CT503resources

Systematic Theology

Course Librarian: Danielle Theiss-White tel. 404-727-1221

In this course you will learn, among other things, how to find, evaluate, and use information relevant to the study of theology and to theological reflection. This website, prepared by library staff in collaboration with your instructor, is designed to familiarize you with some of the most important resources. You are encouraged to call upon the course librarian or other members of the library staff when you need individual assistance.

FINDING INFORMATION

To identify print and audiovisual materials, such as books, journal titles, tapes, and CDs, owned by Emory libraries, search EUCLID, the online library catalog.

You can also search WorldCat to identify the holdings of libraries located throughout the United States and in a few other countries. Materials not owned by the Emory libraries can be requested through interlibrary loan.

Most Emory libraries use the Library of Congress (LC) classification system to organize materials by subject matter by means of call numbers and subject headings. "Doctrinal Theology" is assigned to Subclass BT of Class B: Philosophy, Psychology, and Religion.

To identify articles, essays, and book reviews relevant to your research, you will need to search serials indexes. The premier index for religion and related subjects is the ATLA Religion Database.

The Philosopher’s Index, available through Emory’s Information Gateway, may also prove useful for this course.

More advice on finding books and finding articles, as well as a few tutorials on using some of the online databases, is available on the Pitts Theology Library’s website.

Several online databases provide full-text resources relevant to the study of theology.

Past Masters covers (mostly) European and American humanities (including religion and theology), providing in many cases the complete works of individual authors.

The Biography Resource Center and the African American Biographical Database give brief biographical sketches of prominent figures (including philosophers, theologians, and religious leaders) and provide links to more extensive treatments available online.

The Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Online provides authoritative articles on topics and thinkers, including prominent theologians.

The Index of Christian Art catalogs noted works of art produced from apostolic times to 1400. This database presently contains over 20,000 records accompanied by over 60,000 images.

Pitts Theology Library's Digital Image Archive provides access to more than 9,000 images scanned from its Special Collections.

Another kind of resource that can be useful is a web guide, a "site of sites" that provides links to Internet resources related to a particular subject. One of the best for the academic study of religion is the Wabash Center Internet Guide to Religion.

The University of Michigan provides a searchable Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

Systematic Theology Internet Sites

Yale University Divinity School has an extensive site on the topic of Systematic/Doctrinal Theology. This site gives tips on reference tools and bibliographies, selected journals in the field, and information on primary source materials.

Internet Theological Resources provides Internet theological resources in the areas of Christology, Trinity, Faith and Revelation, Ecclesiology, and Christianity Anthropology.

Systematic Theology Resources provides resources on Hispanic/Latino theology and lists other systematic theology websites.

EVALUATING INFORMATION

In today’s world of digital technology and network connectivity, an enormous amount of information is literally "at our fingertips." It has always been a mark of education to be able to subject sources of information to critical evaluation. Because it is so easy now for materials to be "published" electronically without editorial or scholarly peer review, the ability to think critically about sources has become even more important. The excellent guides to evaluating information developed by librarians at Oglethorpe University and at San Jose State University suggest good critical questions to raise and provide links to other helpful guides. Internet Theologian offers a tutorial on how to search the Internet.

USING INFORMATION

Once you have gathered information relevant to your research and sifted it critically, you will want to use it effectively to construct clearly worded arguments. The University of Wisconsin at Madison also provides a useful online Writer’s Handbook. Another helpful (and sometimes entertaining) site you may want to explore is Common Errors in English, maintained by Paul Brians, who is an English professor at Washington State University.

Besides using information effectively, you will also need to use it ethically and legally, giving proper credit for ideas and wording you borrow from others. Duke University Libraries offer one of the best online guides to accepted conventions for Citing Sources. San Jose State University offers a fun Plagiarism Tutorial, which can help you better understand and avoid intellectual theft (enter the tutorial as a "guest"). You will also want to learn about EndNote, a useful bibliographic management software that Emory provides free (see EndNote at Emory for more information).

Come to the Pitts Theology Library Wednesday Workshop on Endnote for Theology Students on October 5, 2005 from 12:00-1:00 in Bishops Hall room 304.

In this course you will learn, among other things, how to find, evaluate, and use information relevant to the study of theology and to theological reflection. This website, prepared by library staff in collaboration with your instructor, is designed to familiarize you with some of the most important resources. You are encouraged to call upon the course librarian or other members of the library staff when you need individual assistance.
FINDING INFORMATION
To identify print and audiovisual materials, such as books, journal titles, tapes, and CDs, owned by Emory libraries, search EUCLID, the online library catalog. You can also search WorldCat to identify the holdings of libraries located throughout the United States and in a few other countries. Materials not owned by the Emory libraries can be requested through interlibrary loan. Most Emory libraries use the Library of Congress (LC) classification system to organize materials by subject matter by means of call numbers and subject headings. "Doctrinal Theology" is assigned to Subclass BT of Class B: Philosophy, Psychology, and Religion.	To identify articles, essays, and book reviews relevant to your research, you will need to search serials indexes. The premier index for religion and related subjects is the ATLA Religion Database. The Philosopher’s Index, available through Emory’s Information Gateway, may also prove useful for this course. More advice on finding books and finding articles, as well as a few tutorials on using some of the online databases, is available on the Pitts Theology Library’s website.
Several online databases provide full-text resources relevant to the study of theology. Past Masters covers (mostly) European and American humanities (including religion and theology), providing in many cases the complete works of individual authors. The Biography Resource Center and the African American Biographical Database give brief biographical sketches of prominent figures (including philosophers, theologians, and religious leaders) and provide links to more extensive treatments available online. The Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Online provides authoritative articles on topics and thinkers, including prominent theologians. The Index of Christian Art catalogs noted works of art produced from apostolic times to 1400. This database presently contains over 20,000 records accompanied by over 60,000 images. Pitts Theology Library's Digital Image Archive provides access to more than 9,000 images scanned from its Special Collections.	Another kind of resource that can be useful is a web guide, a "site of sites" that provides links to Internet resources related to a particular subject. One of the best for the academic study of religion is the Wabash Center Internet Guide to Religion. The University of Michigan provides a searchable Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Systematic Theology Internet Sites Yale University Divinity School has an extensive site on the topic of Systematic/Doctrinal Theology. This site gives tips on reference tools and bibliographies, selected journals in the field, and information on primary source materials. Internet Theological Resources provides Internet theological resources in the areas of Christology, Trinity, Faith and Revelation, Ecclesiology, and Christianity Anthropology. Systematic Theology Resources provides resources on Hispanic/Latino theology and lists other systematic theology websites.
EVALUATING INFORMATION
In today’s world of digital technology and network connectivity, an enormous amount of information is literally "at our fingertips." It has always been a mark of education to be able to subject sources of information to critical evaluation. Because it is so easy now for materials to be "published" electronically without editorial or scholarly peer review, the ability to think critically about sources has become even more important. The excellent guides to evaluating information developed by librarians at Oglethorpe University and at San Jose State University suggest good critical questions to raise and provide links to other helpful guides. Internet Theologian offers a tutorial on how to search the Internet.
USING INFORMATION
Once you have gathered information relevant to your research and sifted it critically, you will want to use it effectively to construct clearly worded arguments. The University of Wisconsin at Madison also provides a useful online Writer’s Handbook. Another helpful (and sometimes entertaining) site you may want to explore is Common Errors in English, maintained by Paul Brians, who is an English professor at Washington State University.	Besides using information effectively, you will also need to use it ethically and legally, giving proper credit for ideas and wording you borrow from others. Duke University Libraries offer one of the best online guides to accepted conventions for Citing Sources. San Jose State University offers a fun Plagiarism Tutorial, which can help you better understand and avoid intellectual theft (enter the tutorial as a "guest"). You will also want to learn about EndNote, a useful bibliographic management software that Emory provides free (see EndNote at Emory for more information). Come to the Pitts Theology Library Wednesday Workshop on Endnote for Theology Students on October 5, 2005 from 12:00-1:00 in Bishops Hall room 304.

Information Resources for CT503

Systematic Theology

FINDING INFORMATION