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Why Religion Matters: The Fate of the Human Spirit in an Age of Disbelief
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Average Rating:  out of 45 Reviews
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Price: $14.99
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Sale: $5.50
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Manufacturer: HarperOne
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EAN (European Article Number): 9780060671020
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Number of Items: 1
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Binding: Paperback
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Author: Huston Smith
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Publisher: HarperOne
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Dewey Decimal Number: 200
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Publication Date: 2002-01-01
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Reading Level: 304
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Description: Why Religion Matters is a passionate, accessible, ambitious manifesto written by one of the very few people qualified to address its titular topic. Huston Smith is the grand old man of religious scholarship. Raised by missionary parents in China, Smith went on to teach at M.I.T. and U.C. Berkeley, among others, and his World's Religions has long been the standard introductory textbook for college religion courses. The subject of Why Religion Matters, Smith writes, "is the importance of the religious dimension of human life--in individuals, in societies, and in civilizations." Smith believes that the religious dimension of human life has been devalued by the rise of modern science: we have now reached a point at which "modern Westerners . . . forsaking clear thinking, have allowed ourselves to become so obsessed with life's material underpinnings that we have written science a blank check ... concerning what constitutes knowledge and justified belief." In candid, direct style, Smith describes the evolution of intellectual history from pre-modern to postmodern times, and the spiritual sensibilities that have been shunted "by our misreading of modern science." In the book's final sections, Smith avoids the folly of predicting the future, instead focusing on "features of the religious landscape that are invariant" and therefore may serve as "a map that can orient us, wherever the future may bring." This book is fresh, insightful, and important. It may prove to be as influential in shifting readers' terms of religious understanding as any of Smith's previous writings. --Paul Power
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: You tell them , Huston! |
Date: 2008-12-30 |
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Details: Why Religion Matters: The Fate of the Human Spirit in an Age of Disbelief by Huston Smith is just a great book. Yes modern man has big trouble accepting some of the "antiquated" ideas of traditional religion. But just where is all this `new age' thinking taking people anyway, certainly not toward God. I hope Huston Smith reins those people back in with his book.
I see from reading the reviews on this site some people have recommend my book, "The Enlightenment, What God Told Me After One Million Prayers: A Message for Everyone," and again I just want them to know how much I appreciate their recommendation, especially at such a excellent site. I wrote this book out of love and for the glory of God and Jesus, not for my own fame or fortune. I welcome people to read my book, I'm sure you'll find this non-fiction account of a loving God just as positive and inspiring.
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Review Summary: I got a lot out if this book |
Date: 2008-12-12 |
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Details: I felt this book was very inspiring. It speaks powerfully on the many ways religion tries to discover the Divine. I liked all the stories in the book and found them interesting as well. There is a another book out that is very interesting and will bring you closer to God if that is what you seek entitled "The Enlightenment, What God Told Me After One Million Prayers: A Message for Everyone, a Message for Everyone" by John H. Eagan. I think you will love it! |
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Review Summary: Why Religion Matters... |
Date: 2008-06-28 |
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Details: This book, the genius of Huston Smith puts to rest the 'War' against Religion. Religion is not the problem but Men are, god is not the problem but Greed is. When will mankind use the tools that are given to him and use them as a guideline to walk the path and find the truth instead of closing its mind and walk the path to darkness? Faith comes from a Latin verb that means 'to trust', it was a pagan verb and had nothing to do with a dogmatic religious vision of life. Walk in trust, walk in Faith my brothers and sisters for The Truth, the Peace is there and it's way time to cease them, now not tomorrow, here on Earth and not in 'heaven'. Amen. |
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Review Summary: Huston Smith, Wherever You Are~ |
Date: 2008-03-30 |
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Details: I read the book a year ago. There is one short passage in the book -- which I have now given away -- which states (and I paraphrase): "A child drops an ice cream cone. The child thinks its the end of the world but the mother knows that it is not. Perhaps there is an intelligence so staggering in its capacity that to it gulags and archepalagos are like dropped ice cream cones." The book was worth that one passage. You gave me back my faith and gave me some hope and peace. And for that I, who started reading you as a college Freshman over 40 years ago, will always be profoundly grateful. Thank you. |
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Review Summary: Great disappointment ... |
Date: 2007-12-29 |
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Details: I approached the book agreeing with the thesis and looking for insights. Unfortunately the discussion wanders all over the place and after about 50 pages I just gave up. His points could have been better made in just 5 pages. This work is definitely orders of magnitude below his seminal "The World's Religions" which I am beginning to read a second time. |
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