HISTORICAL DICTIONARIES OF RELIGIONS, PHILOSOPHIES, AND MOVEMENTS

Azahari Hassim

The Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements is a book series published by Rowman & Littlefield that provides concise yet comprehensive reference works on various religious traditions, philosophical schools, and ideological movements. Each volume in the series is dedicated to a specific religion, philosophy, or movement, offering historical context, key concepts, biographies, and bibliographies.

Overview of the Series

Each book in the series typically includes:

• Chronology of key events.

• Introduction to the subject.

• Dictionary-style entries covering important figures, doctrines, texts, events, and terms.

• Bibliographies for further research.

This makes the series a valuable resource for students, researchers, and general readers seeking a structured and reliable introduction to various religious and philosophical traditions.

Examples of Titles in the Series

Here are some notable books from the series:

1. Religions

• Historical Dictionary of Islam (by Ludwig W. Adamec)

• Historical Dictionary of Hinduism (by Jeffery D. Long)

• Historical Dictionary of Judaism (by Norman Solomon)

• Historical Dictionary of Christianity (by James E. Bradley and Richard Muller)

• Historical Dictionary of Buddhism (by Carl Olson)

2. Philosophies

• Historical Dictionary of Existentialism (by Stephen Michelman)

• Historical Dictionary of Ethics (by Harry J. Gensler)

• Historical Dictionary of Rationalism (by Mark Holler and Alan Charles Kors)

• Historical Dictionary of Western Philosophy (by John Shand)

3. Movements & Ideologies

• Historical Dictionary of Marxism (by David Walker)

• Historical Dictionary of Feminism (by Janet K. Boles and Diane Long Hoeveler)

• Historical Dictionary of The Salvation Army (by Major John G. Merritt)

• Historical Dictionary of the Bahá’í Faith (by Hugh C. Adamson)

Why Read These Books?

• Well-structured reference format – Easy to navigate with alphabetical entries.

• Reliable academic sources – Written by scholars in their respective fields.

• Great for research and quick reference – Ideal for students, educators, and researchers.

• Updated editions – Many titles have been revised to include new research.

Criticism & Limitations

• Not always comprehensive – Due to the dictionary format, the entries provide concise rather than in-depth analyses.

• Some books are stronger than others – The quality depends on the author’s expertise.

• Expensive – Some editions are pricey, though many are available in libraries.

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