LIB-Reference Sources
Resources subscribed to by SOAS
Encyclopedia of Religion
This new edition of Eliade's 1987 classic "Encyclopedia of religion" is an authoritative source for information on the entire range of topics relating to religion and spiritual practice, including belief, worship, doctrine, religious law, religious art and architecture, biographies and many other topics. The new edition reflects new trends and movements in religions and in academia. It covers new subjects such as anti-cult movements, bioethics, film and religion, gender and religion, sexuality, and new religious movements. SOAS Library also holds the print copy of the "Encyclopedia of religion".
[To access the Encyclopedia select 'Gale Virtual Reference Library'. If you are off-campus you'll need to login with your SOAS id and password]
Encyclopedia of Buddhism
The "Encyclopedia of Buddhism" provides a comprehensive overview of one of Asia's most important religious and social forces. It describes the Buddhist world view, basic teachings and practices of Buddhism, as well as its different schools and sects. In addition to containing entries on Buddhist scriptures, art, architecture, saints, demons, monastic orders, festivals, rites and ceremonies, it explores the history of Buddhism, the different forms it has taken in different parts of the world, and how Buddhism has blended with other religions like Shinto, Confucianism, Daoism and Christianity.SOAS Library also holds the print copy of the "Encyclopedia of Buddhism". [To access the Encyclopedia select 'Gale Virtual Reference Library'. If you are off-campus you'll need to login with your SOAS id and password]
Digital Dictionary of Buddhism
This resource comprises both the Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (DDB) and the CJKV-English dictionary (CJKV-E) for Sinitic characters and compounds related to East Asian cultural, political and intellectual history.
Reference works from Oxford Reference Online (Off-campus login)
These are all available from any computer in SOAS, and are available off-site for SOAS staff and students with a SOAS id and password.
- A Dictionary of the Bible
- The Oxford Companion to the Bible
- The Oxford Guide to People and Places of the Bible
- A Dictionary of Buddhism
- The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church
- Oxford Dictionary of Islam
- A Concise Companion to the Jewish Religion
- The Oxford Companion to Philosophy
- The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy
- The Oxford Dictionary of Popes
- The Oxford Dictionary of Saints
- The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
Freely available resources
Overview of World Religions
Encyclopedia of religions with good introductory text, as well as charts and diagrams. Produced by the Religion and Ethics Department at St Martin's College, Lancaster.
Adherents.com
Statistics on over 4000 religions, churches and faith groups.
Catholic Encyclopedia
Online version of the print encyclopedia, originally published in 1913. Includes nearly 12,000 articles on all aspects of the Roman Catholic Church.
Encyclopedia Mythica
An encyclopedia on mythology, folklore and legend.
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Online encyclopedia edited by academics at U.S. universities.
Jewish Encyclopedia.com
Unedited online version of the 12 volume print encyclopedia which was originally published between 1901 and 1906. Contains approx. 15,000 articles on Jewish history and beliefs, but does not include any modern history e.g. the Holocaust, creation of Israel.
NationMaster: Religions
Comprehensive statistics on world religions and faith groups building on data from CIA World Factbooks (2003-2008). Statistics can be viewed as maps and converted into pie-charts and bar-graphs. An advanced options allows users to create specific statistical record searches, to compare data and create charts and graphs from it.
