When Religion Meets New Media

When Religion Meets New Media by Heidi Campbell looks at the relationship between religion and new media technologies. Issues examined in this book include Christian e-vangelism movement, Muslims and computers, and the Jewish kosher cell phone. Also included is an extensive bibliography for further research and reading.

Webster University & Eden Theological Seminary Close Deal

Here is the official press release regarding the closure of Luhr Library at Eden Theological Seminary and the transfer of their collection to Webster University Library: http://www.webster.edu/news/releases/edenseminarypartnership_101113.shtml

Apocalypse

Apocalypse: From Antiquity to the Empire of Modernity by John R. Hall takes a look at social theory and history behind apocalyptic movements and how it intersects with religion and philosophy. By examining the concept of apocalypse from the ancient Greeks to today, Hall shows how the meaning of the word evolved from a revelation to the end of the world. Also included in this book is an extensive bibliography for further research and reading.

Details on Future Webster-Eden Library Collaboration

As announced earlier, with the planned new use of the Luhr Library as a science building, the joint Webster-Eden Library System is entering a new phase in its 40+ year history.  You may be wondering what this will mean for the Emerson Library and for Webster and Eden students, faculty, and staff.  I am happy to report that Webster and Eden have agreed on a new plan for collaboration that maintains quality library space, services, and collections for both institutions, as outlined in the following details.

This July, approximately half of the print collection in Luhr Library, or 40,000 volumes that Eden identifies as its active collection (i.e., materials that are used often), will be moved to Emerson Library.  To accommodate these volumes, Eden is funding the conversion of 60% of Emerson’s lower level to automated compact shelving—shelving that eliminates the aisles and compresses the shelves closed until a certain range is needed.  The installation of compact shelving will occur between May 10^th and mid-July, during which the lower level will be closed.  This compact shelving will house the bound journals of both Webster and Eden.   The rest of Eden’s active collection will be merged with Webster’s circulating collection by call number.  Books beginning with call numbers in the As (general works) and Bs (philosophy, psychology, and religion) will be shelved on open shelving in the lower level.  Books with call numbers beginning with C-M will remain on the 3^rd floor, and books with call numbers beginning with N-Z plus theses will remain on the 4^th floor.  These measures will largely preserve the growth space Webster had planned for its open collections (20 years of growth space from its opening in 2003 before we may need to add additional compact shelving).

The other half of Eden’s collection, including seldom used books and journals, will be moved into storage in the lower level of the Press Building, Eden’s main academic building.  These materials will be available for use by request.  Eden also plans to move its rare books and its archives to the lower level of Press.   Eden’s reference collection will be moved to a renovated reading room on the main floor of Press in the seminary’s Boeke Center, which had served as Eden’s library prior to the opening of Luhr Library in 1968.

Eden students and faculty will have full access to the Emerson Library, including walk-up and telephone reference, interlibrary loan, and reserve services.  Eden plans to hire a part-time director to oversee its reading room and archives as well as collection development, in-depth reference, and library instruction for Eden.

If you have other questions about this transition, please let me know.

Laura Rein, Dean

Webster University Library &

Director, Faculty Development Center

470 East  Lockwood Avenue

Saint Louis, Missouri   63119

(314) 968-7152 (314) 963-6085 fax

Christian Approaches to Other Faiths

The two-volume work, Christian Approaches to Other Faiths by Alan Race and Paul Hedges, examines different approaches to theology and religion and how Christians respond to other faiths. After each essay is a bibliography for further reading and research.

Statistics on Religion in America Report

Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has released the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. According to Pew’s website this survey “details statistics on religion in America and explores the shifts taking place in the U.S. religious landscape. Based on interviews with more than 35,000 Americans age 18 and older, the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey finds that religious affiliation in the U.S. is both very diverse and extremely fluid.”

The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey can be found at http://religions.pewforum.org/reports

Heroic Wives

Heroic Wives: Rituals, Stories, and the Virtues of Jain Wifehood by M. Whitney Kelting looks at the role of Jain wives in South Asia. By using oral tellings,  narratives and songs, Kelting explores how Jain women create ideal marriages and embody wifehood. Also included is a glossary and works cited for additional research and reading.

Association of Religion Data Archives

Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) hosted at Pennsylvania State University, is an online archive of qualitative and quantitative data on religion research. The data includes statistics about churches, membership, individuals, congregations, and denominations. The site also contains a list of additional links for further research.

Association of Religion Data Archives can be accessed at http://www.thearda.com/index.asp

Inside the Gender Jihad

Inside the Gender Jihad: Women’s Reform in Islam by Amina Wadud takes a look at how women fight for justice and equality in the Islamic community. Topics in this book include motherhood and family, leadership, education, the Qur’an and more.

Encyclopedia of Demons & Demonology

Encyclopedia of Demons & Demonology is now available in the reference collection. This encyclopedia is a listing of over 400 keywords and terms related to demons and demonology. Topics covered in this work include demonology, witchcraft, possession, entities, folklore and more. Many entries contain references for further research and reading.

Encyclopedia of Demons & Demonology is available in the reference collection at Emerson Library.