Religious Studies

U-M Library maintains extensive collections to support the multidisciplinary study of religion. Library holdings cover most regions of the world and historical periods, and are available in a variety of formats and languages. This guide provides numerous resources for conducting research in religious studies.

Working on a specific religious tradition, time period, or geography? You may find the following U-M Library research guides helpful as well

For a wide range of further online resources across religious / spiritual traditions see the ATLA Websites on Religion research guide --- browse by Regional Resources, Interfaith Dialogue, African Traditional Religions, Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, New Religious Movements, Neopaganism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism

To find books, start by searching our library catalog!

If you don't already have a title or author in mind, try using subject terms (such as "Religion," "Religious aspects," "Religious life and customs," or more tradition-specific terms) combined with geographic terms, time period, or language.  

You can also browse the library stacks in areas of interest to you, such as those under the Library of Congress Religion classification, esp. call numbers beginning with BL through BX, currently housed on floor 4A in the Hatcher Graduate Library

In your Library Catalog Search results, you'll also find other materials held by our library, such as maps, films / DVDs, archival collections, manuscripts, historical periodicals and more. 

To find articles, start with Library Articles Search or ATLA and look for the MGetIt links! 

Interested in what libraries in other parts of the country, and around the world, have to offer in religious studies?

Search WorldCat, an catalog of materials held by libraries worldwide

Place an Interlibrary Loan request for materials that we don't own. We will request material(s) from other libraries on your behalf!

Already have a citation for an article or book chapter? Use the Citation Linker to find the full text.