foundations of catholicism

Christian Classics Ethereal Library

https://www.ccel.org/

This site boasts that it has "enough good reading material to last a lifetime," and that is very true! Access to the World Wide Study Bible and writings from early church writers is given in an easy-to-use format. Maintained by Calvin College out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, the site is ecumenical in approach. A search function is provided throughout the site to ease the location of material. In the World Wide Study Bible, each book of the Bible can be clicked on, and numerous articles and sources are given for that book.

Dorothy Day

https://www.catholicworker.org/dorothyday/

Need a great site for background on Dorothy Day? This site has a library of writings by Dorothy Day that is comprehensive and very ease to browse through by use of a thesaurus search function. Current articles from various Catholic Worker newsletters, links to organizations committed to working for peace and justice, various essays, and photographs are also included on this site.

The Vatican

https://www.vatican.va/

The official site of the Vatican is filled with pictures, audio, and video features! Easy-to-use tabs are given for the Holy Father, the museums, library/secret archives, the Roman curia, and the Vatican City-State. The content is presented in essays and multimedia formats and is available in a variety of languages.

Encyclopedia Brittanica

http://www.britannica.com/

This online encyclopedia is an excellent resource for any topic, and that includes religion classes! On the home page, click on religion and there are three options to choose from: news and features, web's best sites, and the encyclopedia. Each option contains an incredible amount of information. The news and features are kept current and explore media and culture. The encyclopedia gives a brief article with links to any element of the study of religion imaginable. Click on Roman Catholicism, and an article on its history appears, with detailed links at the bottom of the page. Comprehensive and current, this site is a must for teacher background and student research.

From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/

This is one of the most comprehensive sites on Christianity that I have ever seen! From PBS 'Frontline', this site looks at Jesus from a historical perspective and from the spiritual dimension of Christ. The site gives the latest research surrounding Jesus and his world. The four Gospels are explored, along with Q, the Gnostics, and the Gospel of Thomas. The first Christians and how the sect spread and became successful are discussed in detail. The home page offers five major categories to choose from, and each of those takes you to subcategories containing a wealth of information. Maps, charts, pictures, and audio excerpts from the program are also included. The teacher's guide is extremely well done, giving suggestions for using the content and site in history, religion, English literature, and psychology classes. This is a must-see!

John Paul II: The Millennial Pope

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/pope

This Frontline site focuses on Pope John Paul II and explores the sources of his character and beliefs. This site is a must see! There is a biography of John Paul II, along with his anecdotes and stories and encyclicals. A teacher's guide with many questions for discussion, glossary, and debate activities is also included. There is a video clip that includes a roundtable discussion on the Catholic Church and sex that addresses homosexuality, women, and contraception. This is an excellent, thought-provoking piece.

Saints and Angels

https://www.catholic.org/saints/

This site from Catholic Online claims to be the "largest collection of facts and information" on saints and angels on the Internet. The site contains an exhaustive alphabetized list of information on saints and angels, as well as other lists such as saints of the month, patron saints, ethnic saints. A search function is available on the site, making this a good tool for teacher and student research.

Art Concordance

http://www.textweek.com/art/art.htm

This is an amazing resource! You will find hundreds of links to artwork indexed according to biblical and liturgical subjects. A visual feast!

BITESIZE for Religious Education

https://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/

This site is filled with bite-size pieces of information on various religious education topics. The revision feature leads the learner through an outline and summary of the content. A test feature is an option as well. Topics include death, God, human relationships, discrimination, sanctity of life, war and peace. This is a great resource for comparative religion courses!

Liturgy of the Hours Online

http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/readings.htm

If you are looking for a prayer, this site has morning, afternoon, evening, and night prayers, along with its "Office of Readings." Updated daily and easy to use, the site is an excellent resource.

Interview with God

https://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/popup-frame.html

In a beautifully designed flash presentation, questions are posed to God. The responses will touch you and give you pause to ponder. A wonderful experience to share with colleagues and young people.

Gutenberg Bible Online

http://www.gutenbergdigital.de/gudi/eframes/index.htm

If you are interested in the history of publishing or the history of Bibles, check out this great site with the entire Gutenberg Bible online--all 1,282 pages! The "model book" gives handwritten directions (with English translation) for painting each of the illuminations in the Bible. Appropriate for any age-group, this is truly a fascinating Web site.