Forgotten Truth: The Common Vision of the World's Religions Paperback – October 9, 1992

This very small book is simply the best book introduction to the sacred worldview of world religions that exists. If one wants to understand the esoteric wisdom behind the great religions, read this book. If one wants to understand the basis of the perennial philosophy as defined in the twentieth century, read this book. If you wish to grasp the underlying metaphysical and mythological assumptions of Western Civilization until around the 15th century, and the continuing metaphysical-mythological assumptions underlying Eastern Asian philosophy, read this book.

This book was purchased for a customer who was very happy to get it when it arrived.

Forgotten Truth is among the 10 best books I have ever read on spiritual wisdom. The contemporary philosopher Ken Wilber alerted me to the book, recommending it highly. I’m now reading it for the second time (after a decade's gap) and again delighting in its insights and in the eloquence of Smith’s prose.

Smith's book is a refreshing non-Christian assessment of the irrational consensus stretching across the various segments of American culture, at least as far as I can see it. Over the past 50 years, with greater or lesser intensity, Americans have grown cynical and suspicious of any claims to truth other than that which their senses can validate and their perceptions confirm.This is not an entirely new phenomenon in absolute essence. From the arrival of the Puritans right up throgh the classical enlightenment of Colonial times and extending even, though significantly lessened, through the Romantic 19th century, and certainly in the early Modernist 20th century, Americans have always prided themselves on being "practical." Our approach to religion, politics, art and literature has been influenced, if not conditioned, by the screening grid of "what works?"But within that prevailing practicality Americans had certain values, misplaced perhaps but real, that limited that practicality. Though not a philosophical community, Americans were yet disposed toward the idea of "the beautiful", the pursuit of "quality", the social imperative of the American "Dream", the unquestioned assumption that we had "hit" upon that blend of freedom/responsibility/encouragement which was the key to human development and future prosperity. We were unabashedly evangelistic. Promoting our ways and our ideas, with some success and with too much arrogance, and exporting our institutions throughout the world.In other words, we had a "world view" that formed a central unifying idea. Immigrants were "assimilated" into this view. Cultural distinctives were precious but subordinate. To be "Southern" was to embrace secondary ideas about life in these United States that were never-the-less absolutely subordinate to the higher claim of being an "American." I submit that even the shameful issue of race relations was characterized by this approach and I would submit the evidence of the proud performance of non-white Americans in ALL the wars of the period.But that changed. The common embrace of intangibles dissolved under the influence of vicious political power plays, the dedicated strategy of radical elitist academics and intellectuals, and the rise of "selfish me-ism" sensuality that characterized the masses of the post-1960's populace.Something had to fill the void created by the dismissal of abstract "values." That which was confidently advanced was "scientism" - the belief that the only true "truth" is that which can be established by the principles of formulaic validation and predictive behavior. It showed up across the board. Education theory became the subject of endless, repetitive, and often contradictory "studies." "Studies prove..." became the unquestioned warrant for whatever hare-brained agenda some demagogue wanted to advance. "Prove it" was the underlying demand that opened the door for the idea that everyone's opinion is of equal value no matter what their qualifications on the subject being discussed.Consensus dissolved, intellectual and moral anarchy has prevailed and now, simply, there is no dream. All we have left is the sterile imbecility of moral license and the reductionist straight-jacket of impressionist thinking. In a social structue where in "quality" is not recognized, where "advancement" in personal virtue is not celebrated, and where transcendent goals are not pursued, there is and must be a corresponding despair - the sense that "something is missing" - and the resultant flattening of human existence.Smith is on to something. He is too much a product of those same trends to be able to critique his own observations. He cannot find a measure (scientism) to be able to distinguish, among the commonly held values of the world's various religions, any which are to be elevated as the repository of "truth." He still treats the facts of human religions as the data from which conclusions are to be drawn.But he says and sees many good things. All that is lacking is the insight, that what you "see" is not ALL there is. Among the world religions, only Christianity can claim the priority of "truth." That statement is not proved by the data of the Christian religion itself... it is furnished by the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit... a Person who is not contained in human equations nor constrained by human conceptions. He is the validation of all that is transcendent for in Him is beauty, peace, joy, life and truth.

I was replacing a lost copy. Great to have it again.

For "seekers" this is a good read. Huston Smith has an open mind when it comes to the world's religions. He'll make you think if you're ready to take religious blinders down.

Universal spiritual wisdom...

Not what I expected. I purchased Huston's book on comparative religion which I found exceptional and therefore purchased this title expecting similar insight- but it was a much lesser read.