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 byCall Number: EbookISBN: 9789004297449Publication Date: 2021
- Multicultural Ministry Handbook byCall Number: EbookISBN: 9780830838448Publication Date: 2010
- Models and Methods for Youth and Young Adult Ministry byCall Number: EbookISBN: 9781532630217Publication Date: 2018
- The Oxford Handbook of Ecclesiology byCall Number: EbookISBN: 9780199645831Publication Date: 2018
- Fieldwork in Theology byCall Number: EbookISBN: 9780801049309Publication Date: 2015
- Practical Theology and Qualitative Research byCall Number: BV3 .S82 2011ISBN: 9780334029809Publication Date: 2006
Statistics & Demographics
Statistics related to religion:
Other sources of statistical information:
- 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
- US Census Bureau: International Programs(U.S. Census Bureau) - Provides estimates and projections for 228 countries and areas which have populations of 5,000 or more and as recognized by the U.S. Department of State.
Global Statistics
- World Christian Encyclopedia (ONLINE) byCall Number: EbookISBN: 9781474403238Publication Date: 2019
- World Christian Encyclopedia byCall Number: BR95 .W67 2020 ReferenceISBN: 9781474403238Publication Date: 2019
- The Pentecostal World byCall Number: EbookISBN: 9780367621803Publication Date: 2023
- eHRAF World Cultures This link opens in a new window