Huston Smith, dean of world religions, presents the essential teachings of Christianity, and, for the first time, his own profound Christian faith and convictions. <p>In this elegant and concise treatise, Huston Smith examines and puts forth what being a Christian has meant for him personally, how it has shaped his life and beliefs. In contrast to the misguided course of culturally rigid and intolerant evangelical and fundamentalist Christianity on the one hand, and the non-transcendent liberal Christianity of Marcus Borg, John Shelby Spong, et al. on the other, Smith presents a passionate and convincing argument for a vital alternative that is a deeper, authentic Christian faith that is both tolerant, respectful of people's and religious differences, yet substantial. <p>In part one, he relates his own story as a child of Christian missionaries in China, and how the beliefs they instilled in him resonated throughout his life. Using those beliefs, he argues that religion in general, and Christianity in particular, must find its way back into modern life for modern life to continue, and that the Christian world can co-exist, and in fact must co-exist with modernity. <p>Part two is an expanded and deeper version of the chapter on Christianity from The World's Religions. <p>And finally, in part three, Huston analyses and discusses the three main divisions in Christianity today. <p> <p>