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GeneDouglas
Why have I used Catholic and other encyclopedias?
Oct 13 2006, 10:38 AM EDT | Post edited: Oct 13 2006, 10:38 AM EDT
I suspect some people will wonder why Catholic Encyclopedia is on a UU website. Several reasons:

1. It is a convenient way to get a fast start.

2. It provides lots of topic material, suggesting more work we can do.

3. It is an excellent, scholarly work, as is the Jewish Encyclopedia.

4. Biases can be observed, and the reader can consider the source. However, it is at least honest, and nobody there is trying to "put one over," or any such thing. Meanwhile, it contains a world of really good data.

5. It gives us information about other points of view, especially on topics on which we disagree with them. For example, "Trinity" tells us of their arguments, which we can closely inspect. Under that topic are anti-trinitarian arguments from Nazarenes, Jehovah's Witnesses, Biblical Unitarians and the AUC (formerly calling themselves the AUA.)

6. We can also move from the Catholic Encyclopedia to the Jewish Encyclopedia, and find differing views of a subject. After all, UU's don't wear blinders, and we want to know all views and make up our own minds, right?

And, being a Wiki-type publication, we can post our own comments, criticizing ideas seen on a page (as I have done under maybe "crucifixion" or "atonement.") Of course, we are also free to find things on Google, or just write them ourselves, rounding out the fare. 5  out of 5 found this valuable. Do you?    
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GeneDouglas
1. RE: Why have I used Catholic and other encyclopedias?
Nov 11 2006, 4:42 PM EST | Post edited: Nov 11 2006, 4:42 PM EST
Since posting the above, I have added OrthodoxWicki, from the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Theopedia, an evangelical site. Though some may object to the bias, it is easy to see and look past the bias. What those sites do is to illuminate the point of view of those sources, so it is sometimes the point of view one is observing, as much as what they have to say.

As you can see, Encyclopedia Britannica and Wickipedia strive for a neutral point of view. This is good, though they often do not include material produced by other sources. And, they don't reveal the point of view seen on the religious sources. 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?