Differences In Huston Smith´s The World's Religions

Christianity and Islam have many similarities and some fundamental differences. In God is Not One (2010), Stephen Prothero emphasizes the differences among the faiths. In contrast, in Huston Smith’s book, The World’s Religions (1958), Smith emphasizes what religions have in common. The differences among the faiths were mainly addressed by Stephen Prothero – such as: the Bible and the Qur’an, sin, and what happens after death. Opposed to Smith, who mainly focused on what the religions have in common – belief in one God, belief in the virgin birth, and the second coming of Jesus. However, where Smith shows an idealist approach, focusing on the positives of every religion, trying not to offend their beliefs and practices; Prothero shows a true realist, who believes that if we truly want to understand religion but we must not only see the positives of it, but the negatives as well. Initially, Christianity was founded around 33 C.E. in Palestine/Israel on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The problem within Christianity is sin, the solution is salvation, and the technique to achieve salvation is some combination of faith and good works. In Smith’s book previously mentioned, The World’s Religions, he addresses Christianity with positivity – proving that …show more content…
The differences among the faiths were mainly addressed by Stephen Prothero – such as: The Bible and the Qur’an, sin, and what happens after death. Opposed to Smith, who mainly focused on what the religions have in common – belief in one God, belief in the virgin birth, and the second coming of Jesus. As noted before, Stephen Prothero seems to be the author to give a better viewpoint of the two religions compared to Huston Smith – showing a realist perspective in what he writes and that religion consists of both positive and negative things; and they must be known for people to give proper