Monday, June 27, 2011

Psychological meaning of religious experience


The Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion, edited by David A. Leeming, Kathryn Madden, and Stanton Marlan (New York: Springer, 2010), offers a definitive and intellectually rigorous collection of psychological interpretations of the stories, rituals, motifs, symbols, doctrines, dogmas, and experiences of the world's religious and mythological traditions. In 997 pages, the Encyclopedia applies a range of psychological approaches to understanding the form and content of religious experience, at the same time offering insight into the meanings of various symbols and themes of numerous world religions.

As with other Gale Virtual Reference Library titles, this resource includes downloadable mp3 audio files for each entry and a citation tool that will generate an MLA or APA format citation for each entry. Other features:


  • A comprehensive reference work that includes that broad spectrum of psychological approaches to understanding the form and content of religious experience

  • Entries draw on forty different religious traditions, including modern world religions (e.g. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism), as well as older religious movements (e.g. African Animism, Egyptian, Greek, Gnostic, and Native North American religions)

  • Provides the technical and phenomenological vocabulary that will enable researchers in the fields of psychology and religion to pursue collaboration and dialogue


This is a crucial resource for the collaboration and mutual illumination of the fields of psychology and religion and their intersection.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

CQ Press Political Reference Suite: Making National Government More Understandable

Through the Blume Library's and the Law Library's subscription to CQ Press Political Reference Suite (PRS) or CQ Electronic Library (CQEL), we have access to the following searchable publications:

  • CQ Almanac - offers year-by-year analysis on politics and policy in the US Congress.
  • Congress and the Nation - the definitive source for actions of the US Congress including legislative history, policy analysis, and key votes.
  • Historic Documents Series - provides key primary sources, context, and global coverage updated yearly.
  • Political Handbook of the World - the most authoritative resource for political information, including government histories, party profiles and election results on more than 200 countries.
  • Supreme Court Yearbook - offers essential coverage of the US Supreme Court.
  • Washington Information Directory - the essential guide to key contacts at government agencies and national organizations, including federal agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).


While our library has older editions of these titles in print, some of the advantages of the online publications include:
  • Advanced search options so that users can search by keyword across all CQ Press online editions or limit their search to certain topic areas or titles

  • Multiple, customized browse options to help locate and explore all available content

  • Easy-to-use interfaces with clean, inviting screen designs

  • Handy personalization options that save user profiles and search results for use in future research

  • Links to available external resources

  • CiteNow!™—An exclusive CQ Press feature that helps users easily download full citations in MLA, APA, Chicago, or Bluebook style


Try searching the CQ Press Political Reference Suite (PRS) today!