WORLD RELIGIONS

The study of religion is uniquely enchanting due to the diversity of faiths and beliefs in the human experience. It’s an immeasurably valuable field of study that gives students a deeper understanding of the motivations behind historical movements and how religion has shaped societies through the ages.

ABC-CLIO’s World Religions: Belief, Culture, and Controversy covers more than 50 religions practiced across the globe, including those that have flourished and others that have disappeared. Students will learn about the essence of each religion, including important figures, core beliefs, momentous events, customs and practices, significant and sacred places, celebrations, and holidays. Daily updates and additions aid young researchers as they explore the ever-changing role of religion in our world. The database was created under the oversight of J. Gordon Melton, PhD, author of more than 40 scholarly texts and books on religion and a Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Institute for Religious Studies at Baylor University in Texas.

Purchase Now

Buddhism

  • Buddhism
  • Mahayana
  • Theravada
  • Vajrayana

Christianity

  • Christianity
  • Catholicism
  • Eastern Orthodox
  • Mormonism
  • Protestantism

Chinese Religions

  • Chinese Religions
  • Confucianism
  • Daoism

Islam

  • Islam
  • Ismaili Islam
  • Shia
  • Sufism
  • Sunni

Judaism

  • Judaism
  • Hasidism
  • Conservative Judaism
  • Orthodox Judaism
  • Reform Judaism

New Religions

  • New Religions
  • Scientology
  • Unification Church

Traditional Religions

  • Traditional Religions
  • Africa
  • Americas
  • Europe
  • Egypt and Near East
  • Greco-Roman

Western Esotericism

  • Western Esotericism
  • Astrology
  • Gnosticism
  • Spiritualism
  • Wicca

Unbelief

  • Unbelief
  • Agnosticism
  • Atheism
  • Humanism

Created explicitly for middle and high school students, each database includes:

  • A comprehensive reference library from more than 230,000 primary sources, including audio, video, photographs, illustrations, maps, and rich media
  • A standards-based curriculum updated every day by a team of subject matter experts and supported by an exhaustive range of instructional material
  • An expansive library of model commentaries from noted scholars to help foster critical thinking by exposing students to multiple points of view
  • An educator support center with helpful, professional development tools plus educational resources like discussion points, activities, and lesson plans

Purchase Now

Learn more about: