Home > Research Guides > Religious Studies Guides > Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
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Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Research Guide
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Reference Works
Specialized reference works like the ones listed below are very useful for research. Specialized encyclopedias can provide useful overviews or convenient explanations. Specialized dictionaries give a more precise definition of terms as they are used by a particular field of study. Concordances can help you locate exactly where particular words appear in sacred texts. All of the print titles listed here are located on the first floor of the Library. Browse around the same areas to find other useful titles. Online books are available with a Library card.
General Works on Religion
- Contemporary American Religion
- Reference BL 2525 .C65 2000
- Credo
- Has both general and subject specific encyclopedias and dictionaries. Also has online versions of both the Qu'ran and the King James' Bible
- Encyclopedia of American Religions
- Reference BL 2525 .M449
- Encyclopedia of Religion
- Reference BL 31 .E46 1987
- Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics
- Reference BL 31 .E62 1955
Judaism and Christianity
- Anchor Bible Dictionary
- Reference BS 440 .A54 1992
- The Ancient Near East
- an Encyclopedia for Student : Reference DS 57 .A677 2000
- Civilization of the Ancient Mediterranean
- Greece and Rome : Reference DE 59 .C55 1988
- Civilizations of the Ancient Near East
- Reference DS 57 .C55 1995
- Dictionary of Ancient Near Eastern Mythology
- Reference BL 1060 .L44 1991
- Eerdman's Analytical Concordance to the Revised Standard Version of the Bible
- Reference BS 425 .W48 1988
- Encyclopedia of Early Christianity
- Reference BR 162.2 .E53 1997
- Encyclopaedia Judaica
- Reference DS 102.8 .E496 1996
- Encyclopaedia of Middle Eastern Mythology and Religion
- Reference BL 1060 .K58 1993
- Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls
- Reference BM 487 .E53 2000
- Encyclopedia of the Early Church
- Reference BR 66.5 .D5813 1991
- Jewish Encyclopedia (1901-1906)
- New Catholic Encyclopedia
- Reference BX 841 .N44
- The NRSV Concordance Unabridged
- Reference BS 425 .K645 1991
Islam
- Concordance of the Qu'ran
- Reference BP 133 .K37 1983
- Encyclopedia of Islam
- Reference DS 37 .E523
- Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World
- Encyclopaedia of the Qu'ran
- Reference BP 133 .E53 2001
- Historical Dictionary of Islam
- Reference BP 50 .A33 2001
- New Encyclopedia of Islam
- Reference BP 40 .G42 2001
Works in the General Collection
Search the Library Catalog to locate print and audio-visual materials.
Some suggested searches include searching by religion. Below are some subheadings that may be of particular interest. Not all apply to all religions and there may be others of interest to you. If you are not finding what you are looking for, consult the religion librarian (information below) or the Reference Desk.
- [religion] - Custom and practices
- [religion] - Doctrines
- [religion] - Fasts and feasts
- [religion] - Liturgy
- [religion] - Rituals
- [religion] - Sacred Books
- [religion] - Theology
- for example: Judaism - Doctrines
- Note: Not all subheadings apply to all religions.
You can also search by topic. For example:
- Islam and Art
- Moses
- Pillars of Islam
- Prayer
To search for sacred texts do a title search. To search for books about sacred texts do a subject search.
Some things to remember when doing a subject search on the Bible and the Qu'ran:
- In most library catalogs the subject heading used for the Qu'ran is Koran.
- The Bible can be searched as Bible; that will be general works on the Bible as a whole. If you are looking for information on a particular book in the Bible you need to search it as Bible O. T. (or N. T. ) and then the name of the book. For example: Bible O. T. Amos.
- There are several useful subheadings for the study of religious sources. They are
- Commentaries
- Criticism, Interpretation, Etc.
- Introductions.
For example: Koran Criticism Interpretation Etc
Books from Other Libraries
You have many choices for locating books not owned by College of DuPage.
You can of course check your local public library. Make sure the books are scholarly in nature.
You can also search World Cat. World Cat lists books from all over the United States. These books can be ordered via Inter Library Loan. While in the World Cat record just click on Find This! You will be able to search the C.O.D. Catalog and then fill out the Inter Library Loan request form if not available from C.O.D.
We also have reciprocal borrowing arrangements with our four local liberal arts colleges: Wheaton, Elmhurst, Benedictine, and North Central.
Online Books
The Library Catalog contains access to many eBooks. Use the same suggested search above, but limit or modify your search to the location eBook or Reference eBook. These online books were chosen with the same care as other books in the collection. You may also want to check some of the titles on the Online Books page.
Ken Orenic
Reference Librarian
630.942.2338
orenick@cod.edu
February 2013
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