‘Wisdomkeeper’ chronicles life of radical religious scholar Huston Smith

A Maine author bases a book on a series of interviews with the 95-year-old author of ‘The World’s Religions.’



Posted 4:00 AM
By Lloyd Ferriss

In ‘Wisdomkeeper,’ a Maine author goes to the source to chronicle the life of radical religious scholar Huston Smith.

For more than 50 years, professors of religion and philosophy have cited Huston Smith as the standout authority on world religions.

His 1958 book, “The World’s Religions,” is a stalwart to this day in college courses on comparative religions. Smith was first to describe religions as their followers experience them, instead of as Christians interpret them. He has written 13 books. Bill Moyers devoted a five-part PBS special to Smith in 1996.

Now Dana Sawyer, a professor of religion and philosophy at Maine College of Art and adjunct professor in Asian Religions at the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine, has published a lively and definitive biography, titled “Huston Smith: Wisdomkeeper.” The 305-page book, based on multiple interviews with 95-year-old Smith (who continues to speak and lecture) is an official biography, in that it is approved by its subject.

http://www.pressherald.com/2014/09/21/wisdomkeeper-chronicles-life-of-radical-religious-scholar-huston-smith/