Religion
For Starters | Sub-topics | Dictionaries & Encyclopedias | Associations & Organizations | Other Internet Guides
For Starters
- Guide to Internet Resources for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion
A selective, annotated guide to a wide variety of electronic resources of interest to those who are involved in the study and practice of religion: syllabi, electronic texts, electronic journals, websites, bibliographies, listserv discussion groups, liturgies, reference resources, software, etc. The purpose of the Guide is to encourage and facilitate the incorporation of electronic resources into teaching. - Virtual Religion Index
This comprehensive, annotated directory is the place to start if you're doing extensive research on any aspect of religion on the Internet. - Finding God in Cyberspace
A gateway site compiled by a librarian with a Ph.D. in religious studies, this is an excellent annotated guide to print and electronic resources on religions and all aspects of religious studies. It also lists the best search engines for finding relevant information on religious and spiritual topics. - Internet Sacred Text Archive
This site consists of "significant primary texts relating to religion and mythology." There are Ancient texts including neolithic, Australian, Pacific, African, Ancient Near East, Greek and Roman, Northern European, Egyptian, Native American, and Modern Pagan. Eastern contains Shinto, Hinduism, I Ching, Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Western has a hypertext Bible and other Christian texts, Judaism, Mormonism, Bahai'i, Islam, Zoroastrianism, esoteric, occult, and fringe religions. There are also writings by freethinkers Charles Darwin, Thomas Paine, Mark Twain, Clarence Darrow, and Albert Einstein. - Religious Tolerance
The website's premise is to encourage everyone "to accept the right of other people to freely follow religions that are strange to us, without hindrance." To that end, they have included many links about religions and ethical systems, sections devoted to particular issues like religious law, spirituality and hatred, religious news and essays about topics like sex, war and terrorism. This site is maintained by the Ontario Consultants of Religious Tolerance. - Religion and Philosophy Resources on the Internet
This annotated resource directory is an organized starting point of interesting, important, and general resources rather than an attempt to list everything available. From the Boston University School of Theology. - Religious Movements Page
Seeks to explore a variety of religious beliefs, cults, and sects in today's culture. To this end, many religious faiths are profiled, with links to their official pages if available. There are also studies in the cult and anti-cult movements, evangelism and broadcast television, faith and reason, and religious freedom. The site attempts to present nonjudgmental and unbiased information in its presentations. Searchable, but use the site map for easy exploration. Most of the profiles were written by students at the University of Virginia. - Religion-Online
This is a database of full-text resources designed "to assist professors, scholars and general 'seekers' who are interested in exploring religious issues," this site aims "to develop an extensive library of hundreds of entries, presenting many different points of view, but all written from the perspective of sound scholarship." There are over 1,100 articles and chapters in a variety of subject areas, such as Ethics, Comparative Religion, Worship, Religion Education, and History and Sociology of Religions. Searchable, or browse the author, book, and other indexes from the site map. - Beliefnet: Multifaith Information
This multifaith, independent site is focused on providing religious, spiritual, and moral information and inspiration from a spectrum of religious and spiritual beliefs. The site includes news, discussions, culture, prayer, links to sacred texts, pages for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and many other religions and spiritual beliefs. There are columns written by a wide variety of scholars, and a glossary of religion terms. The focus of this site is very ecumenical, with an emphasis on tolerance and an unbiased approach to the human spiritual experience.
Sub-topics
Biblical Studies | Buddhism | Christianity | Islam | Judaism | Hinduism
- Biblical Studies
- All-in-One Biblical Resources Search
Designed and maintained by Dr. Mark Goodacre of the University of Birmingham, creator of the New Testament Gateway, this new site will find ready use among scholars and students in religious studies. Essentially a search page gateway, the site allows users to perform keyword and advanced searches of over 25 online Bible and religious studies resources. These are organized under four headings: Bible Versions & Translations, Biblical Resources Sites, Email Discussion List Archive, and Ancient World (Various). Most of the sites and discussion lists included are well-recognized scholarly resources. Search results are conveniently launched in a separate browser window, allowing users to keep the main page open for easy additional searches. - Bible Study Tools
"Designed to facilitate in-depth study and exploration" of the Bible. Included are several translations, interlinear Bible commentaries, concordances, dictionaries, lexicons, ermon helps, and Bible history. To read the Greek New Testament or Hebrew Old Testament characters, follow links to download and install free fonts;sound pronunciation files require RealAudio. - EIKON
Created at Yale Divinity School by faculty and library staff, EIKON is an image database that "provides digital resources for teaching and research in the field of Biblical studies." The approximately 800 images in EIKON are a subset of a larger Yale digital collection called AdHoc that contains both texts and images related to the history of Christianity. EIKON is searchable by subject; a search on Moses, for example, retrieves four images from a series of frescos at a synagogue in Syria. The subject headings in EIKON records are links, so it is easy to find related pictures by clicking the headlines. Clicking on the geographical location heading in a Moses record retrieved sixteen more images from the same temple. EIKON can also be browsed by categories such as Biblical Book, Geographical Location, Cultural Affiliation, Object Type, or Topic. - Gutenberg Digital
All 1,282 pages of the Gottingen Gutenberg Bible have been scanned and beautifully presented by the Gottingen State and University Library, along with the Gttingen Model Book(instructions to illuminators on book ornamentation), and "Helmasperger's Notary Instrument" (the document that provides the strongest proof that Gutenberg was the inventor of printing with movable type). Feature-packed and intelligently designed, this site is worthy of the great work of art it offers to the world. Includes background on Gutenberg, the history of printing, and the impact of Gutenberg's invention. For full appreciation, Shockwave Flash is required. Available in German and English versions. - New Testament Gateway
An "up to date, annotated guide to good academic New Testament web resources." These Web resources include not only other Web sites, but articles and course materials. Topics include Jesus in Film, Women and Gender, Bible Translations, Non-Canonical, and Judaica. Browsable indexes make this site easy to navigate. Searchable by keyword. Updated monthly. From the University of Birmingham, England.
- All-in-One Biblical Resources Search
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- Buddhism
- BuddhaNet
The searchable Buddhist Information Network features a BuddhaZine, guided meditation and other audio files, downloadable e-books and articles (Adobe Acrobat Reader required), information on Meditation Techniques, an online guide for studying Buddhism, information on Buddhist history and culture, a World Buddhist Directory, a directory of Buddhist Hospices & HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs, events information, and a browsable collection of related links. - Buddhist Studies WWW
This annotated directory keeps track of leading information resources in the fields of Buddhism and Buddhist studies. A Virtual Library site. - Ethics of Buddha and Buddhism
This article offers information on the life of Buddha, the principles of Buddhist beliefs, practices, and the Eastern philosophies. Information about Siddartha Gautama (the Buddha), Dharma (the doctrine), Dhammapada (the book), and Sangha (the community) are provided. This page is part of a large site on religion and philosophy by the peace activist and author Sanderson Beck.
- BuddhaNet
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- Christianity
- Christian Classics Ethereal Library
The library contains many important public-domain works for theological study. CCEL houses the New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge and theWorld Wide Encyclopedia of Christianity. - Ecole Initiative
The Ecole Initiative is an encyclopedia, but also a set of original sources and long essays, about the early Church history to the Reformation. Each article is linked directly to related articles and other information available on the Web. The Ecole Initiative maintains five pages of links to existing early Church resources on the internet. The Early Church Documents page lists primary sources that are either from the early Church period or pertinent to it in some way. - Hall of Church History
Browsable hypertext of events and creeds in the history of the Christian church. After a brief essay, further annotated Web links are offered for additional research on specific topics: Church Fathers;Medieval Churchmen; Heretics; Eastern Orthodox; Catholics; Reformers; Puritans; Anabaptists; Arminians; Cultists; Unorthodox, Baptists, and Recent Stalwarts. Lighthearted by nature, this site also provides some thought-provoking issues for Christian and non-Christian alike on the veracity of the Bible and the faith of its followers. - Project Wittenberg
Project Wittenberg is home to works by and about Martin Luther and other Lutherans. Here you will find all manner of texts from short quotations to commentaries, hymns to statements of faith, theological treatises to biographies, and links to other places where words and images from the history of Lutheranism live.
- Christian Classics Ethereal Library
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- Islam
- Introduction to Islam
Online version of the 1988 book by M. Cherif Bassiouini; the purpose of which is "to convey to a non-Muslim audience an understanding of Islam, its history, culture, and contribution to civilization." Includes maps, charts, pictures, and drawings. Relevant verses of the Qur'an (Koran) and sayings of the Prophet (Hadith) have been included where appropriate, as support for the narrative. The Arabic text of the Qur'an is also included. - Islam 101
A comprehensive source on one of the world's fastest growing religions. Contains topics such as Islamic culture and civilization; social studies; human rights; Islam and women; an online course on Islam; studies and articles comparing Islam with other religions; Islamic history, archaeology, and art. Section on Ramadan, a glossary, and current events are also included. Visit the Islamic City for a recitation of the Holy Quran or listen to the adhan - the call to prayer from the Masjid (Mosque). Articles and readings from the Holy Koran are included. Many useful links are provided. - Islamic Studies, Islam, Arabic, and Religion
Although it begins with Islamic scholars speaking out against terrorism, the main emphasis of this site is a collection of annotated sites about the Qur'an, Sufism, Sunni, Islam in the modern world, women's rights, art, architecture, music, Arabic language study, and more. From a professor of religion at the University of Georgia. - Islamic World to 1600
This multimedia tutorial outlines "Muslim beliefs and practices, as well as the history of the Islamic world from the 7th to the 17th centuries, including the expansion of the Islamic empires of Asia, Africa, and Europe." Sections include: The Caliphate and the First Islamic Dynasty, The Fractured Caliphate and the Regional Dynasties, The Mongol Invasions, and Rise of the Great Islamic Empires. Produced by The Applied History Research Group at the University of Calgary. - Muslim Life in America
"This Web site is an attempt to capture in photographs, words, and statistics something of the extraordinary range and richness of ordinary Muslim life in this country." There are articles such as "Beliefs and Banking" and "Religion -Exploring Issues, Answers and Beliefs: Reflections on Ramadan." From the U.S. Department of State's Office of International Information Programs.
- Introduction to Islam
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- Judaism
- Jewish Virtual Library
This comprehensive online Jewish encyclopedia has over 6,000 articles and 2,000 maps and photographs. It includes material on Jewish history, women, the Holocaust, travel, Israel-U.S. relations, politics, religion, and biographies. There is a bibliography of over 1,000 books and 1,000 Web sites as well as a glossary of over 1,000 words. A timeline of Jewish history is available also. Among the highlights are a virtual tour of Israel, the Judaic treasures at the Library of Congress, and the complete text of the Hebrew Bible in English. - Maven
The largest directory of Jewish and Israel resources on the Internet. Searchable and categorized by subject. More than 9,000 links, many annotated.
- Jewish Virtual Library
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- Hinduism
- Bhagvat Gita
A complete Sanskrit version of a principle text of Hinduism. Adobe Acrobat Reader for PDF files or Ghostview for PostScript viewing are required. This site also links to an English translation in html. Another English translation of the Bhagavad Gita is from the American Gita Society. - Study of Hindu Religion
A comprehensive study of the principles and practices of Hindu religion, yoga, and philosophy, this site also includes the basic tenets and beliefs of Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Shintoism, Taoism, and Confucianism from a Hindu point of view. Additional sections offer comparisons between the four Hindu sects, between the three Western Religions, between Eastern and Western Religions, and between various sects and non-religious movements.
- Bhagvat Gita
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Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
- Catholic Encyclopedia
- Concise Dictionary of Religion
- New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge
- World Wide Encyclopedia of Christianity
Associations & Organizations
- American Academy of Religion
- Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture
- Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals
- North American Association for the Study of Religion
- Religious Research Association
- Society of Biblical Literature
Other Internet Guides
- Frontline: Apocalypse!
The evolution of apocalyptic belief throughout the ages, "from the rootsin early Jewish history, to the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, the rise of the Antichrist legend, the apocalyptic overtones of the Crusades, Christopher Columbus, the Puritans in America, doomsday cults," and the Second coming. Learn about the influences on Western thought and art and the opinions of knowledgeable contemporaries on millennial beliefs and events. A quiz on the Antichrist, chronology of apocalyptic belief, a scholars' roundtable, list of primary sources and readings, video excerpts (requires RealPlayer), glossary, and related links are included. From the PBS series, Frontline. - Religion Statistics
Statistics covering membership in "over 4,000 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, ultimate concerns, etc." Indexes of religion by country and by name;statistics on largest communities of religions by countries and states of the U. S.; religious affiliations of U. S. presidents and current members of Congress. Lists of scriptures by religion; FAQ and L-FAQ ("less frequently asked, but interesting, questions"). Links to other religious sites.
Created by Meg Atwater-Singer on 18 Apr 02. Last update: 21 Aug 08
