Book Review: The World's Religions by Huston Smith

Misc Scripture | 20 July 2020

I don't know what happened over the last five years but my interest in religion has unceasingly grown until it sprouted legs. It then proceeded to trip me up and stomp on my skull causing my obsession gland to explode onto my carpet and now it's all I think about. When I read another sacred text or grasp the innards of a new belief system, I feel myself level-up, earning a badge of historical understanding within long developed paths of spiritual access. My enthusiasm has sunk so far inward that I've already founded my own religion, Janthopoyism, which I consider to be the central point where the collective holy worship can function in unity with the universal sciences. Look us up!

But just because I've located solace in my personal conclusions, this does not mean that my hunger has been muffled. Hence why I recently determined that I needed a book akin to a fat religious cake with hefty slices representing multiple faiths, allowing me to digest various divine outlooks in the shortest timeframe possible. Moments later, this publication came roaring down the pipeline, winning first place in my attention race, two-million sold, lathered in accolades, ordering me to order it immediately. Ok! I ordered it! I read it! I'm here!

The World's Religions focuses primarily on seven of the biggest names: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity (with a small section devoted to primal religions too). Why Sikhism was hardly discussed and why Jainism was excluded (to mention only a few) baffles me but never mind. Because what was covered was done so thoroughly, churned out from a uniquely rich perspective, leaning into the spiritual enlightenment of these beliefs rather than wasting time analysing the oft-misguided organisations that were built around them. I eagerly learned something new on every page and was embarrassed at how incorrect I was about certain previous judgments, ideas that once appeared absurd to me now making total sense. On the other side of this, however, were those powerful concepts I comprehended from my solar plexus outwards but never had the vocabulary to connect them to my head. This book poured the cement of knowledge into my brain and smoothed out the crevices, reinforcing what it is that I love so dear about religion and what it is that so many fail to see.

Religion is heartbreakingly misunderstood. It's not as much of a blind faith as people often assume it is, but rather, complex theories set forth by some of the greatest philosophers that ever existed then debated for thousands of years by millions of reflective thoughts further. Every religion is essentially good if you concentrate on the words of their prophets and/or earliest teachings, promoting love and unity, moral progression and a quest to encounter perfection. What's more, plenty of souls have pursued these doctrines and, no matter the denomination, have achieved profound spiritual breakthroughs. They have deconstructed the universe often using logical measurements then uniting their vibrations with the inner-workings of this infinite divinity, an achievement which would be difficult to attain without these guidances. And I can't think of anything more beautiful or more important than this. Sadly, the bigger a doctrine becomes and the longer it exists for, the easier it splits and the greater the temptation is for a select few individuals to exploit the name for a disguised ulterior chase of power. It's such a shame that these ugly yet rare practices have turned so many minds away from core messages that could soothe their lives with an aura of peace. To write religion off is nothing but a disservice to yourself but, whatever, moving on.

When considering such a celebrated topic, well-researched content is imperative but this alone would be useless if the voice did not know how to handle the message. And it is here that you learn why this specific publication is as revered as it is. Huston Smith harnesses an undeniable adoration for the subject matter which he sets forth with poetic flair, utilising descriptive language which (truth be told) may have benefited from simpler deliveries and shorter sentences. However, it is this vibrancy that moulds an otherwise intricate and testing topic into a bright and exciting experience. His intellect and expertise ooze through his impassioned words as if the paper had pores and, what's more, he really gets it. Each religion is articulated with respect, treating their designated slots as if this belief is the correct one, always rational and fair, never succumbing to bias, leaving me with no idea which faith this man even subscribed to (if any). He did an impressively meticulous job here and I was in awe every step of the way, grateful for the miniature dollop of enlightenment that inevitably comes with examining material like this. Without fail, my mood forever elated during these reading sessions, at times curiously so. Simply put, this was the right book. I don’t know what I was expecting but I got everything.

I closed this cover more confident than ever that I am on the correct path of discovery. I think specialising in one religion is where the danger lies but by dedicating yourself to all of them, you start to piece together a monumental picture of collaborated thought. My mind and spirit have been fed, enriched from these seven important timelines of metaphysical hypothesis and I feel blessed by a soft underlying sensation of wellbeing. It's strange but I truly believe that studying religious principles reveals to you more about yourself than anything else, and the deeper I explore these ideas the calmer my state of person becomes. I am thankful for this book's significant role on my exciting journey and I simply couldn't score it any less than perfect for what it is. I genuinely cannot fault Huston's work and would recommend it immediately to anybody with similar pursuits.