Books for Children

1. The Rise of Major Religions by Georgia Makhlouf

Published by Silver Burdett Press, Inc., copyright 1986

DDC 291 MAKH

This book features lots of pictures and covers the world's major religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. It also has a chapter on old religions and another on important women in the major religions.

2. Eyewitness Books: Religion by Myrtle Langley

Published by Alfred A. Knopf, copyright 1996

DDC 200 LANG

This is a picture book with definitions of symbols and items of importance. It gives a brief synopsis of over fifteen religions.

3. The Shaker Village by Raymon Bial

Published by University Press of Kentucky, copyright 2008

DDC 289.8 BIAL

This book talks about the traditions, history and the Shaker religion today. It has many wonderful photographs throughout.

4. The Baha'i Faith by Patrick Vickers

Published by Oneworld Publications, copyright 1994

DDC 297.89 VICK

This book describes the beliefs, history and community life of the Baha'i faith. It contains facts and figures, a glossary and an index.

5. Great Religious Leaders: Jesus and Christianity by Alan Brown

Published by Smart Apple Media, copyright 2002

DDC 230 BROW

This book defines what Christianity is, describes Jesus' life and teachings and explains the festivals and celebrations associated with this religion. It also includes a glossary and an index.

6. The Illustrated Book of Myths by Neil Philip

Published by DK Publishing, Inc., copyright 1995

DDC 291.13 PHILIP

This book contains myths from all over the world dealing with such topics as creation, beginnings, and gods and animals.

7. Religions of the World: Sikhism by Nancy Hoffman

Published by Thomson Gale, copyright 2006

DDC 294.6 HOFFMAN

This book looks at different aspects of Sikhism including origins, practices and traditions, and modern challenges. It contains many photographs, a bibliography and an index.

Journal Articles

1. Religion and the Promise of Happiness

Mark Larrimore. Social Research. New York: Summer 2010. Vol. 77, Iss. 2; pg. 569, 27 pgs

This article exams the meaning of happiness and its relation to religion.

2. Zoroastrian motifs in non-Zoroastrian traditions

Werner Sundermann. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. Cambridge: Apr 2008. Vol. 18, Iss. 2; p. 155 (11 pages)

This article looks at how Zoroastria has influenced other religions.

3. THE JESUITS: IN THE MAKING OF A WORLD RELIGION

Simon Ditchfield. History Today. London: Jul 2007. Vol. 57, Iss. 7; pg. 52, 8 pgs

Ditchfield looks at how the Jesuits were able to achieve a global reach.

4. ENCOUNTERS AND RESPONSES: SAMENESS AND DIFFERENCE IN WORLD RELIGIONS

Henry L Ruf. International Journal on World Peace. New York: Sep 2005. Vol. 22, Iss. 3; pg. 25, 25 pgs

This article talks about how many religions have the same core beliefs and how people can use that "sameness" to overcome their "difference".

Reference Books

1. Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions; Wendy Doniger, Consulting Editor

Published by Merriam-Webster, Inc., copyright 1999

DDC 200.3 MERR

This encyclopedia gives brief descriptions of people, terms and religions.

2. The Encyclopedia of Judaism, Vol. I, II, III; edited by Jacob Neusner, et al

Published by The Continuum Publishing Co., copyright 1999

DDC 296.03 ENCY

This three volume set contains information on Judaism, including ethics, art and culture, and Judaism in several different countries.

3. The Encyclopedia of Native American Religions by Arlene Hirschfelder and Paulette Molin

Published by Facts on File

DDC 299.7 HIRS

Topics in this encyclopedia are listed alphabetically. It includes a subject index and bibliography.

4. Eerdman's Handbook to the World's Religions, edited by R. Pierce Beaver

Published by Lion Publishing, copyright 1982

DDC 291 EERD

This book looks at the development of religion and ancient and current religions. It contains pictures, listing of important figures and maps.

5. Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vols. 1-4; edited by Daniel H. Ludlow

Published by MacMillan Publishing, copyright 1992

DDC 289.3 ENCY

This four volume set gives an alphabetical listing of the history, scripture, doctrine and procedures of Mormonism.

6. The Mythology of All Races in Thirteen Volumes, Edited by Louis Herbert Gray, A.M., Ph.D.

Published by Marshall Jones Company, copyright 1916

These thirteen books goes into great detail of many of the world's myths including Latin America, Asia, North America and Europe. The thirteenth volume contains the index.

Videos

1. The Amish: Not to be Modern

VHS 57 mins. 1988

DDC 289.73 AMIS

This is the first documentary made with the cooperation of the Amish people.

2. Labyrinths: Their Mystery and Magic

VHS 60 mins. copyright 2000

DDC 291.37 LABY

This video is about the history and magic surrounding labyrinths. It also details how to walk and build them.

3. The Wisdom of Faith: Confucianism

VHS copyright 1996 (no length given)

DDC 299.51 WISD

This video features an interview that journalist Bill Moyers conducted with Huston Smith. Smith was born in China and lived there for many years. He gives an insight into the Chinese culture and Confucianism.

4. Inside Islam

DVD 100 mins. copyright 2002

DDC 297 INSI

This DVD was produced in association with the History Channel. It gives an overview of Islamic history and the role of Islam today.

Internet Sources

1.Religion Facts http://www.religionfacts.com/

The author of this site has a master's degree in religion. He has put together facts from 37 different religions/belief systems and has put together a comparison chart of 43 different ideologies. The site also includes an extensive list of symbols and glossary terms.

2. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance http://www.religioustolerance.org/

This website's purpose is to bring accurate information on many different belief systems to promote religious tolerance. Some of the major sections on this site include world religions, cults, spirituality, non-theistic beliefs and "hot topics".

3. The World Fact Book: Religions https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html

This website is maintained by the CIA. It gives brief descriptions of eleven different world religions and has an alphabetical list of world countries and the religious distribution for each one.

4. BBC: Religion (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/)

This website is maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Find information on twenty different religions/beliefs and their sects under the "Explore bbc.co.uk/religion" heading or use the "Religion Finder". You can compare different ideologies under the "Bitesize: Religion" heading. There is a "Multi-faith Calendar" that marks special holidays for different faiths and an image gallery under the "In Pictures" heading.

5. Maps (http://www.wadsworth.com/religion_d/special_features/popups/maps/index.html)

from World Religions, 3e by Warren Matthews and Patterns of Religion by Schmidt; Sager; Carney, Jackson, Jr.; Muller and Zanca

This collection of forty-four maps shows distributions of various religions, both current and ancient. There are also maps on important religious sites.

Books in Circulation

1. World Religions: Origins History Practices Beliefs Worldview by Franjo Terhart and Janina Shulze.

Parragon Publishing, copyright 2002, American Edition

DDC 200 TERHART

This book gives an encyclopedic look at 12 different religions. It has many great photos and is easy to read. It also features an index, bibliography and a glossary.

2. God: A Brief History by John Bowker

DK Publishing, 1st American Edition, 2002

DDC 200 BOWKER

This book has lots of photos and is more in depth than just an encyclopedic look at world religions. It features timelines and some of sections are titled: In the Beginning, Religions of India, Religions of Asia, and Religions of Abraham.

3. ABC's of the Bible

Published by Reader's Digest Association, Inc., copyright 1991.

DDC 220 ABC'S

This book was written by many people in different fields of religion. It has pictures and the information is easy to understand. It goes in depth on many aspects of the Bible and features a timeline, maps, bibliography and index.

4. Islam: Origins, Practices, Holy Texts, Sacred Persons, Sacred Places by Matthew S. Gordon

Published by Oxford University Press, 2002

DDC 297 GORDON

This book is easy to follow and has a few pictures included. At the back of the book there is a glossary, bibliography and an index.

5. The World of Shaminism: New Views of an Ancient

Tradition by Roger Walsh, MD, PHD

Published by Llewellyn Publications, copyright 2007

DDC 2011.44 WALSH

There are seven sections to this book with titles including Who,

Where, When and What is a Shaman, The Life of the Shaman,

Shamanic Techniques and the Shaman's Mind. There is also a

bibliography and an index at the end.

6. The Illustrated I Ching by R.L. Wing

Published by Doubleday, copyright 1982

DDC 299.51 WING

This book is easy to follow as it goes through the many symbols

associated with the I Ching. It has a good introduction before going

into the sixty-four hexagrams.

7. Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought by

L. Ron Hubbard

Published by Bridge Publications Inc., copyright 2007

DDC 299.236 HUBBARD

This book is about the rudiments of the theory and practice of

Scientology and is aimed towards beginners. It goes over the basic

principles and processing. It features an index and a glossary.

8. How to be a Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other

People's Religious Ceremonies (Vol 1 and 2), edited by

Arthur J Magida

Published by Jewish Lights, vol. 1 copyright 1996,

vol. 2 copyright 1997

DDC 291.38 HOWT

Volume 1 won the Benjamin Franklin Award for the "Best Reference

Book of the Year", 1996. Both volumes discuss appropriate attire, the sanctuary, the service, guest behavior, special vocabulary and

ideologies. Volume 1 features twenty different religions and volume 2 has seventeen.

9. Mormonism: A Very Short Introduction by Richard Lyman

Bushman

Published by Oxford University Press, copyright 2008

DDC 289.3 BUSHMAN

This book talks about the ideologies of Mormonism and its history up through today. It includes a list of further reading, web sites and an

index. This is a small book and, therefore, the print is very small. It may not be suitable for anyone with vision difficulties.

10. Don't Know Much About Mythology by Kenneth C. Davis

Published by Harper Collins, 2005

DDC 201.3 DAVIS

This book looks at the myths of Egypt, Mespotamia, Greece,

Rome, Celtic, Norse, India, China, Japan, Africa, the Americas and

Pacific Islands. Each chapter contains a timeline and there is a

bibliography and index in the back of the book.