claimed to be attached to the polytheistic concept of gods. I never knew Buddhism claimed a 'non-soul' formation rather than obtaining a diety or type of heaven. Buddhism is self expansion. However my lacking of the Eastern practices which I found finally enlightened thorough Huston, the most embarassing Western religion that I found myself quite ignorant on was Islam. I thought of Islam from what I was known from the bias media, other religion's adgendas, and through a lack of educational enlightenment. Islam was the most enlightening and inspiring for me that I had to tell the world about how 'surrendering' Islam really is. Violence towards Islam coupled with Islam's faith is quite misunderstood, and completey wrong. Of course no one is discounting that there is domestic violence in Arab countries, but on the same coin there is also domestic violence towards women in America. The secret is that American's tend to 'shovel it under the rug'.
This book will provide a strong foundational backbone for anyone interested in learning about the world's religions. There is also a special chapter towards the end that talks about early man's 'primitive' or 'tribal' religions, before man became established on this earth (during prelithic and neolithic periods). This chapter alone is worth reading this book. Also on a side note, this book goes real well with Robert Van Voorst Anthology of World's Scriptures. For Huston skims over religion's doctrines and cultural rituals, where Voorst delves more into these aspects.
I sat on my comfy sofa feeling the flecks of Eurika moments when my Westernized lacking of the Eastern religious became known to my clear concious. For example I erronously never knew that Hinduism was in actually embodiments of God (Brahmin), and never claimed to be attached to the polytheistic concept of gods. I never knew Buddhism claimed a 'non-soul' formation rather than obtaining a diety or type of heaven. Buddhism is self expansion. However my lacking of the Eastern practices which I found finally enlightened thorough Huston, the most embarassing Western religion that I found myself quite ignorant on was Islam. I thought of Islam from what I was known from the bias media, other religion's adgendas, and through a lack of educational enlightenment. Islam was the most enlightening and inspiring for me that I had to tell the world about how 'surrendering' Islam really is. Violence towards Islam coupled with Islam's faith is quite misunderstood, and completey wrong. Of course no one is discounting that there is domestic violence in Arab countries, but on the same coin there is also domestic violence towards women in America. The secret is that American's tend to 'shovel it under the rug'.
This book will provide a strong foundational backbone for anyone interested in learning about the world's religions. There is also a special chapter towards the end that talks about early man's 'primitive' or 'tribal' religions, before man became established on this earth (during prelithic and neolithic periods). This chapter alone is worth reading this book. Also on a side note, this book goes real well with Robert Van Voorst Anthology of World's Scriptures. For Huston skims over religion's doctrines and cultural rituals, where Voorst delves more into these aspects.
June 18, 2011
The seminal inaccurate "world religions" volume for the ages. While Smith's coverage of the Judeo-Christian tradition is excellent and his treatment of Islam is adequate, he has a hard time getting away from the Middle Eastern/monotheistic perspective and allows it to color his writing. Consequently this book becomes less and less accurate the farther East he gets and the more different from the Judeo-Christian tradition the religions become. His handling of Buddhism and Taoism is particularly slipshod, coming at the traditions empirically without having truly experienced them. It's possible that he's finally remedied this in the newer editions, but the 1985 printing that I read had the same glaring holes that were in the 1960's original. This book dominated Western religious studies classes for decades, but in this globalized world its time is long past. Maybe look at the chapters on Western/Middle Eastern religions, especially if you're doing research in Judeo-Christian studies and want to build on Smith's widely-recognized work. However, any other chapters in this volume are so misleading that they are worse than useless.
December 20, 2016
اختلافات .. آراء.. نقاشات ..
كلها تؤدي إلى أمر واحد ! أين تكمن السكينة الداخلية.
أديان أرضية وسماوية! تشابه بكثير من الامور واختلافات جمة في كثير من المواضيع ، ولكنها جميعا تصب في فلك البحث عن الحقيقة ! البحث عن الحكمة
بحثي مازال ضئيلا ، لكن ان تكون نهاية سنه 2016 بهذه الابحاث والقراءات تجعلني اسعى لتكون السنة القادمة سنة بحث جدي اكبر .
كتاب جميل ومميز للتعرف على معظم الاديان .. لا يحمل أي تعصب لدين ما .. فقط طرح عام وشامل للعقائد والمذاهب والافكار..
كلها تؤدي إلى أمر واحد ! أين تكمن السكينة الداخلية.
أديان أرضية وسماوية! تشابه بكثير من الامور واختلافات جمة في كثير من المواضيع ، ولكنها جميعا تصب في فلك البحث عن الحقيقة ! البحث عن الحكمة
بحثي مازال ضئيلا ، لكن ان تكون نهاية سنه 2016 بهذه الابحاث والقراءات تجعلني اسعى لتكون السنة القادمة سنة بحث جدي اكبر .
كتاب جميل ومميز للتعرف على معظم الاديان .. لا يحمل أي تعصب لدين ما .. فقط طرح عام وشامل للعقائد والمذاهب والافكار..
August 25, 2019
“Световните религии” е приказка за различните лица на вярата: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/s...
Аз да чета книга за религии е точно както дяволът чете евангелието от популярната метафора. Но интересът ми към заобикалящия ни свят няма как да не включва и тези най-мащабни творения на човешкото въображение, които са имали основно значение за почти всички хора през почти цялата история. Но ако прочетете внимателно цитата, с който започва този текст, и с който почти завършва “Световните религии” на Хюстън Смит, ще се ориентирате и бързо защо смятам, че придаването на тежест на религиите в съвремието при цялото ни историческо познание за тях за мен е излишно. Те са доказали своята непригодност към глобален свят, който гледа към космоса и който за два века научно развитие реши огромна част от проблемите си, които хилядолетия религиозна власт не успяха. Нови проблеми изникват отново, но е крайно малко вероятно свръхестествени решения да се появят за тях – по-скоро или ще ги преодолеем отново със силата на разума си, или ще приключим съществуването си като вид. Но няма как да отречем културната съкровищница на човешките митологии от цялото земно кълбо, част от които са представени тук.
Издателство "Изток-Запад"
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/s...
Аз да чета книга за религии е точно както дяволът чете евангелието от популярната метафора. Но интересът ми към заобикалящия ни свят няма как да не включва и тези най-мащабни творения на човешкото въображение, които са имали основно значение за почти всички хора през почти цялата история. Но ако прочетете внимателно цитата, с който започва този текст, и с който почти завършва “Световните религии” на Хюстън Смит, ще се ориентирате и бързо защо смятам, че придаването на тежест на религиите в съвремието при цялото ни историческо познание за тях за мен е излишно. Те са доказали своята непригодност към глобален свят, който гледа към космоса и който за два века научно развитие реши огромна част от проблемите си, които хилядолетия религиозна власт не успяха. Нови проблеми изникват отново, но е крайно малко вероятно свръхестествени решения да се появят за тях – по-скоро или ще ги преодолеем отново със силата на разума си, или ще приключим съществуването си като вид. Но няма как да отречем културната съкровищница на човешките митологии от цялото земно кълбо, част от които са представени тук.
Издателство "Изток-Запад"
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/s...
January 6, 2015
Read this for a graduate class on Religion in Education. I think a lot of professors assign this book because it's a well-known one that covers many religions. The book works great if you want to hear Huston Smith's narrative interpretation of what the world's religions are about, however it's not so great if you actually want a good overview of world religions in order to gain some basic knowledge about them.
He makes lots of awkward comparisons with Christianity and Western culture that don't make the reading more accessible, nor really do justice to the traditions he's discussing. Half the time I can't figure out what he is talking about. In the chapter on Confucianism I find the line "Someone has ventured that in a woman's certitude that she is wearing precisely the right thing for the occasion, there is a peace that religion can neither give nor take away." Huh? In the middle of a chapter on Hinduism he starts going on for several paragraphs about C.S. Lewis. Rather than actually teaching about different traditions he gets caught up in making awkward comparisons and sweeping characterizations about each one that don't do justice to their complexity.
I left this book feeling like I could have learned so much more about world religions.
He makes lots of awkward comparisons with Christianity and Western culture that don't make the reading more accessible, nor really do justice to the traditions he's discussing. Half the time I can't figure out what he is talking about. In the chapter on Confucianism I find the line "Someone has ventured that in a woman's certitude that she is wearing precisely the right thing for the occasion, there is a peace that religion can neither give nor take away." Huh? In the middle of a chapter on Hinduism he starts going on for several paragraphs about C.S. Lewis. Rather than actually teaching about different traditions he gets caught up in making awkward comparisons and sweeping characterizations about each one that don't do justice to their complexity.
I left this book feeling like I could have learned so much more about world religions.
February 16, 2018
يا إلهي ..!
يتحدّث الكتاب عن رسالة الأديان وركائزها الأساسية.
تحدث عن الهندوسية, البوذية, الكنفوشية, الطاوية, اليهودية, المسيحية, الإسلام, والأديان البدائية.
في البداية أود أن أقول الأديان الشرقية تسحرني, تُدهشني بجمالها!
الهندوسية جميلة جدََا, والبوذية يُقال أنها تفرّعت عنها, فلسفتها جميلة وثريّة جدًا ..
شعرتُ بالملل في شرح أقسام البوذيّة, ومع ذلك تبقى جميلة وعميقة.
الكنفوشية شعرتُ أنها حركة فرديّة إصلاحيّة أكثر من أنها دين, وهيَ فلسفة تفاؤليّة جميلة.
أدهشتني الطّاوية, أحببتُها جدًا, رُبما تكون أكثر دين أحبتُته, رائعة ��دًا, فلسفتها قريبة جدًا من الصّوفية.
اما اليهوديّة, فقد عرضها الكاتب في أبهى صورة, كدينِِ تفاؤليّ يحب الحياة ويعبد رب رحيم,
استغربت ذلك لأني قرأت عنها قبل الآن أنها غير ذلك.
المسيحيّة, دينُ الحبّ, والفلسفة المثالية, ما طِقتُ تشعّباتها الغريبة, ولم أستسغ مفهومها ..
كنتُ متلهفة لعرض الكاتب للإسلام, كان موضوعياً في طرحه له, وتحدث عن الصوفية كجانب من جوانب الإسلام.
أرى أن جوهر الأديان واحد, ولكن بطرق عديدة, وهي رسالةُُ أخلاقيّة سامية.
ولكن كثير من الأديان تؤدلج وتُسيّس وتُستخدم في أغراض غير شريفة
فتُبتذل تعاليمها, وتُشوّه ..
أظن أن على إنسان العصر الحديث وخاصةُ إنسان العالم الثالث أن يُدرك هذا ويعيه.
هل يُمكنني أن أقول أني أحببت الأديان الشرقية مرةً أخرى؟! :)
يتحدّث الكتاب عن رسالة الأديان وركائزها الأساسية.
تحدث عن الهندوسية, البوذية, الكنفوشية, الطاوية, اليهودية, المسيحية, الإسلام, والأديان البدائية.
في البداية أود أن أقول الأديان الشرقية تسحرني, تُدهشني بجمالها!
الهندوسية جميلة جدََا, والبوذية يُقال أنها تفرّعت عنها, فلسفتها جميلة وثريّة جدًا ..
شعرتُ بالملل في شرح أقسام البوذيّة, ومع ذلك تبقى جميلة وعميقة.
الكنفوشية شعرتُ أنها حركة فرديّة إصلاحيّة أكثر من أنها دين, وهيَ فلسفة تفاؤليّة جميلة.
أدهشتني الطّاوية, أحببتُها جدًا, رُبما تكون أكثر دين أحبتُته, رائعة ��دًا, فلسفتها قريبة جدًا من الصّوفية.
اما اليهوديّة, فقد عرضها الكاتب في أبهى صورة, كدينِِ تفاؤليّ يحب الحياة ويعبد رب رحيم,
استغربت ذلك لأني قرأت عنها قبل الآن أنها غير ذلك.
المسيحيّة, دينُ الحبّ, والفلسفة المثالية, ما طِقتُ تشعّباتها الغريبة, ولم أستسغ مفهومها ..
كنتُ متلهفة لعرض الكاتب للإسلام, كان موضوعياً في طرحه له, وتحدث عن الصوفية كجانب من جوانب الإسلام.
أرى أن جوهر الأديان واحد, ولكن بطرق عديدة, وهي رسالةُُ أخلاقيّة سامية.
ولكن كثير من الأديان تؤدلج وتُسيّس وتُستخدم في أغراض غير شريفة
فتُبتذل تعاليمها, وتُشوّه ..
أظن أن على إنسان العصر الحديث وخاصةُ إنسان العالم الثالث أن يُدرك هذا ويعيه.
هل يُمكنني أن أقول أني أحببت الأديان الشرقية مرةً أخرى؟! :)
May 18, 2012
Huston Smith's "The World's Religions" is one of the most significant books I've ever read. Smith digs underneath the rituals, theology, and cold historical facts to capture why some of these major religious traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity, are so deeply and meaningfully profound to billions and billions of people. One may disagree about whether any of these religious faiths speak the the absolute or partial truth regarding the meaning of our existence or reality, but each faith does speak directly to our human condition and try to sustain meaning in a world that often feels cold or hostile to us. This book is not an attempt to convert, but to appreciate the richness of traditions and thought found in religions to answer the fundamental questions posed from the very depths of our lives. Using an analogy popularized by John Hick, we are all simply people blindfolded and feeling this great elephant in the room and just trying to figure out what it is.
October 4, 2025
Huston Smith's 1958 book The World's Religions, originally titled The Religions of Man (we can't say that anymore, Huston!), is an intense but sincere guide to the major faiths of the world. Covered here (in this order) is Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, as well as a final chapter devoted to oral/tribal/primal religions.
While most of our major religions have grounding in historical events, Smith tries to isolate each group into its most central tenets, how they see the world and themselves and their relationships with each other. This can be confusing at times for religion and/or metaphysics is often unnecessarily complex in the minutiae, but it is an admirable undertaking to convey these topics clearly in a 400-page book.
I was especially struck by the chapters on Hinduism and Confucianism, for as a Western student I really had no idea what those folks were on about until now. There are so many merits and wonders to attribute to all of our world's religions, yet more and more we are seeing either total rejection of religion or an extreme fundamentalist view of the great sages of the world.
This book is going on my reference shelf. It's not a comprehensive look at any of these religions, yet in 50 pages Smith can pull you into a more appreciative and less comparative mindset regarding any one faith.
While most of our major religions have grounding in historical events, Smith tries to isolate each group into its most central tenets, how they see the world and themselves and their relationships with each other. This can be confusing at times for religion and/or metaphysics is often unnecessarily complex in the minutiae, but it is an admirable undertaking to convey these topics clearly in a 400-page book.
I was especially struck by the chapters on Hinduism and Confucianism, for as a Western student I really had no idea what those folks were on about until now. There are so many merits and wonders to attribute to all of our world's religions, yet more and more we are seeing either total rejection of religion or an extreme fundamentalist view of the great sages of the world.
This book is going on my reference shelf. It's not a comprehensive look at any of these religions, yet in 50 pages Smith can pull you into a more appreciative and less comparative mindset regarding any one faith.
January 6, 2023
Very scholarly and in-depth examination of different world's religions, including Hinduism, Buddism, Taoism, Confuciusm, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Totally recommended as an introduction yo the philosophy of each religion.
August 16, 2009
The book is thoroughly uneven - strong at some points (Hinduism, Buddhism, articulating the merits of the world's wisdom tradtions) and weak at others (Judaism, Tribal religions, covering the nuts and bolts of the world's religions).
"As it was, the first 'draft' of my book was delivered to a television audience, and the director of the series never let me forget that audience. This is not a classroom where you have a captive audience, he kept reminding me. If you lose their attention for thirty seconds they will switch stations and you won't get them back. So make your points if you must...But illustrate them immediately, with an example, an anecdote, a fragment of poetry, something that will connect your point to things your audience can relate to." (pg. xi-xii)
"What a strange fellowship this is, the God-seekers in every land, lifting their voices in the most disparate ways imaginable to the God of all life. How does it sound from above? Like bedlam, or do the strains blend in strange, ethereal harmony? Does one faith carry the lead, or do the parts share in counterpoint and antiphony where not in full-throated chorus?" (pg. 2)
"The empowering theological and metaphysical truths of the world's religions are...inspired. Institutions - religious institutions emphatically included - are another story. Constituted as they are of people with their inbuilt frailties, institutions are built of vices as well as virtues." (pg. 5)
"Science makes major contributions to minor needs, [Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes:] was fond of saying, adding that religion, however small its successes, is at least at work on the things that matter the most." (pg. 9)
"Religion is not primarily a matter of facts; it is a matter of meanings." (pg. 10)
"If we were to take Hinduism as a whole - its vast literature, its complicated rituals, its sprawling folkways, its opulent art - and compress it into a single affirmation, we would find it saying: You can have what you want." (pg. 13)
"Though in some watered-down sense there may be a religion of self-worship, true religion begins with the quest for meaning and value beyond self-centeredness. It renounces the ego's claim to finality." (pg. 19)
"A distinctive feature of human nature is its capacity to think of something that has no limits: the infinite." (pg. 21)
"Life is so filled with disappointments that we are likely to assume they are built into the human condition." (pg. 23)
"By and large, life is powered less by reason than by emotion, and of the many emotions that crowd the human heart, the strongest is love." (pg. 32)
"Work is the staple of human life. The point is not simply that all but a few people must work to survive. Ultimately, the drive to work is psychological rather than economic. Forced to be idle, most people become irritable; forced to retire, they decline." (pg. 37)
"How long can the average mind think of one thing - one thing only, without slipping first into thinking about thinking about that thing and taking off from ther on a senseless chain of irrelavencies? About three and a half seconds, psychologists tell us." (pg. 48)
Consider Shankara's invocation of "Oh Thou, before whom all words recoil." (pg. 60)
"Most people have little idea how much they secretly bank on luck - hard luck to justify past failures, good luck to bring future successes. How many people drift through life simply waiting for the breaks." (pg. 65)
"It is no accident that the only art form India failed to produce was tragedy." (pg. 72)
Consider "[Hinduism's:] conviction that the various major religions are alternate paths to the same goal. To claim salvation as the monopoly of any one religion is like claiming that God can be found in this room but not the next, in this attire but not another." (pg. 73)
"[Buddha:] was undoubtedly one of the greatest rationalists of all times, resembling in this respect no one as much as Socrates. Every problem that came his way was subjected to cool, dispassionate analysis." (pg. 88)
"Dukkha, then, names the pain that to some degree colors all finite existence...it was used in Pali to refer to wheels whose axles were off-center...A modern metaphor might be a shopping cart that we try to steer from the wrong end." (pg. 101)
"Reason's most vociferous detractors must admit that it plays at least this much of a role in human life: Whether or not it has the power to lure, it clearly holds power of veto." (pg. 106)
"Metaphysics is unavoidable. Everyone harbors some notions about ultimate questions, and these notions affect interpretations of subsidiary issues." (pg. 113)
"Some problems are posed so clumsily by our language as to preclude solution by their very formulation." (pg. 118)
"Religions invariably split." (pg. 120)
"What is the best part of the human self, its head or its heart? A popular parlor game used to revolve around the question, 'If you had to choose, would you rather be loved or respected?'" (pg. 121)
"Though Confucius did not author Chinese culture, he was its supreme editor." (pg. 154)
"There is plenty of violence in nature, but on the whole it is between species, not within them." (pg. 161)
"Individualism and self-consciousness are contagious. Once they appear, they spread like epidemic and wildfire. Unreflective solidarity is a thing of the past." (pg. 163)
"To harp exclusively on love is to preach ends without means." (pg. 167)
"Altruism is not much engendered by exhortation." (pg. 168)
"Genius does not depend upon full, self-conscious understanding of its creations...Probably all exceptional creativity proceeds more by intuitive feel than by explicit discernment." (pg. 170)
Consider that the name Muhammad "has been born by more male children than any other in the world." (pg. 224)
"From without, the Koran is all but impenetrable. No one has ever curled up on a rainy weekend to read the Koran." (pg. 233)
"God's compassion and mercy are cited 192 times in the Koran, as against 17 references to his wrath and vengeance." (pg. 237)
"Heroism is never a mass option." (pg. 253)
"Spain and Anatolia changed hands at about the same time - Christians expelled the Moors from Spain, while Muslims conquered what is now Turkey. every Muslim was driven from Spain, put to the sword, or forced to convert, whereas the seat of the Eastern Orthodox church remains in Instanbul to this day." (pg. 256)
"Every religion at some stages in its career has been used by its professed adherents to mask aggression." (pg. 257)
"Mysticism breaks through the boundaries that protect the faith of the typical believer." (pg. 264)
"Compared with the histories of Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, and Syria, Jewish history is strictly minor league." (pg. 272)
"The word sin comes from a root meaning 'to miss the mark.'" (pg. 281)
"Nobody likes moral rules anymore than they like stop lights or 'no left turn' signs." (pg. 286)
"The Prophetic Principle can be put as follows: The prerequisite of political stability is social justice." (pg. 292)
"The idea of progress - belief that the conditions of life can improve, and that history can in this sense get somewhere - originated in the West." (pg. 296)
"The idea that a universal God decided that divine nature should be uniquely and incoparably disclosed to a single people is among the most difficult notions to take seriously in the entire study of religion." (pg. 307)
"We have heard Jesus' teachings so often that their edges have been worn smooth, dulling their subversiveness." (pg. 326)
"Doctrins...seem tedious if not incredible and at times annoying." (pg. 339)
"Every people, oursleves not excepted, needs to think well of its origins; it is part of having a healthy self-image." (pg. 381)
"The worthful aspects of reality - its values, meaning and purpose - slip through the devices of science in the way that the sea slips through the nets of fishermen." (pg. 386)
"As it was, the first 'draft' of my book was delivered to a television audience, and the director of the series never let me forget that audience. This is not a classroom where you have a captive audience, he kept reminding me. If you lose their attention for thirty seconds they will switch stations and you won't get them back. So make your points if you must...But illustrate them immediately, with an example, an anecdote, a fragment of poetry, something that will connect your point to things your audience can relate to." (pg. xi-xii)
"What a strange fellowship this is, the God-seekers in every land, lifting their voices in the most disparate ways imaginable to the God of all life. How does it sound from above? Like bedlam, or do the strains blend in strange, ethereal harmony? Does one faith carry the lead, or do the parts share in counterpoint and antiphony where not in full-throated chorus?" (pg. 2)
"The empowering theological and metaphysical truths of the world's religions are...inspired. Institutions - religious institutions emphatically included - are another story. Constituted as they are of people with their inbuilt frailties, institutions are built of vices as well as virtues." (pg. 5)
"Science makes major contributions to minor needs, [Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes:] was fond of saying, adding that religion, however small its successes, is at least at work on the things that matter the most." (pg. 9)
"Religion is not primarily a matter of facts; it is a matter of meanings." (pg. 10)
"If we were to take Hinduism as a whole - its vast literature, its complicated rituals, its sprawling folkways, its opulent art - and compress it into a single affirmation, we would find it saying: You can have what you want." (pg. 13)
"Though in some watered-down sense there may be a religion of self-worship, true religion begins with the quest for meaning and value beyond self-centeredness. It renounces the ego's claim to finality." (pg. 19)
"A distinctive feature of human nature is its capacity to think of something that has no limits: the infinite." (pg. 21)
"Life is so filled with disappointments that we are likely to assume they are built into the human condition." (pg. 23)
"By and large, life is powered less by reason than by emotion, and of the many emotions that crowd the human heart, the strongest is love." (pg. 32)
"Work is the staple of human life. The point is not simply that all but a few people must work to survive. Ultimately, the drive to work is psychological rather than economic. Forced to be idle, most people become irritable; forced to retire, they decline." (pg. 37)
"How long can the average mind think of one thing - one thing only, without slipping first into thinking about thinking about that thing and taking off from ther on a senseless chain of irrelavencies? About three and a half seconds, psychologists tell us." (pg. 48)
Consider Shankara's invocation of "Oh Thou, before whom all words recoil." (pg. 60)
"Most people have little idea how much they secretly bank on luck - hard luck to justify past failures, good luck to bring future successes. How many people drift through life simply waiting for the breaks." (pg. 65)
"It is no accident that the only art form India failed to produce was tragedy." (pg. 72)
Consider "[Hinduism's:] conviction that the various major religions are alternate paths to the same goal. To claim salvation as the monopoly of any one religion is like claiming that God can be found in this room but not the next, in this attire but not another." (pg. 73)
"[Buddha:] was undoubtedly one of the greatest rationalists of all times, resembling in this respect no one as much as Socrates. Every problem that came his way was subjected to cool, dispassionate analysis." (pg. 88)
"Dukkha, then, names the pain that to some degree colors all finite existence...it was used in Pali to refer to wheels whose axles were off-center...A modern metaphor might be a shopping cart that we try to steer from the wrong end." (pg. 101)
"Reason's most vociferous detractors must admit that it plays at least this much of a role in human life: Whether or not it has the power to lure, it clearly holds power of veto." (pg. 106)
"Metaphysics is unavoidable. Everyone harbors some notions about ultimate questions, and these notions affect interpretations of subsidiary issues." (pg. 113)
"Some problems are posed so clumsily by our language as to preclude solution by their very formulation." (pg. 118)
"Religions invariably split." (pg. 120)
"What is the best part of the human self, its head or its heart? A popular parlor game used to revolve around the question, 'If you had to choose, would you rather be loved or respected?'" (pg. 121)
"Though Confucius did not author Chinese culture, he was its supreme editor." (pg. 154)
"There is plenty of violence in nature, but on the whole it is between species, not within them." (pg. 161)
"Individualism and self-consciousness are contagious. Once they appear, they spread like epidemic and wildfire. Unreflective solidarity is a thing of the past." (pg. 163)
"To harp exclusively on love is to preach ends without means." (pg. 167)
"Altruism is not much engendered by exhortation." (pg. 168)
"Genius does not depend upon full, self-conscious understanding of its creations...Probably all exceptional creativity proceeds more by intuitive feel than by explicit discernment." (pg. 170)
Consider that the name Muhammad "has been born by more male children than any other in the world." (pg. 224)
"From without, the Koran is all but impenetrable. No one has ever curled up on a rainy weekend to read the Koran." (pg. 233)
"God's compassion and mercy are cited 192 times in the Koran, as against 17 references to his wrath and vengeance." (pg. 237)
"Heroism is never a mass option." (pg. 253)
"Spain and Anatolia changed hands at about the same time - Christians expelled the Moors from Spain, while Muslims conquered what is now Turkey. every Muslim was driven from Spain, put to the sword, or forced to convert, whereas the seat of the Eastern Orthodox church remains in Instanbul to this day." (pg. 256)
"Every religion at some stages in its career has been used by its professed adherents to mask aggression." (pg. 257)
"Mysticism breaks through the boundaries that protect the faith of the typical believer." (pg. 264)
"Compared with the histories of Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, and Syria, Jewish history is strictly minor league." (pg. 272)
"The word sin comes from a root meaning 'to miss the mark.'" (pg. 281)
"Nobody likes moral rules anymore than they like stop lights or 'no left turn' signs." (pg. 286)
"The Prophetic Principle can be put as follows: The prerequisite of political stability is social justice." (pg. 292)
"The idea of progress - belief that the conditions of life can improve, and that history can in this sense get somewhere - originated in the West." (pg. 296)
"The idea that a universal God decided that divine nature should be uniquely and incoparably disclosed to a single people is among the most difficult notions to take seriously in the entire study of religion." (pg. 307)
"We have heard Jesus' teachings so often that their edges have been worn smooth, dulling their subversiveness." (pg. 326)
"Doctrins...seem tedious if not incredible and at times annoying." (pg. 339)
"Every people, oursleves not excepted, needs to think well of its origins; it is part of having a healthy self-image." (pg. 381)
"The worthful aspects of reality - its values, meaning and purpose - slip through the devices of science in the way that the sea slips through the nets of fishermen." (pg. 386)
January 16, 2019
كتاب قيم جداً ومليء بمعلومات تفصيلية حول جوهر وعقائد الأديان التي تناولها ، دون خوض كبير أو غير ضروري في الطقوس الدينية أو اللعب على وتر المفاضلة أو وتر الغرائب (إن جازت التسمية). يميز الكتاب أيضاً درجة الاحترام الكبير والحيادية تجاه مختلف هذه الأديان وتقدير أدوارها في بناء وتطوير الحضارة الإنسانية ككل . ورغم حيادية العرض ، إلا أنه يمكن أيضاً تمييز المحبة التي يحملها المؤلف تجاه هذه الأديان جميعاً واعتقاده بأهميتها الروحية ومواطن الخير فيها.
يتحدث الكتاب عن كل من: الهندوسية (وملحق عن السيخية) ، البوذية ، الكونفوشية ، الطاوية ، اليهودية ، المسيحية ، الإسلام ، إضافة إلى فصل قصير لعرض بعض سمات الأديان البدائية ..
تم تناول هذه الأديان بالشكل والجوهر الذي ظهرت عليه .. ورغم التركيز على الأصول الأولى لها ، إلا أن الكاتب لم يهمل أو يغفل الحديث عن التغييرات والانحرافات والانقسامات التي طرأت عليها لاحقاً ، مفصلاً بعضها ومكتفياً بالإشارة العابرة أو بالشرح البسيط لبعضها الآخر.
ولهذا السبب ، ربما لا يرضي الكتاب الفضول تماماً ، إلا أنه يعمل على تزويد القارئ بخلفية عامة وكافية إلى حد كبير .. فاتحاً المجال أمام فهم أعمق لهذه الأديان عند الاطلاع على مصادر إضافية.
- أتفق مع بعض القراء حول صعوبة الفصول المتعلقة بأديان جنوب وشرق آسيا خصوصاً البوذية والطاوية ، وكنت أتمنى لو قام الكاتب بتوضيح بعض النقاط المبهمة التي وردت فيها بصورة أكبر .
- الترجمة رائعة وسلسة بالعموم ، إضافة إلى جهد المترجم المشكور في إبداء الملاحظات التوضيحية اللازمة خصوصاً في فصلي اليهودية (الرد على الدور الديني المفترض للحركة الصهيونية) ، والإسلام (كالملاحظات حول نسب الزكاة وتفصيلاتها) ..
- ربما كان من الأفضل نقل الهوامش -التي تتضمن معلومات- إلى متن الكتاب عوضاً عن إلحاقها بنهاية كل فصل ، ولو كان ذلك مختلفاً عن النسخة الانجليزية.
.........................................
"أولئك الذين يصغون ، يعملون لأجل السلام ، سلام غير مبني على السيطرة الفضائية أو الهيمنة السياسية ، بل على الفهم والاهتمام المتبادل. ذلك لأن الفهم – على الأقل في العوالم النبيلة في جوهرها كأديان الإنسان العظيمة – يولد احتراماً ، والاحترام يمهد الطريق لقوة أعلى وأكبر هي الحب ، وهي القوة الوحيدة التي بإمكانها أن تخمد ألهبة الخوف والشك ، والتحامل والإجحاف ، وتؤمن سبلاً لجعل الناس على هذه الأرض ، الصغيرة في حجمها الثمينة في قدرها ، يعملون لخدمة بعضهم البعض...
فإذا كنا صادقين مع هذه الأديان فعلينا أن نصغي إلى الآخرين بكل صدق وانتباه ، تماماً كما نأمل أن يصغي الآخرون إلينا بكل صدق وانتباه".
______________
_____
يتحدث الكتاب عن كل من: الهندوسية (وملحق عن السيخية) ، البوذية ، الكونفوشية ، الطاوية ، اليهودية ، المسيحية ، الإسلام ، إضافة إلى فصل قصير لعرض بعض سمات الأديان البدائية ..
تم تناول هذه الأديان بالشكل والجوهر الذي ظهرت عليه .. ورغم التركيز على الأصول الأولى لها ، إلا أن الكاتب لم يهمل أو يغفل الحديث عن التغييرات والانحرافات والانقسامات التي طرأت عليها لاحقاً ، مفصلاً بعضها ومكتفياً بالإشارة العابرة أو بالشرح البسيط لبعضها الآخر.
ولهذا السبب ، ربما لا يرضي الكتاب الفضول تماماً ، إلا أنه يعمل على تزويد القارئ بخلفية عامة وكافية إلى حد كبير .. فاتحاً المجال أمام فهم أعمق لهذه الأديان عند الاطلاع على مصادر إضافية.
- أتفق مع بعض القراء حول صعوبة الفصول المتعلقة بأديان جنوب وشرق آسيا خصوصاً البوذية والطاوية ، وكنت أتمنى لو قام الكاتب بتوضيح بعض النقاط المبهمة التي وردت فيها بصورة أكبر .
- الترجمة رائعة وسلسة بالعموم ، إضافة إلى جهد المترجم المشكور في إبداء الملاحظات التوضيحية اللازمة خصوصاً في فصلي اليهودية (الرد على الدور الديني المفترض للحركة الصهيونية) ، والإسلام (كالملاحظات حول نسب الزكاة وتفصيلاتها) ..
- ربما كان من الأفضل نقل الهوامش -التي تتضمن معلومات- إلى متن الكتاب عوضاً عن إلحاقها بنهاية كل فصل ، ولو كان ذلك مختلفاً عن النسخة الانجليزية.
.........................................
"أولئك الذين يصغون ، يعملون لأجل السلام ، سلام غير مبني على السيطرة الفضائية أو الهيمنة السياسية ، بل على الفهم والاهتمام المتبادل. ذلك لأن الفهم – على الأقل في العوالم النبيلة في جوهرها كأديان الإنسان العظيمة – يولد احتراماً ، والاحترام يمهد الطريق لقوة أعلى وأكبر هي الحب ، وهي القوة الوحيدة التي بإمكانها أن تخمد ألهبة الخوف والشك ، والتحامل والإجحاف ، وتؤمن سبلاً لجعل الناس على هذه الأرض ، الصغيرة في حجمها الثمينة في قدرها ، يعملون لخدمة بعضهم البعض...
فإذا كنا صادقين مع هذه الأديان فعلينا أن نصغي إلى الآخرين بكل صدق وانتباه ، تماماً كما نأمل أن يصغي الآخرون إلينا بكل صدق وانتباه".
______________
_____
June 7, 2017
أمضيت ثلاثة أيام تقريباً منذ بداية السنة الهجرية ��فكر في الكتاب الذي سأبدأ به هذا العام ، وبالصدفة وجدته في بودكاستٍ ما وقررت أن أجرب الكتب الصوتية لأول مرة !
قمت بتحميل البودكاست وبدأت أستمع له في طريق عودتي من الجامعة ، ولأن موضوع الأديان يستهويني ويجذب انتباهي عقدت العزم على إكماله رغم قراءة القارئ السيئة والمليئة بالأخطاء ، طفح الكيل مع اقتراب الامتحانات فقررت أنني لن استمر مع هذا القارئ السيء وسأقرأ الكتاب ما إن أُنهي امتحاناتي ، عدت له ما إن سنحت لي الفرصة وأهملته فترة طويلة جداً وانشغلت بكتب أخرى وبالدراسة أيضاً وارتأيت أن هذا الشهر فرصة جميلة للعودة إليه .
كبداية ، القارئ الهاوي والراغب في الإطّلاع على الموضوع الذي يُناقشه هذا الكتاب يجب أن يمتلك خلفية لا بأس بها عن الأديان التالية : الهندوسية ، البوذية ، الكونفوشية ، الطاوية ، اليهودية ، المسيحية ، الإسلام وأخيراً الأديان البدائية. لأن هذه الأديان هي محور حديث الكتاب.
وبالنسبة لي كوني أمتلك خلفية ضعيفة جداً عن معظم هذه الأديان فقد عانيتُ الكثير خصوصاً مع أديان بلدان شرق آسيا والهندوسية.
تجاوزت الكثير من الصفحات في جزء المسيحية ، اليهودية ، والكونفوشية ، وتخطيت الجزء الذي يتحدث عن الأديان البدائية كونه لم يُثِر انتباهي.
أتحفظّ على بعض المعلومات التي ذُكرِت في قسم الإسلام ، بما في ذلك استدلال الكاتب الخاطئ بالأيات الذي نوّه إليه المترجم أيضاً.
الكتاب مليء بالمعلومات وأقولها مجدداً إذا كنت لا تملك خلفية عن الأديان فالكتاب لا يُلائمك ، ويجب ألّا يكون هذا الكتاب بدايتك في القراءة عن هذه الأديان ، مع أنه يشرح الشرح الوافي إلا أنك ستواجه صعوبات جمّة - في رأيي - لتتصور المفاهيم التي يتناولها.
قمت بتحميل البودكاست وبدأت أستمع له في طريق عودتي من الجامعة ، ولأن موضوع الأديان يستهويني ويجذب انتباهي عقدت العزم على إكماله رغم قراءة القارئ السيئة والمليئة بالأخطاء ، طفح الكيل مع اقتراب الامتحانات فقررت أنني لن استمر مع هذا القارئ السيء وسأقرأ الكتاب ما إن أُنهي امتحاناتي ، عدت له ما إن سنحت لي الفرصة وأهملته فترة طويلة جداً وانشغلت بكتب أخرى وبالدراسة أيضاً وارتأيت أن هذا الشهر فرصة جميلة للعودة إليه .
كبداية ، القارئ الهاوي والراغب في الإطّلاع على الموضوع الذي يُناقشه هذا الكتاب يجب أن يمتلك خلفية لا بأس بها عن الأديان التالية : الهندوسية ، البوذية ، الكونفوشية ، الطاوية ، اليهودية ، المسيحية ، الإسلام وأخيراً الأديان البدائية. لأن هذه الأديان هي محور حديث الكتاب.
وبالنسبة لي كوني أمتلك خلفية ضعيفة جداً عن معظم هذه الأديان فقد عانيتُ الكثير خصوصاً مع أديان بلدان شرق آسيا والهندوسية.
تجاوزت الكثير من الصفحات في جزء المسيحية ، اليهودية ، والكونفوشية ، وتخطيت الجزء الذي يتحدث عن الأديان البدائية كونه لم يُثِر انتباهي.
أتحفظّ على بعض المعلومات التي ذُكرِت في قسم الإسلام ، بما في ذلك استدلال الكاتب الخاطئ بالأيات الذي نوّه إليه المترجم أيضاً.
الكتاب مليء بالمعلومات وأقولها مجدداً إذا كنت لا تملك خلفية عن الأديان فالكتاب لا يُلائمك ، ويجب ألّا يكون هذا الكتاب بدايتك في القراءة عن هذه الأديان ، مع أنه يشرح الشرح الوافي إلا أنك ستواجه صعوبات جمّة - في رأيي - لتتصور المفاهيم التي يتناولها.
June 18, 2018
This book should be required reading in every high school around the country. We need a way to help our children understand the spiritual traditions of the world. If we are in a "global" time, then we need to open ourselves not only to the "markets" of the world's people, but to the spiritual beliefs and wisdom traditions, the customs and the practices of the world's people. Huston Smith did this work from the mid-20th century and dedicated his life to teaching about the "wisdom traditions" of the world.
March 24, 2015
تحميل كتاب أديان العالم لهوستن سميث من هذا الرابط
http://goo.gl/r8NB82
http://goo.gl/r8NB82
February 13, 2022
This book is a very good introduction into the worlds religions. It is informative and gives insight into the religions core beliefs and also their historical mark on the world.
June 29, 2022
Tripped across this while cleaning up my Goodreads to-read lists, remembered I had read it as one of the many theology texts I used during my Master's degree electives. A good read, helped set the foundation for comparitive theology.
May 24, 2018
I have found “The World’s Religions” by Huston Smith to be a worthwhile read. The book is highly informative about the greatly diverse religious beliefs, values, and traditions among the world’s great and not-so-great religions. I found it to be a highly engaging experience to read about the diverse ways in which human civilizations have, throughout the centuries and millennia of human history, expressed their desires to commune with the Spiritual Realm – a Realm often referred to as God. I learned a lot from reading this book, but I believe that the greatest benefit for me was the stark realization of how very different cultures can arrive at spiritual and moral values and philosophies. Not only are there awesomely great diversities within respective religions, but even more pronounced are some of the utterly different ways that the world’s religions can instruct their adherents to worship or serve the Divine.
Huston Smith has performed a valuable service in his in-depth treatments of the numerous diverse religions on our planet. Jews differ from Christians, Hindus greatly differ from both Jews and Christians, Muslims have their convictions that extend beyond the boundaries of the other Abrahamic religions, and the Buddhists, Taoists, and those of the Shinto faith subscribe to vastly different concepts of the Divine than do the Western religions.
My reading of Smith’s book has encouraged me to be very disinclined to denounce those of religions that contrast with my own traditions. Rather, an attitude of openness can be fostered and encouraged by reading such an unbiased and objectively written work. I would recommend “The World’s Religions” to anyone who believes that religion speaks powerfully to the human spirit and can help guide us toward harmony with Ultimate Reality.
Huston Smith has performed a valuable service in his in-depth treatments of the numerous diverse religions on our planet. Jews differ from Christians, Hindus greatly differ from both Jews and Christians, Muslims have their convictions that extend beyond the boundaries of the other Abrahamic religions, and the Buddhists, Taoists, and those of the Shinto faith subscribe to vastly different concepts of the Divine than do the Western religions.
My reading of Smith’s book has encouraged me to be very disinclined to denounce those of religions that contrast with my own traditions. Rather, an attitude of openness can be fostered and encouraged by reading such an unbiased and objectively written work. I would recommend “The World’s Religions” to anyone who believes that religion speaks powerfully to the human spirit and can help guide us toward harmony with Ultimate Reality.
October 1, 2012
This is a rather old book, comparatively speaking. Copyright, 1958. It's a quick paperback introduction to the basic tenets of the world's largest religions so I don't think most of the content has become invalidated by the passage of a few years.
It is solely my opinion that it does a decent job of this.
On the flip side, the author was clearly Catholic and sometimes takes some interesting stances that I didn't agree with. This was troubling because, if he did that when discussing religions I was more familiar with, what was he doing with the ones I was readily learning about? It's all presented as fairly objective observation.
Regardless, I appreciate that there are those who took the time to study the matter. There are few conclusions to be reached at the end, though, so don't go looking for that. Mostly the reader just gains a basic understanding of less-familiar religions and hopefully some insight into the hearts of those who follow them.
It is solely my opinion that it does a decent job of this.
On the flip side, the author was clearly Catholic and sometimes takes some interesting stances that I didn't agree with. This was troubling because, if he did that when discussing religions I was more familiar with, what was he doing with the ones I was readily learning about? It's all presented as fairly objective observation.
Regardless, I appreciate that there are those who took the time to study the matter. There are few conclusions to be reached at the end, though, so don't go looking for that. Mostly the reader just gains a basic understanding of less-familiar religions and hopefully some insight into the hearts of those who follow them.
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