Note: Some texts are buried deep in e-archives. If title link does not work, click source.

[ Directories ] [ Textbooks & Anthologies ] [ Myths ] [ Mysticism ] [ Occult

Directories *

*Note: After 20 years of research on the internet, the once flourishing species of gateways to a broad spectrum of religious traditions is almost extinct, a victim of automated search engines like Google & Bing, & the mortality or mutated interests of their creators. The hardy few below still merit a visit.
Comparative Analysis of the Major World Religions from a Christian Perspective

Ernest Valea's detailed analysis of differences between classic Christianity & eastern religions focuses on concepts of the Ultimate Reality, the human condition, salvation (or destiny), & evil, with essays on special critical questions.

Voice of the Shuttle: Religious Studies Page

Page from Alan Liu's cyber-guide to Humanities Research provides a succinct but well-chosen selection of on-line academic resources for the study of religion.

Textbooks & Anthologies of Sacred Texts

*Note:  After more than two decades in cyber-space the two pioneering e-textbooks on comparative religion (Paul Flesher's Exploring Religions and Richard Hooker's World Civilizations) have e-vaporated. Remaining are:
 
Internet Sacred Text Archive

Cyber-archive of more than 800 scriptures & classics representing 14 major world religions & a wide range of ancient & modern cults.

World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts

A complete on-line version of Andrew Wilson's 1991 anthology of 4000 selections from over 300 scriptures & oral traditions, arranged according to 164 common themes. Chapters compare views of ultimate reality; eternal law (truth); the purpose of life, in society, nature & beyond; the human condition, deviation & evil; restoration & restoring agents; the religious life; & eschatology (archived by the Unification Church).

 

Myths

Bullfinch's Mythology

Complete hypertext edition of Thomas Bullfinch's 1855 classic The Age of Fable or Stories of Gods & Heroes (Internet Sacred Text Archive).

Encyclopedia Mythica

M. F. Lindemans' award-winning on-line encyclopedia contains a growing list of more than 7000 definitions of supernatural beings, legendary figures, objects & places from cultures around the world.

Greek Mythology Link

Extensive on-line sampler of Carlos Parada's Genealogical Guide to Greek Mythology presents lucid detailed summaries of individuals, groups, places with tables (e.g., creation & theogony), maps, & images to help keep complex stories straight.

The Constellations Web Page

Richard Dibon-Smith's astronomical guide to the myths that named the 88 star clusters identified in classical Greece.

World Myths & Legends in Art

On-line curriculum prepared by Minneapolis Institute of the Arts presents a sampler of images, stories, and study questions to illustrate the relation of myth & art in the cultures of ancient Egypt, Africa, Greece & Rome, western Europe, native America, Oceania, China, & Japan.

Mysticism

Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism

Syllabus of 2002 academic seminar posts scholarly papers & electronic bibliographical resources on themes including theological anthropomorphism, Adamic, Enochic, & Melchizedek traditions, ascents to heaven, divine mediators, lectionary & liturgy, magic, pseudepigrapha,  late Jewish mysticism & the Corpus Dionysiacum (hosted by Marquette U).

John of the Cross

Brief sketch of the 16th c. Carmelite poet is gateway to English version of his major works (Ascent of  Mount Carmel, Dark Night of the Soul and Spiritual Canticle). Shelved in Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

Julian of Norwich: Revelations of Divine Love

Grace Warrack's edition of the 14th c. anchoress' work, from the cyber-stacks of the Christian Classics Ethereal Library at Calvin College.

Julian of Norwich Website

Julia Bolton Holloway presents a web of twelve interlinked sites based on  the Julian Library Portfolio, a collection of scholarly/contemplative booklets focused on Julian, the sources of Anglo-Saxon mysticism & the internet of medieval European mystics known as the Friends of God. Primary texts include 'Dream of the Rood' (Hilda & Caedmon), 'Showings' (Julian), 'Sparkling Stone' (Jan van Ruusbroec), 'Computer of Wisdom' (Henry Suso), 'If You Would be Perfect' (John of the Cross), & original modern meditations.

Roots of Western Mysticism Resources

Bruce Janz's extensive catalog of links focuses on websites, on-line resources relevant to the study of Christian, Jewish & Islamic mysticism.

The Rosicrucian Fellowship

Official website of Max Heindel's mystical association posts his treatises on Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception, spiritual astrology, & detailed historical notes on the association.

Thomas à Kempis: Imitation of Christ

New English edition of the 15th c. Latin classic which Thomas Hemerken of Kempen in turn had edited from the Dutch work by anonymous 14th c. Brethren of the Common Life. Published on-line in Calvin College's CCEL.

 

Occult

Crystalinks

Psychic Ellie Crystal's cyberweb archives articles on esoteric practices (e.g., alchemy, astrology, channeling, clairvoyance, crystals, healing techniques, numerology, tarot), persons (e.g., Helena Blavatsky, Edgar Cayce, Alistair Crowley, Nostradamus),  & archetypal symbols (e.g., Atlantis, Holy Grail, swastikas).

The DaVinci Code FAQ

Massimo Introvigne untangles the plot of Dan Brown's novel by detailing documented historical facts regarding its sources (Center for Studies on New Religions).

Dismantling the Da Vinci Code

Veteran Catholic journalist, Sandra Miesel, dissects novelist Dan Brown's research & catalogs a host of factual errors that are central to his 2003 thriller (archived by Crisis magazine).

The Mystica

Alan Hefner's new edition of the Encyclopedia Mystica: an on-line collection of essays on topics relevant to the esoteric & occult, from alchemy to zombies, from merkabah to the laws of magic.

Priory of Sion: the Pierre Plantard Archives

Paul Smith provides extensive evidence that the history & documents of the allegedly ancient secret society at the center of Holy Grail, Holy Blood & The DaVinci Code were products of an elaborate publicity hoax.

 


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This page was revised 31 January 2023

 

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