Encyclopedia of Global Religion

Gr 9 Up—Claimed by its editors to offer a more global perspective than other available reference works in this subject area—the most recent competitor would be J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann's Religions of the World (ABC-CLIO, 2010)—this encyclopedia contains nearly 800 alphabetically arranged entries that describe and analyze a broad array of religious beliefs, practices, concepts, movements, controversies, and social issues. Roughly 10 percent of the articles are biographies of religious thinkers (but not founders), and every country—as well as significant cities and regional entities from Lourdes to Los Angeles—has a separate entry. Articles average one to two double column pages in length, with significant variations either way for topics such as "Yarmulke/Kippah" or "Christianity," and nearly all close with multiple cross references and up-to-date further reading. The first volume includes a topical "Readers Guide" to articles; the second ends with a thorough index. Because the 400-plus contributors consistently adhere to an international and anthropological approach, articles on hot-button topics such as "Abortion," "Sexuality," and "McDonaldization" will be particularly valuable as intellectual horizon expanders. Furthermore, six regional articles surveying new religions and entries on such unexpected subjects as "Faith Tourism" and "Japanese Religions in Latin America" will also provide general students of modern social movements with useful insights and information. The massive Encyclopedia of Religion (Macmillan, 2004) still reigns supreme, but Juergensmeyer's work or the ABC-CLIO title mentioned previously will serve as a solid foundation for academic religious or social-study programs supported by less-well-heeled reference collections.—John Peters, formerly at New York Public Library