ABSTRACT
An extensive reading of Wilfred Cantwell Smith induces a strong impression of masterly scholarship, conveyed in a somewhat complex and even old-fashioned style. This chapter identifies a number of key issues that are central to Smith's argument and which he reiterates on a regular basis. First, Smith's rejection of the term religion as a helpful or valid way of understanding humanity's relationship with the transcendent. Secondly, his criticism of belief as a basis for religious understanding and practice. Smith undoubtedly must be seen in the spectrum of Christian responses to religious pluralism to occupy a place of his own. Smith argues that the tendency in Western society to deal with truth propositionally rather than personally creates many problems. The chapter describes Smith as an anthropocentric pluralist because of his major focus on the human dimension of faith and religion.
