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Title: The Big Picture
Subtitle: What the Religions of the World Teach Us About the Nature of Ultimate Reality
Author: Huston Smith
Narrator: Huston Smith
Format: Original Recording
Length: 2 hrs and 27 mins
Language: English
Release date: 11-04-15
Publisher: Sounds True
Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2 votes
Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Religious Thought
Publisher's Summary:
Over eight decades after his birth to missionary parents in China, Huston Smith now finds himself in an age of disbelief that has led to a spiritual crisis unlike any that history has previously known.
In The Big Picture, Smith draws from his lifetime of scholarship to describe for us the nature of ultimate reality. His description combines the most up-to-date findings of science with the enduring truths of the world's greatest religions, an alignment that offers firm grounds for hope. The vision is mystical and, as supported by the evidence Smith introduces, completely believable.
Join this distinguished author, scholar, and teacher as he explores:
From as far back as he can remember, Huston Smith tells us, his deepest longing has been to know the truth about the final nature of things. The Big Picture is the culmination of his quest for the widest-angle view of the world that is available to the human mind at this point in history.
Members Reviews:
A Beautiful and Compelling Presentation from an Eminent Scholar and Teacher
It's not often that someone as learned and eminent as Huston Smith sums up, in an audio presentation, his understanding of the "big picture" gained from many decades of scholarly study, reflection, and personal experience. We're therefore incredibly fortunate to have to this two-hour presentation, and I think that listening to it is an opportunity not to be missed by anyone who takes philosophical/spiritual matters seriously.
I've just listened to this presentation for the second time, and I got a lot more out of it than the first time, so I'll surely be listening to it again, probably many times.
I can't really do justice to Smith's view of the big picture in a summary, and you shouldn't need a summary anyway, since the presentation is only two hours. However, for those not familiar with Smith's thought, let me just note that Smith contrasts the modern scientific worldview with the "traditional" worldview comprised of what is shared in common among the world's religions. He argues that the scientific worldview is impressive but limited, whereas the traditional worldview is compelling for several reasons, though not provable, and (importantly) isn't contradicted by science.
In unfolding this presentation, Smith demonstrates a command of philosophy, science, religion, and spirituality which is worthy of his reputation. Because of his age, Smith speaks quite slowly and his voice sometimes quivers, but I'm patient enough that I didn't mind his pace, plus the slower pace helps you absorb the lucidly organized content of his presentation.
Warmly and strongly recommended without hesitation.
Great topic, but 2 1/2 hours is not enough!
Starting this tape, I heard Professor Smith's slow, hesitant delivery. He's been figuring out approaches to the big picture of how science differs from religion in detailing the big picture, and he tells his story as the preface to this comparison and contrast briefly. His immersion began when philosophy took him only so far, as a young lecturer.