Why Read Background Information?
Reading background information helps fill in knowledge gaps. Virtually everyone, even experts, can benefit from reading authoritative summaries of the historic background, current developments, major players, and primary issues of a chosen topic. These summaries often include basic bibliographies that help to jump start research projects.
Major sources of authoritative summaries are subject dictionaries and encyclopedias. Other background information may be obtained from biographical and statistical sources and other reference works such as handbooks and directories.
Search the library opens new window catalog for biographies. Try searching by:
- Personal names as subjects or keywords
- Classes of people as subjects or keywords
- Other keyword searches
Brill's Encyclopedia of Global Pentecostalism by
Call Number: EbookISBN: 9789004297449Publication Date: 2021
Models and Methods for Youth and Young Adult Ministry by Call Number: EbookISBN: 9781532630217Publication Date: 2018
Practical Theology and Qualitative Research by Call Number: BV3 .S82 2011ISBN: 9780334029809Publication Date: 2006
Statistics & Demographics
Statistics related to religion:
Other sources of statistical information:
- Britannica® Online Academic Edition This link opens in a new window
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
- Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia This link opens in a new window
- Statistical Abstract of the United States This link opens in a new window
Global Statistics
World Christian Encyclopedia (ONLINE) by Call Number: EbookISBN: 9781474403238Publication Date: 2019- World Christian Encyclopedia by Call Number: BR95 .W67 2020 ReferenceISBN: 9781474403238Publication Date: 2019
- Center for Global Christianity - Gina Zerlo & Todd Johnson The Center for the Study of Global Christianity is an academic research center that monitors worldwide demographic trends in Christianity, including outreach and mission. We provide a comprehensive collection of information on the past, present, and future of Christianity in every country of the world. Our data and publications help churches, mission agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to be more strategic, thoughtful, and sensitive to local contexts. Annual data on Global Christianity is available online and through the World Christian Encyclopedia.
- Atlas of Pentecostalism Atlas of Pentecostalism is a dynamic online database, which visually maps the stupendous growth of global Pentecostalism as a diverse and networked religion. The database uses global crowdsourcing, big data, cinematography, interviews and academic collaborations to provide an independent perspective on Pentecostalism as it evolves. The database expands with time and can also be ordered as an eBook or print-on-demand book, which freezes the dynamic data at that moment.
- eHRAF World Cultures This link opens in a new window eHRAF World Cultures contains ethnographic collections covering all aspects of cultural and social life. eHRAF is unique in having subject indexing at the paragraph level. This allows detailed and precise searching for concepts not easily found with keywords.