The Encyclopedia of Religious Phenomena

by J. Gordon Melton

An inspiring and fascinating look at people’s religious experiences and beliefs. Visions of Mary and glimpses of God. Miraculous apparitions witnessed by hundreds in parking lots, along freeways, and at the world’s holiest sites. Weeping statues, exorcisms, near-death experiences, mystical labyrinths, and more than 250 other unusual and unexplained phenomena, apparitions, and extraordinary experiences rooted in religious beliefs are explored in The Encyclopedia of Religious Phenomena . J. Gordon Melton, the Distinguished Professor of American Religious History at the Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University, takes readers on a tour among angels, Marian apparitions, and religious figures such as Jesus, the Buddha, Muhammad, and Tao Tzu. Melton reports on dreams, feng shui, statues that bleed, snake handling, speaking in tongues, stigmata, relics―including the Spear of Longinus and the Shroud of Turin―and sacred locales such as Easter Island, the Glastonbury Tor, the Great Pyramids, Mecca, Sedona, and much more. Each entry includes a description of a particular phenomenon and the religious claims being made about it as well as a discussion of what scientists say about it. Transcending the mundane, the entries take no sides on who is right or the journey is the experience and the experience is the journey. This fascinating encyclopedia is illustrated with 100 pictures and includes a detailed index and additional reading recommendations. It lets you experience the marvels of weeping statues and icons; exorcisms and ecstasy; the grilled cheese sandwich kit for making your own Virgin Mary image; and so much more.

Genres: Religion, Reference

392 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

John Gordon Melton is an American religious scholar who was the founding director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion and is currently a research specialist in religion and New Religious Movements with the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion.

His areas of research include major religious traditions, new religions and alternative religions, Occultism and Parapsychology, New Age, and vampirology.

Melton has been criticized by several scholars for what they see as conflicts of interest in his reporting of some of the groups he studies.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have spent a delightful evening reading this book. I intended to just see what was covered in this encyclopedia and found myself drawn into article after article and grateful that there were references that could be followed up on. The book really does go from the ridiculous to the sublime and is very even handed in its judgment. A book I'll keep around to look up the next phenomenon to pop up.

[Alexandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

After skimming this encyclopedia I decided to add a copy of it to my personal collection. It's the kind of book that I'd love to use for writing prompts of ideas for things that can add depth to stories.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

good read...