The Wisdom of Faith

Can we empirically prove the existence of God? Author Huston Smith (The Illustrated World's Religions) thinks not and offers a wonderful analogy to make his point. Namely, how would a dog judge the validity of mathematics, he asks, "give it the sniff test?" Just as the dog cannot comprehend the human mind, so we cannot, Smith argues, find God in a laboratory. Host/interviewer Bill Moyers (who vigorously explored the first book of the Bible in Genesis [VL-1/97]) talks with Smith in this illuminating conversation spread over five volumes: Hinduism & Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, Christianity & Judaism, and A Personal Philosophy. We watched the final program, in which Smith discussed his own personal journey, including his bouts with doubt (which he refers to as "spiritual flu"), and his firm conviction that the ambiguity of religion is necessary for humankind to retain free will. Throughout, Smith fields Moyers' pertinent and well thought-out questions with grace and aplomb. Although the program we watched was straight talking head (ah, but what heads, what talk!), the other videos incorporate footage germane to the discussion of individual religions. An excellent examination of faith around the world, as filtered through the prismatic intelligence of a legendary scholar. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)