Huston Smith
Huston Smith
Huston Cummings Smithis a religious studies scholar in the United States. His book The World's Religionshas sold over two million copies and remains a popular introduction to comparative religion...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTheologian
Date of Birth31 May 1919
CountryUnited States of America
boys granted grew male role taking
In my town, I had only one adult American male role model: my father. I grew up taking it for granted that missionaries were what American boys grew up to be.
hero roles alive
Only while they are conforming their actions to the model of some archetypal hero do the Arunta feel that they are truly alive, for in those roles they are immortal. The occasions on which they slip from such molds are quite meaningless, for time immediately devours those occasions and reduces them to nothingness.
doubts intrinsic irrelevant life stay time
There are wonderfully intrinsic moments when life makes sense, and doubts are banished as irrelevant in those moments. Of course, we can't stay in that state. We're not here to be blissed out all the time.
becoming death dependent fear inordinate
I don't have any fear of death. I do, however, have an inordinate fear of becoming dependent on other people. To me, that's the severest test, not death.
apart assumption began chinese factor group unit viability
The Chinese began with the assumption that the group is the fundamental unit of reality. Individuals? Sure, we can factor them out from their groups, but let us not think that they as individuals have any viability apart from their group.
You subtract Christianity from Huston Smith, and there is no Huston Smith left.
art difficulty sacred
It's often difficult for us to act compassionately, but sacred art eases the difficulty by ennobling us.
acted assumed brought god happen human jesus life orthodox thinking
I happen to be a Christian. I was brought up and drenched in that. I am very orthodox in thinking that Jesus acted in his life the way God would have acted if God had assumed human form.
across billion pure science universe
Pure science - this vision of the universe as 15 billion light years across - I am bedazzled and awed by it.
altered consciousness given history human religion
No one in human history has given as much thought to the interweaving of altered states of consciousness and religion as I have.
connection deserved morality
There is no connection between morality and disaster, Are we going to think that they deserved that? That would be atrocious.
age capacity good looks mixed movement needs seems
The New Age movement looks like a mixed bag. I see much in it that seems good: It's optimistic; it's enthusiastic; it has the capacity for belief. On the debit side, I think one needs to distinguish between belief and credulity.
adds human laws modern nature period realize social structures
The modern period adds social ethics to religions agenda, for we now realize that social structures are not like laws of nature. They are human creations, so we are responsible for them.
almost asia asian forbidden history known notion ours permissive propensity religions rigid society teachers western
The notion that Western religions are more rigid than those of Asia is overdrawn. Ours is the most permissive society history has ever known - almost the only thing that is forbidden now is to forbid - and Asian teachers and their progeny play up to this propensity by soft-pedaling Hinduism's, Buddhism's, Sufism's rules.