Wisdom, Ethics And Morality (Part 2 of 2) with Huston Smith, Ph.D.

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The quintessential master of “the wisdom traditions” takes us on a scintillating ride through the foundation stones of the world’s spiritual heritage, and reminds us wisely of the positive role religion can play in restoring the human spirit in the 21^st century. Especially in these times, his words quench the thirsty soul and bring hope out of the morass of cultural denial and distraction. He speaks about how the popular trend away from religion may be masking a deeper disease. (Part 1 of this dialogue is program 2858.) (hosted by Michael Toms)

Bio

Former professor at Washington University, M.I.T., and U.C. Berkeley, Smith was also  the Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion, Emeritus, at Syracuse University. His compelling classic, The World’s Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions, has been the preeminent text for introducing the world of religious wisdom to millions, and its subject and author were the focus of a highly acclaimed 1996 series of interviews with Bill Moyers on PBS.

He is the author of many books, including:

• The World's Religions, Revised and Updated (HarperSanFrancisco 1992)
• Cleansing the Doors of Perception: The Religious Significance of Entheogenic Plants and Chemicals (Putnam 2000)
• Why Religion Matters: The Fate of the Human Spirit in an Age of Disbelief (HarperOne 2001)
• Beyond the Postmodern Mind: The Place of Meaning in a Global Civilization (Quest Books 2003)
• The Soul of Christianity: Restoring the Great Tradition (HarperOne 2005)

To learn more about the work of Huston Smith go to www.hustonsmith.com.

Topics Explored in This Dialogue

• Why religion is not so bad, after all
• How our culture of narcissism has depressed the human spirit
• How an epiphany in Death Valley affected his life
• Why it is important to experience the timeless
• What other cultures offer us spiritually
• Who are some of Huston’s mentors
• Why our sense of time is different
• What is the relevance of religion to science

Host: Michael Toms                    Interview Date: 2/8/2001          Program Number: 2859

Music Included

From Album: Awakening
Artist: Joseph Curiale
1997 Black Box Music 1050 #7155-2
Track - The Multiples of One

From Album: Music from Everglades National Park
Artist: Ron Satterfield and John Archer
1998 Gallery Records GR-1008
Track 3 - Swamp Angel

From Album: Celtic Ragas
Artist: Chinmaya Dunster
1998 New Earth LC3768
Track 3 - At the Edge of the Known World

From Album: Earthtone Collection 1
Artist: Marcomé
1997 Earthtone Records ETD 5703