Intercultural Studies Research Guide
The study of missions draws on research in various fields, including theology, anthropology, geography, and history. This document provides an introduction to missions-related resources available in and through the Vick Library.
Reference Works
Missions
The Baker Atlas of Christian History
Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions
Concise Dictionary of the Christian World Mission
Dictionary of Mission: Theology, History, Perspectives
Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions
Operation World: A Day-by-day Guide to Praying for the World
Mission Handbook 2004-2006: U.S. and Canadian Christian Ministries Overseas
World Religions
Encyclopedia of Religion [15 vols.]
World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World [2 vols.]
Cultural Anthropology
Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology [4 vols.]
Encyclopedias of the Human Experience [various titles]
Encyclopedia of World Cultures [10 vols.]
Country Studies
World Factbook [produced by the CIA]
Periodical Indexes & Abstracts
Websites
World Religion
Religions of the World
Minnesota State University's Emuseum is a kind of introduction to the major world religions. The information provided on these religions includes history, basic beliefs, terms, and links to other sites.
Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion
Wabash Center maintains this excellent and large site. This a an extremely organized web site with probably more world religion sites here than other general mission gateway sites.
Religious Text
The Internet Sacred Text Archive
This nonprofit site is the single largest religious text archive on the Internet. The content here is quite broad, taking on religion, mythology, legend, folklore occult, and esoteric topics.
Religious and Sacred Texts
Here is another excellent source for full-text religious writings that in many ways is complementary to the Internet Sacred Text Archive. This collection is strong in Old Testament and New Testament period texts not found in the Bible.
Specific Religions
The Hindu Universe
Probably the largest and best single site on Hinduism on the Internet, the Hindu Universe provides links to more than 17,000 sites. The resource directory offers a helpful organization framework for finding resources related to such topics as scriptures, god, worship, philosophy, customs, history, and interfaith relations. This is a project of the Hindu Students Council and is the Web site for the Global Hindu Electronic Networks.
Buddhist Studies WWW Virtual Library
This is one of those sites, which should be available for every religion. It is so thoroughly organized and classified that locating specific information sites is easy. Buddhism is really not a single thing, but a complex of matters, and this site recognizes this. A helpful search engine is available as well.
Resources for the Study of Buddhism
If you need a gateway to general Buddhism resources, this one from Ron Epstein of San Francisco State University is a good choice. The site points to such places as other general resources on Buddhism, sites for Theravada Buddhism teachings, sites for Mahayana Buddishm teachings, sites on Buddhism and science, and online collections of Buddhist texts.
The Islam Page
This is the page to go to for finding information on Islam. Near the top of the pages, one has the opportunity to read the Qur'an in any of more than 20 different languages. There also are several different search tools available for the textual and topical examination of the Qur'an. As one searches further on the Islam Page, one moves into large subject areas of links, which include beliefs of Islam, Muslim character, comparative relgion, and Islamic history.
Judaism and Jewish Resources
Andrew Tannenbaum's site has been the premier gateway to Jewish resources on the Web for many years. The author has annotated all of the pages of links. This is the place to go to find resources. The table of contents on the first page is helpful in that one can link directly to the part of the site one wants to visit.
Gateway to Sikhism
This site is among the best resources for finding material on the Sikh religion. the site is organized around key Sikh subjects and themes. There is also a search engine feature.
Taoism Information Page
This is a large and in-depth site offering links for commentaries and interpretations to the philosophical/religious writings of the Tao, as well as links to sites on Chinese philosophy in general.
Zoroastrianism Page
The single best Zoroastrianism Web resource for good information.
Web Reference Tools
Country Studies (Library of Congress)Full-length studies of more than 100 countries and regions. Includes coverage of history, government, economy, and other aspects of society.
EmbassyWorld.comLinks to embassy sites worldwide.
MisLinksA collection of links to Web sites and pages of interest to students of missions. Provides access to information about missions agencies, missions periodicals, people groups, resources for cross-cultural ministry, countries of the world, and more.
Cybrary of the Holocaust
This unique reference resource provides a good deal of information about the Holocaust in a searchable fashion.
Jewish Virtual Library
This library is more like a living encyclopedia. The sites includes topics such as history, women, biography, politics, Israel, maps, and Judaic Treasures at the Library of Congress.
A Shi'ite Encyclopedia
The encyclopedia can be viewed section by section, or it can be searched by keyword or concept.
Springfield-Greene County Public Library Religion Section on Infotrac
A good resource on a variety of topics and resources available.
Religion Statistics Geography, Church Statistics
A growing collection of over 41,000 adherent statistics and religious geography citations for over 42,000 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, ultimate concerns, etc.
Web Journals
Religious Studies Electronic Journals
This site is from a page on Saundra Lipton and Cheryl Adam's excellent gateway to religious resources. the journals are organized according to religious grouping, and the brief annotations provide the reader with helpful information as to what kind of content is available at the sites.
Periodicals
Missions - Periodicals
Special Collections
Several of the Vick Library's special collections are relevant to students of missions.
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Baptist History
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Christian Biography
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Rare Books
Dewey Class Numbers
Materials related to the study of missions are classed at various points in the Dewey Decimal Classification. Following is an overview that should facilitate browsing.
209.2 Christian biography [including biographies of missionaries]
254.1 Initiation of new churches [e.g., church planting]
261 Social theology and interreligious relations and attitudes
261.1 Role of Christian church in society
261.2 Christianity and other systems of belief
261.7 Christianity and political affairs
261.8 Christianity and socioeconomic problems
266 Missions
266.001 Philosophy and theory
266.009 Historical, geographic, persons treatment
266.01 Biblical teaching/basis
266.022 Home missions
266.023 Foreign missions
266.025 Medical missions and missionaries
266.03 Qualifications, call, and training of missionaries
266.08 True missionary accounts (plays, poems, etc.)
266.1-266.9 Missions of specific denominations and sects
266.6 Baptist missions
269.2 Evangelism
294.3 Buddhism
294.4 Jainism
294.5 Hinduism
294.6 Sikhism
295 Zoroastrianism (Mazdaism, Parseeism)
296 Judaism
297 Islam, Babism, Bahai Faith
301 Sociology and anthropology
305.8 Racial, ethnic, national groups
306 Culture and institutions
940 General history of Europe; Western Europe
950 General history of Asia; Orient; Far East
960 General history of Africa
970 General history of North America
980 General history of South America
990 General history of other parts of world, of extraterrestrial worlds; Pacific Ocean islands
Subject Headings & Subdivisions
General Headings & Subdivisions
- Mission of the church
- Missionaries
- --Appointment, call, and election
- --Biography
- --Leaves and furloughs
- --Psychology
- --Training of
- Missionaries, Resignation of
- Missionaries' spouses
- Missions
- --Anthropological aspects
- --Biblical teaching
- --Finance
- --History
- --Sermons
- --Theory
Types of Missionaries & Missionary Work
- City missions
- Home missions
- Lay missionaries
- Missionaries, Medical
- Missions
- --Agricultural work
- --Educational work
- --Linguistic work
- Missions, Medical
- Part-time missionaries
Missions to Specific Groups of People
- Missions to Buddhists
- [Use this pattern for Hindus, Jews, Muslims, etc.]
- Asians--Missions
- Bemba (African people)--Missions
- Germans--Missions
Missionary Work in Specific Geographic Contexts
- Missionaries--Africa
- Missions--Europe
- Missions--South Africa
- Missions--Brazil--Rio de Janeiro
Missionary Work Sponsored by Specific Groups of People
- Missions, American
- Baptists--Missions
- Southern Baptist Convention--Missions
Other Resources
Many theses and dissertations related to missions can be located by searching the Theological Research Exchange Network database.
Last Updated: August 8, 2007
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