Huston Smith Scholar of Religion

[DreamsofMajesty]

scribd (dot) com/nb812

[SailorWuvsPeanut]

The part about the oral traditions of people who don't have a written language was really interesting, how he theorizes that the bad religious shit would get discarded over time in a sort of "natural selection" process. Whereas many of the religions of people who have had a written language for centuries, have all these ancient texts with a deity supposedly inciting people to commit atrocities, that are often still subscribed to by many people.

[wookie72]

However, there has always been a tradition of interpretation in Judaism, one that has been passed on (to a much lesser extent) to Christianity and Islam. Religion is/should be an "open source" project, in which our interpretations evolve over time. Judaism has always had a tradition that if the Torah is not reinterpreted it is in a sense "dead."

[itzsimplyasmi]

Our world needs more thinkers like him. Unfortunately his words are too advanced for our average youtubers to understand..

[jaws900]

He said he has looked at all religions and said that Christianaty was supperior. Oh boy could i turn his world upside down. I could name so many things wrong with that book called the bibal. If he was smart he's would be nutral in religion.The most advanced countrie in the world *Japan* is the countrie with the highest amount of Athisist and places like Isral are still in the stone age when compred to use and less than 1% of them are Athisist.

[HarveyEspatchelowe]

Jaws (nice name and photo)"He said he has looked at all religions and said that Christianaty was supperior". That's not true! You didn't pay careful attention! He said no such thing!

[jaws900]

soory. But it was along thoese lines. If he had looked he would have found that no religion makes sence as Science destroys them all. EG Creationists say the world was created 6000 years ago but sicence has PORVED with many things that this is wrong and it's over a Billion years old. I forget the exact prediction but we know it's older than 6000. Oh and my Name registers as Jaws900 but thats really my dads user. I often go by HammerFAIL.

[HarveyEspatchelowe]

JawsHammer, There are different interpretations of sacred scriptures in Christianity and Islam. Some people think these sacred writings are to be interpreted literally, like a newspaper. Others see it differently. God bless you, take care.

[jaws900]

A little piace of advice before i go. Don't say God Bless you or I'll pray for you to an Athisist. It's a big insult. I'm fine with it but many are not. Just a little heads up.

[Ashiman12]

So, it's okay for "athisists" to insult religious folks, but not okay for religious people to say "God bless" to atheists 'cause it might bug 'em.?

...

[jaws900]

Not at all. Most of the time (Esspecialy with me) i don't make the first insult until one is delt with me.

[SailorWuvsPeanut]

I'm not an atheist (I'm agnostic), but can sorta understand what you're coming from. It doesn't bother me to hear "God bless you", when its good natured. If somebody said they'll pray for me because I'm ill, I'd not be insulted, they'd basically be expressing concern which is comforting. But if say they'll pray for me in a dismissive manner, to save my soul from burning in hell for not subscribing to their dogma, than yes that's a tad insulting (but I can deal with it, I've heard worse, lol)

[SailorWuvsPeanut]

errata: "what you're coming from." I meant, "where you're coming from"

[wookie72]

Buddy, learn to type. And where has Smith made any comments on evolution?

[wookie72]

Again, he's one of the foremost experts on religion, having studied it for over 60s years. And yet somehow you know better.

[SailorWuvsPeanut]

Right, he didn't say Christianity was superior, he said didn't find a religion that was superior to Christianity. Which inversely could also mean that he didn't find one that is inferior. His viewpoint seems similar to something the Dalai Lama once said, about it often being best to practice some form of a religion one grew up with (probably as its easiest to be comfortable with it because of the familiarity, for most people).

[Ashiman12]

I'm sorry, but the percentage of "athisists" in a country has little relation to how "advanced" that country is. Japan is an intensely spiritual country, and a vast majority of the population are Buddhists or Shintoists. And look at communist Russia; an atheist country, and very poor. Of course, being an atheist is not bad, but neither is being religious, as long as you don't follow the "Pray and pass the ammunition" crowd.

[petregeus]

Just a passing comment, not a barb or anything:

>>an intensely spiritual country

My own experience living in Japan would lead me to suggest "has a strong spiritual tradition" instead.

Atheists and the intensely secular are also very well-represented in Japan as they are in the US and Europe. I see no great distinction.

[wookie72]

He actually said the direct opposite. As for Israel in the stone age - what? I'm not a fan of Israel's politics, but they are one of the most technologically advanced countries in the middle east.

[HarveyEspatchelowe]

I had misplaced my faith. Like my lost key chain, I knew it was around here somewhere. I found a Huston Smith book, and then found my keys.

[jaws900]

To bad Mr Smith him self is lost

[HarveyEspatchelowe]

Looks like you're missing an "o" in your to? In any case, what are you doing here, and why did you disturb my comment?

[SailorWuvsPeanut]

"Looks like you're missing an "o" in your to?"

Not to disturb your comment, but in the course of my sloppy attempts to keep it under the 500 character limit, I made plenty of typos and other errors for you to criticize Harvey, in my comments here. The atheists and theists can use this as proof that agnostics are ignoramuses :D

[wookie72]

Hmm... a man who has been studying comparative religions his entire life vs. a kid who can't type or spell?

You really don't make a good case for yourself.

[angomako]

Huston Smith is one of the kindest figures in these times of religions coliding,cultures coliding etc...

His knowledge and perspective are just adding hope in the picture.

[rashid1086]

Houston Smith is one of the best authorities in explaining religion for what it is. I have read his book, The Forgotten Truth, which explains what religion is to a person. It is amazing. We need more people like him in the academic and scholarly world...

[gedmaximum]

Is this Pierre Grimes friend that he mentions, who has gone thru many different religions, trying to fit the one to meet his needs, without realising that he must first address his fear of the idea of death and therefore remove the expectations that prevent direct experience of the one?

[teflonmagnet]

'garbage in garbage out' Marion Arden Rockwell 1985

[sunhaninindia]

为学日益 为道日损

knowledge increasing while Tao decreasing, vice versa

--- Lao Zi "Tao Te Ching"

[redliterocket4]

'Writing adds to speaking by accumulating a history, but it also subtracts from our knowledge of what is important. A written culture accumulates trivia while an oral culture can pass on only wisdom.' an important point.

[teorr]

but who decides what is wisdom?

[redliterocket4]

I suppose its up to us.

[muthushiv]

Teorr, Excellent question "What is wisdom?" To me wisdom is commensense at its best, which creates least harm to the society and which brings peace inside as well as outside human body. Very few in this world are as great as Houston Smith. I am so glad that I live during his presence. Every word uttered by him are worth of contemplation which I am sure will bring "Wisdom". Thanks a lot for uploading this video