UVM Libraries Research Guides: Religion Copy 2: Starting Points: All Beliefs

All Religions - All Regions

The books on this page cover all major religions. The print books are located in the Reference Collection [main/1st floor], primarily in Row 2. Browse this area to find additional books. Reference books are non-circulating, but you may scan pages for free in the library.

Encyclopedia of Religion
[Print: REF BL 31 .E46 2005 (15 volumes)] One of the most complete and authoritative works on all aspects of religion and traditional belief systems. Presents a cross-cultural approach that emphasizes religion's role within everyday life and as a unique experience from culture to culture.
Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices
Essays on current religious practices around the world with an emphasis on how religions impact the daily lives of their followers. Essays on specific religions and on religious practices in individual countries.

The Brill Dictionary of Religion Through more than 500 entries, addresses religion as an element of daily life and public discourse. Addresses the different theologies and doctrinal declarations of the official institutionalized religions but it also gives equal weight and consideration to a multiplicity of other religious phenomena.
Call Number: REF BL 31 .M4813 2006 (4 volumes)

Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
Find concise but substantive entries on major and minor religions, sacred writings, traditions, people, festivals, etc.

The Oxford Handbook of Global Religions
Publication Date: 2006
This is a reference for understanding world religious societies in their contemporary global diversity. Comprising 60 essays, the volume focuses on communities rather than beliefs, symbols, or rites. It is organized into six sections corresponding to the major living religious traditions: the Indic cultural region, the Buddhist/Confucian, the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim regions, and the African cultural region.
The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion Published under the auspices of the American Academy of Religion, this highly accessible dictionary has more than 3,200 entries which address everything from the great living traditions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Judaism to the very latest new religions. Diverse topics related to religion are also included.
Call Number: REF BL 31 .H37 1995

Encyclopedia of Ancient History
Encyclopedia of the entire ancient Mediterranean world, with over 5,000 entries covering social and cultural to political, economic, and intellectual history. Geographic range extends beyond Greece and Rome to the Ancient Near East, Bronze and Iron Age Greece, Jewish history, and Pharaonic Egypt. Chronological span: Neolithic through the eighth century CE (i.e., 701-800). MAPS: in the "Special Features" sidebar, click the link "Maps of the Ancient World."
Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity Multidisciplinary reference work covering all aspects of history, culture, religion, and life in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Near East (including the Persian Empire and Central Asia) between c. AD 250 to 750, the era now generally known as Late Antiquity.
Oxford Handbooks Online
The titles in this multidisciplinary series offer authoritative surveys of original research in a particular subject area. Specially commissioned essays from recognized scholars in the discipline give critical examinations of the progress and direction of debates, as well as a foundation for future research.
Note: There are many titles in this series--available to UVM affiliates--that are specifically devoted to religion or have substantial content devoted to various topics in religion. To view a list of titles in Religion--> enter the database-> in the "Subject" section at the top of the screen, click "Religion"-> in the list of results, click the tab at the top that tells you the number of Books->when viewing the title list, in the left side-bar, tick the box next to "Unlocked." A green padlock icon indicates a book that UVM provides.
Encyclopedia of Race and Racism
Examines the anthropological, sociological, historical, economic, and scientific theories of race and racism in the modem era. Delves into the historic origins of ideas of race and racism and explores their social and scientific consequences. Includes biographies of significant theorists, as well as political and social leaders.

Encyclopedia of Monasticism
Call Number: REF BL 631 .E59 2000 (2 vols)
Encyclopedia of Religious Rites, Rituals, and Festivals
Call Number: REF BL 31 .E47 2004

All Religions - U.S., Latin America, Caribbean

Encyclopedia of Religion in America
Explains the origins, development, adaptation, influence, and interrelations of the many faiths practiced, including major world religions, new religious sects, cults, and religious movements that originated or had an influence in the United States. On the next screen, choose the "SAGE" option.
Cambridge History of Religions in America
Print: REF BL 2525 .C354 2012 (3 volumes)
Traces the historical development of religious traditions in America, following both their transplantation from other parts of the world and the inauguration of new religious movements in North America. V. 1 extends from prehistoric times until 1790. V. 2 focuses on the time period 1790-1945. V. 3 examines the religious situation in the U.S. from the end of World War II to the 21st century, contextualized in the larger North American context.
Cambridge History of Religions in Latin America

Handbook of Denominations in the United States, 14th ed
Call Number: REF BL 2525 .M425 2018
Authoritative guidebook to U.S. religious groups.
Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America Comprehensive description and analysis of women and religion in North America. The encyclopedia is interreligious, interracial, and multicultural. Features more than 145 longer essays that enable major themes to be developed more fully. The articles focus on institutions, movements, and ideas with biographical sketches incorporated into the articles.
Call Number: REF BL 458 .E52 2006 (3 vols)
Encyclopedia of African and African-American Religions Covers African and African-American religion in sub-Saharan Africa, North America, South America, and the Caribbean, and provides insights into its growing worldwide influence in Europe, Asia and the South Pacific. Entries encompass individuals, concepts, specific religions, religious movements and churches.
Call Number: REF BL 2462.5 .E53 2001
The Encyclopedia of Caribbean Religions
Call Number: REF BL 2565 .E53 2013 (2 vols)
Illustrated encyclopedia for Caribbean religious phenomena from a Caribbean perspective. Combines a comparative approach to religion with an understanding of Caribbean history. Entries examine how Caribbean religious experiences have been shaped by and have responded to the processes of colonialism and the challenges of the postcolonial world. Considers religious traditions such as Vodou, Rastafari, Sunni Islam, etc. Detailed subentries present topics such as religious rituals, beliefs, practices, specific historical developments, geographical differences, and gender roles within major traditions.

Philosophy

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy
This titles includes sections on the following philosophies: Buddhist, Islamic, Christian, Jewish, Hindu
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Scholarly, peer-reviewed open access encyclopedia, covering all aspects of philosophy - ancient and modern.
Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Basic philosophy encyclopedia that is geared towards the general reader as well as students.
Oxford Companion to Philosophy
Print: B 51 .O94 2005 (2nd floor)
Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy

Mythology

See also (on this page): Encyclopedia of Religion and Encyclopedia of Ancient History.

Oxford Companion to World Mythology
Call Number: [Print: REF BL 312 .L44 2005]
Dictionary of World Mythology
Dictionary of Creation Myths

Dictionary of African Mythology

Dictionary of Celtic Mythology

Dictionary of Asian mythology

Man, Myth and Magic
Call Number: REF BF 1407 .M34 1995 (21 vols)

Encyclopedia Mythica
Internet encyclopedia of mythology, folklore, and religion. The mythology section is divided to six geographical regions: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Middle East, and Oceania. Also includes an image gallery. Caveat: this is an encyclopedia whose stated editorial standards for contributors are not rigorous.

Atlases & Gazetteers

Columbia gazetteer of the world
Encyclopedia of geographical places and features - ancient and modern.

Atlas of the World's Religions
Call Number: REF G 1046 .E4 A7 1999
New Historical Atlas of Religion in America
Call Number: REF QUARTO G 1201 .E4 N4 2001