Religion
BIBLIOGRAPHER: Shiela Winchester
OTHER SUBJECT RESPONSIBILITIES: Archaeology, Greek Literature, Latin Literature, Philosophy
ADDRESS: Classics Library, WAG 1
PHONE: 495-4690
- I. Purpose:
- To support teaching and research requirements
of University departments and instructional programs for material relating
to religion, with special reference
to Classics,
Philosophy,
History,
Sociology,
Anthropology,
the Hebrew Studies Program
in the Department of
Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, Religious Studies Programand the courses in Bible and religious
education offered by the Biblical Studies Association.
Consideration is also given to religion in the areas of interest of Area Studies, e.g.,
Middle Eastern Studies, Asian Studies, Ethnic Studies, etc.
In addition to the specific curricular interests mentioned above, the collection should provide a broad base of
support for what might be termed general cultural interest in religion, i.e., a wide range of materials reflecting
the influence of religions upon the arts, social customs and institutions, and thought in general.
- II. General Collection Guidelines:
-
- A. Languages: English will be the primary language of collection. Materials in any language may be
collected, but among foreign languages, Greek, Latin, German, French , and Hebrew will be preferred, and works
originally published in these languages will generally be purchased both in the original and in English translation.
Secondary emphasis is on other Western languages and the Slavic Languages. General exceptions to this policy will
include the writings, in Spanish, Portuguese, or other languages relating to Latin American religions (see below
under "Geographical Guidelines"). Note that materials in Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Sanskrit are housed in
special vernacular collections; for a discussion of these collecting levels, see the appropriate vernacular collection
statement.
- B. Chronological Guidelines: No restrictions. Material relevant to the study of religious thought in any
period may be collected.
- C. Geographical Guidelines: Emphasis is on the United States, western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Russian orthodox material is of interest to the Department of Slavic Languages. For a discussion of collecting
levels for religion in Latin America, see the statement for the Benson Latin American Collection.
- D. Treatment of Subject: Biographies of major religious figures will be collected selectively; history
of religion and religions will be collected broadly. Practical theology will not be collected, not will textbooks save
in rare instances. Works written on a popular level will be collected selectively for general cultural interests.
- E. Types of Material: Includes encyclopedias and dictionaries of religion, Bible concordances and
commentaries, modern Bible texts in Western languages, atlases, dictionaries, yearbooks, abstracts and indexes, and
bibliographies. Proceedings or reports of conferences, symposia, international congresses, etc., will be collected
selectively.
- F. Date of Publication: Primary emphasis will be on the acquisition of current publications, but non-current materials will be purchased selectively.
- G. Other General Considerations: The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center collects Bibles, incunabula, and medieval and later Jewish writings. Other campus sources on materials on religion include the Benson Latin American Collection, the Middle Eastern vernacular collections, the Asian collection, and the Center for American History.
Significant of-campus collections of religious and theological materials are to be found in the libraries of seminaries in Austin.
- III. Observations and Qualifications by Subject and LC Class:
-
| Subject |
LC Class |
Location |
CDP [NCIP] Collecting Level |
Bibliographer |
| History of Religion:
The History Department has strong interest in US. religious history, including contemporary religious movements. (Philosophy of religion is included in the Philosophy Statement.) |
- |
- |
C |
Religion |
| Primitive and Folk Religions, Ethnic Religions, Mythologies:
Anthropologists, folklorists, classicists have strong interests here. In mythologies primary emphasis is on Greco-Roman and Teutonic lore with lesser emphasis on the Celtic tradition. |
- |
- |
C |
Religion |
| Jewish Religious Thought:
Includes Old Testament, extra-Biblical literature, medieval Judaism, modern Jewish thought, etc. |
- |
- |
C |
Religion |
| Christianity:
Emphasis on historical development, New Testament, Patristics, the medieval church, the Reformation, and American church history. Selective purchasing of basic sources (including Greek and Latin Bible) is desirable. |
- |
- |
C |
Religion |
| Islamic Religion:
Of particular interest to Middle Eastern Studies. |
- |
- |
C |
Religion |
| Iranian Religion: |
- |
- |
C |
Religion |
| Oriental Religions:
Emphasis on Buddhism and Hinduism. In its Indian aspects, of particular interest to the Philosophy Department. Asian Studies has a more generalized interest in Oriental religions. |
- |
- |
C |
Religion |
| Modern and Contemporary Theology:
Emphasis on Anglo-American and Western European theologians. |
- |
- |
C |
Religion |
| Comparative Religion:
Of particular interest to Anthropology Department. |
- |
- |
C |
Religion |
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