Wilfred Cantwell Smith (1916–2000)
Author of The Meaning and End of Religion
About the Author
Image credit: Harvard University Gazette
Works by Wilfred Cantwell Smith
#Error 1 copy
Pakistan as an Islamic State 1 copy
Associated Works
The Deoband School and the demand for Pakistan — Foreword — 2 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1916-07-21
- Date of death
- 2000-02-07
- Gender
- male
- Education
- University of Toronto (BA | 1938)
Princeton University (PhD|1948) - Occupations
- theologian
ecumenist - Organizations
- McGill University (Institute of Islamic Studies)
Harvard Divinity School
Dalhousie University
Trinity College, Toronto - Relationships
- Smith, Brian Cantwell (son)
- Nationality
- Canada
- Places of residence
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Associated Place (for map)
- Ontario, Canada
Members
Reviews
Not one of the more famous works of Smith but still one that is enough to show that Smith was way ahead of his time. Somewhere around mid 40s when he was teaching in FC College Lahore, he encountered true religious diversity, which later shaped up his extraordinary understanding about the faith of religious 'other'.
In these transcribed lectures, he argues that it is not impossible to develop true understanding of other people's faith by trying to understand how 'they' experience the show more ultimate reality and not the understanding that is essentially brought out and shaped through 'our' own personal faith. Its a commitment to this understanding that can only make this world a truly global community where an individual is 'theologically' enabled to respect other religions. show less
In these transcribed lectures, he argues that it is not impossible to develop true understanding of other people's faith by trying to understand how 'they' experience the show more ultimate reality and not the understanding that is essentially brought out and shaped through 'our' own personal faith. Its a commitment to this understanding that can only make this world a truly global community where an individual is 'theologically' enabled to respect other religions. show less
It is not surprising that this book, THE MEANING AND END of RELIGION, has become an authoratative source for students and scholars in their study of religion and spiritual matters.
Because of the limited, restricted and narrowing thought that is imposed upon us by embracing our own religion, whether it is Christian, Hindu, Baptist, Lutheran, or any other sect the author suggests that we discontinue using the term "religion" itself, and replace it with a Universal conception of God that show more embraces all of humanity, not of just one separate religious sect. The author questions why the loving father of all humankind favors only the Christians,the Methodists, the Baptists, the Jews, or any others, as his "chosen few".
The importance of learning about the History of other religions, as well as our own, is strongly recommended by the author. The chapter "The Special Case of Islam" opened my eyes to my own narrow, prejudiced conception of "those other guys".
The chapter on "Faith" is thoughtful enough to have been written in a book by itself.
"THE MEANING AND THE END OF RELIGION" is a classic in the area of spiritual thought. It will undoubtedly remain a classic for many years to come. show less
Because of the limited, restricted and narrowing thought that is imposed upon us by embracing our own religion, whether it is Christian, Hindu, Baptist, Lutheran, or any other sect the author suggests that we discontinue using the term "religion" itself, and replace it with a Universal conception of God that show more embraces all of humanity, not of just one separate religious sect. The author questions why the loving father of all humankind favors only the Christians,the Methodists, the Baptists, the Jews, or any others, as his "chosen few".
The importance of learning about the History of other religions, as well as our own, is strongly recommended by the author. The chapter "The Special Case of Islam" opened my eyes to my own narrow, prejudiced conception of "those other guys".
The chapter on "Faith" is thoughtful enough to have been written in a book by itself.
"THE MEANING AND THE END OF RELIGION" is a classic in the area of spiritual thought. It will undoubtedly remain a classic for many years to come. show less
Jan 31, 2019Dutch
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Statistics
- Works
- 22
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 669
- Popularity
- #37,727
- Rating
- 3.6
- Reviews
- 2
- ISBNs
- 45
- Languages
- 3
- Favorited
- 2