world religions

Buddhist Studies

https://www.dharma.org/

The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies and the Insight Meditation Society have contributed to this site focused on Buddhism. A list of teachers and centers online, as well as links to articles and talks in the dharma resources section and the Insight magazine online, make this site current, user-friendly, and excellent for background. An interesting feature of the site is the audio dharma talks. These could be helpful in research and multimedia presentations for the classroom.

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.

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.

Belief Net

https://www.beliefnet.com/

This is a huge site! Multifaith and independent in nature, Belief Net has a mission to "help people meet their own religious, spiritual, and moral needs by providing information, inspiration, community, stimulation, and products." The site is easy to navigate and is divided into the categories of religion, spirituality, morality, inspiration, culture, news, teens, milestones, and family. Articles, Web site addresses, and multimedia opportunities abound on this very informative site that is suitable for both teachers and students!

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!

Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus

https://virtualreligion.net/iho/

This Web site is designed as a tool for the historical study of the Christian Scriptures. Many of the works are written by Jewish authors, especially those composed after the Hebrew Scriptures that can be found in any Christian "Old Testament." Selections from non-Jewish sources are also available, which can bring the writings of Christian authors into a clearer cultural perspective. This is an excellent resource for teacher background.

Church World Service

http://www.churchworldservice.org

Church World Service is a ministry of the National Council of the Churches of Christ. CWS offers many resources for teaching social justice, including this superb Web site! Essays, links, a free lending library, teaching activities, study guides, and current news from all areas of the world are just a few of the features you will find on this site.

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!

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.

Spirituality and Health

https://spiritualityhealth.com/

A goldmine of resources, articles, links, self-tests, and discussions on spirituality and health. Easy to navigate and filled with dynamic and engaging content, both students and teachers will find great material on this site.