Encyclopedias
Trexler Library contains numerous encyclopedias specific to religion. These will provide excellent background material for you on many different topics related to religion. Entries in these encyclopedias often include a list of resources for further reading as well, making encyclopedia articles one of the best places to begin your research.
Dictionaries
Bible dictionaries provide not only definitions of terms, but also information on the people and places of the Bible. Entry length varies, so be sure to check several different Bible dictionaries for your topic(s). Listed below are just a few of the many Bible dictionaries included in the Trexler Library reference collection
Britannica Encyclopedia of World Religions
Companion Encyclopedia of Theology
Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science, and Social Policy
Encyclopedia of Christianity
Encyclopedia of Early Christianity
The Encyclopedia of Judaism
Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World
The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
Harper's Bible Dictionary
The Anchor Bible Dictionary
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Hutchinson Dictionary of World Religions