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Religion: Directories of Religious Studies These sites are primarily concerned with gateways to religious studies, broad-ranged directories of sites, and academic resources for researching religion.

For additional information on religion-related topics, see Religion: General Resources and Religion in America.

Academic Info: Religion Gateway
• Compiled by Mike Madin
• Links to 26 topics on religion, including overviews by country (Canada, China, US), specific religions, law and religion, tolerance, women and religion
• Also links to the following: comprehensive and general sites, digital resources, libraries/archives, academic programs, professional associations/organizations
• Excellent annotations accompany most links
• In keeping with the Academic Info tradition, this is an excellent site for beginning research

Adherents.com
• Maintained by Preston Hunter
• "Adherents.com is a growing collection of over 41,000 adherent statistics and religious geography citations," with links to "statistics for over 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, ultimate concerns, etc."
• "Not affiliated with any religious, political, educational, or commercial organizations"
• International in scope
• Provides ranking statistics for the world's major religions, churches (religious bodies), "Top Ten" lists
• "Religion by Name Index" and "Religion by Location Index" are the primary tools for locating statistics
• Also includes information on religious affiliations of presidents, members of Congress, founders of religions
• There is no filtering/interpretation of statistics; some statistical data will differ (all statistics on a topic are given); occasionally data will be contradictory
• Comprehensive but "not exhaustive"; like many statistical meta-sites, statistics are not uniformly up-to-date
• Excellent FAQ explains the methodology utilized in creating the site; also includes tips on constructing the most productive searches (reading this is highly recommended)
• Outstanding; one of the best — if not the best — resources for statistical data on religions (especially little-known religions)

Finding God in Cyberspace (FGC)
• Compiled and maintained by John L. Gresham, library director of the Fontbonne University Library
• FGC "... provides a selective list of the best Internet resources of interest to religious studies scholars and students of religion; selectively points to the best gateways to specific types of religious information"
• "Selective" is the operative word for this site, which offers annotated links to print and online sources for digital resources, academic disciplines, world religions and the impact of cyberspace on religion
• While not extensive, this site's choice of resources is among the best currently available (especially "digital" links); this is an excellent place for beginning researchers as well as those who are familiar with religion-oriented resources on the Web

Guide to Internet Resources (GIR)
• Created by Charles K. Bellinger, Brite Divinity School
• Sponsored by the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion; funding support from the Lilly Endowment
• "A selective annotated guide to a wide variety of electronic resources of interest to those who are involved in the study and practice of religion"
• "Subject Areas" is a directory of annotated links organized into 11 broad categories (and 60 sub-categories); there is an emphasis on Christianity, but other world religions are also well-represented, as are other topics, including general religion sites, social thought, women and religion, religion and the arts, etc.
• Each sub-category links to the following resources: syllabi, e-texts, e-journals, websites, bibliographies, listservs
• "Material Types" links to academic and professional topics: e-journals, e-texts, books/libraries/reference, Internet/software, official sites of religions and related organizations
• "About the Guide" includes information on site maintenance, contact information
• Outstanding; one of the best and most extensive sites for many aspects of religion, with excellent commentary and ease-of-navigation

Hartford Institute for Religion Research (HIRR)
• Sponsored by the Hartford Seminary
• "We are committed to providing quality, social scientific religion research information that is helpful for religious leaders and the general public"
• "Research Areas" link to "Current Projects" sponsored by HIRR, including such topics as "Religion and the Family," "Faith Based Social Service/ Charitable Choice," and "Church Growth/Decline"
• "Research Areas" also links to reports/articles and includes resources produced within the Institute as well as outside sources
• "Sociology of Religion" links to resources for professional organizations, statistics, online syllabi, articles, surveys, census information, bibliographies
• HIRR provides consulting services ("Congregational Resources"), which include "Church Assessment Inventories," "Clergy Leadership Resources," "... from the storefront to the megachurch"
• Links to over 200 denominational homepages
• Also searchable
• Outstanding; one of the foremost research centers for the study of the sociology of religion, with a wide variety of resources designed to provide relevant analysis and data of use to both researchers and other interested parties

Humbul Humanities Hub: Religion & Theology (HHHRT)
• "The Humbul Humanities Hub is a service of the Resource Discovery Network funded by the Joint Information Systems Committee and the Arts and Humanities Research Board, and is hosted by the University of Oxford"
• This comprehensive directory of links is organized into 29 topics, one of which is "Religion & Theology"
• HHHRT currently links to over 1,400 websites for the following "Resource Types": "Projects and Organizations," "Teaching/Learning Related," "Primary Sources," "Secondary Sources," "Bibliographic Sources," "Research-Related"
• Each link is accompanied by a "Full Record" which contains a main title, Web address, description (an excellent annotation), language, intended audience, responsibility (sponsoring agency/individuals), type of resource
• Frequently updated
• Searchable
• Outstanding; probably the most comprehensive (and certainly one of the best) sites for the study of religion/theology; in-depth coverage of almost every conceivable topic; "Full Records" provides a thorough explanation of what each site offers

Religion and Philosophy
• Maintained by Margaret Vail Anderson, the "Digital Librarian"
• Alphabetized directory of over 220 religion and philosophy websites (approximately 75% are religion-oriented)
• Includes links to associations, specific topics, denominational sites, centers/institutes; international in scope
• Brief annotations accompany many links
• Links to "Digital Librarian" pages on Islam, Judaism
• Not comprehensive, but very useful for an overview of religion sites; great place to begin research

Religion and Theology
• Sponsored by the Internet Public Library
• Links to a representative variety of some of the most popular religion-oriented sites online
• Excellent annotations accompany each link
• Also links to related IPL pages for professional associations, journals
• Also links to sub-pages for "Faith & Denominations," "Leading Figures," "Sacred & Other Religious Texts"
• In keeping with IPL's tradition, this is a very useful place for beginning researchers

Religion Religions Religious Studies (RRRS)
• Created and maintained by Gene R. Thursby, Department of Religion, University of Florida
• "Information and links for study and interpretation of religions"
• RRRS links to sites for the following: faith traditions (primarily world religions), religion's place in society (relations with science, philosophy, literature), religious studies programs, research/teaching resources, "freedom of religion"
• Also links to "Freedom from Religion"
• Annotations accompany links to many sites; the more extensively annotated sites (faith traditions, religion and society) are very well-done
• Excellent; great choice of links and easy-to-navigate

Religion-Online (RO)
• Maintained by William F. Fore, United Theological College (Bangalore, India)
• "Designed to assist teachers, scholars and 'general seekers' who are interested in exploring religious issues," the focus of this site is "... to develop an extensive library of resources, representing many different points of view"
• RO includes "More than 4,700 chapters, monographs, speeches and articles online;" created by "recognized scholars"
• Topically organized into 10 broad categories and over 100 sub-categories covering theological, social, ethical, and historical issues/topics
• Each issue/topic link is full-text; authors are identified (short biographical note), and if the link is a republication, the source is noted
• Most links are accompanied by annotations
• Currently, many links reflect a Christian perspective, but increasing attention is being given to other world religions
• Also searchable
• Excellent; well-organized, extensive with insightful commentary; easy-to-navigate

Religious Resources on the Web (RRW)
• Sponsored by the Iowa State University Library
• This site is a subject directory of religion-oriented websites which "... represent some of the best current sources for Religion and Religious Studies on the Internet"
• Links to sites for the following topics: indexes/abstracts, "general sources," e-journals, Bible study guides, theological resources, research/data centers, "Other Sources" (mythology, secularism, et. al.)
• "Religions of the World" links to sites for major world religions
• All links are accompanied by annotations
• While not extensive, this site's excellent choice of websites and user-friendly navigation make this a great place for both the novice and the experienced researcher

Religious Studies Web Guide
• Created by Saundra Lipton (University of Calgary Library, Canada) and Cheryl Adams (Library of Congress); currently maintained by Saundra Lipton
• "This website focuses on free internet resources of use to researchers involved in the academic study of religion"
• "Resources Arranged by Format" is an annotated directory linking to 19 resources, including bibliographies, journals, reference tools (guides, handbooks), professional organizations
• "Resources Organized by Religion Group/Selected Topics" links to sites for 13 world religions and a limited number of topics; many links are annotated
• Also links to gateways which are not primarily religious, but which contain significant religious content
• Searchable
• One of the best sites for academic and professional resources; while not comprehensive, this site does an excellent job for the topics which it covers

Virtual Religion Index (VRI)
• Maintained by Mahlon H. Smith, Department of Religion, Rutgers University
• This site is a subject directory of religion-oriented websites "... designed to advance research in matters of religion"
• Organized into 18 topics (which subdivide into over 130 sub-topics), VRI links to the following topics: major world religions; religion and its connections with art and psychology; area studies ("Ancient Near East," "Greco-Roman Studies," "East Asia")
• Also links to academic/research sites (libraries, research institutes, professional associations, libraries)
• Many sites are annotated
• E-mail site update notification available
• A well-organized, user-friendly resource, this site offers extensive coverage of many of the primary issues/topics (including historical ones) in religious studies

World Religion Resources
• Sponsored by refdesk.com
• Directory of 129 religion-oriented websites, many of which are annotated
• Primary emphasis is on denominational sites, gateways, research centers; international in scope
• Not comprehensive, but very useful for an overview, especially the links to denominations

Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content, or stability of any websites linked to this page.

Compiled by Rick Keogh 10/03; links last checked 5/05

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