Finding Journal Articles

Contents

Basic Procedure

Finding articles on a topic, even when you know the citation, can sometimes be complicated. Please let us know if you need help.

To find journal articles, use databases or print indexes to search by author, title, or subject. See these helpful tips for creating effective searches to find articles and other materials.
Some databases may provide the article in full-text, and many of these databases provide options for printing, e-mailing, or saving the full-text article.
If the full text of the article is not available from the database, look for (more on this button at the Findit@VU FAQ page). Click on the button to get a menu of possibilities for retrieving the article.
If the database doesn't provide the article in full-text, and you don't see , search the Acorn catalog to see if we get the journal in print form.
- If you know the title of the journal, you can search for it by typing the journal title and using "PERIODICAL TITLE begins with" from the dropdown.
- Once you've found an Acorn record for your journal, be sure to check the holdings for the specific issue in which the article is located and note the library location and call number of the journal.
If the journal is not available in the library, you may be able to obtain the article through Interlibrary Loan (ILL).

Databases

The choice of database should be based upon the range and scope of the topic being researched. Do not hesitate to ask us if you need help in choosing a database.

Most topics in the field of religion and theology can be searched in the ATLA Religion Database. For instructions on using the ATLA Religion Database, see Guide to Using the ATLA Religion Database.

Other databases providing access to articles specific to the field of religion can be found on the Divinity Library's databases page. A fuller list of library databases is available on the Heard Library's Find articles & databases page.

Print Indexes

Print indexes can be extremely helpful, especially if you have a very specific topic in mind or if you are looking for more historical material not covered by the electronic databases. The following is a selected list of some of the print indexes available in the Divinity Library:

Abstracts of Research in Pastoral Care and Counseling (1979-1998)
Location / holdings information
Continues Pastoral Care and Counseling Abstracts (1972-1978). Provides abstracts of research in various areas of pastoral care. Covers journal articles, theses and dissertations, unpublished manuscripts, and research in progress. An author index is provided.
Actualidad Bibliográfica de Filosofía y Teología
Location / holdings information
Provides book reviews of current European publications, with an Iberian emphasis. Covers all areas of religion and philosophy. Organization is by topic. Coverage is from 1990 onwards. In Spanish.
An Alphabetical Subject Index and Index Encyclopaedia to Periodical Articles on Religion, 1890-1899
Location / holdings information
Important resource for historical materials. 58,000 articles from over 600 journals are listed. Arrangement is by subject heading. Articles indexed are in French, German, Italian as well as English. Each subject heading in Volume 1 also provides for each subject a brief definition of the subject term or (for personal names as subject) brief biographical information. References to encyclopedia articles on the topic are also provided. Companion volume is Periodical Articles on Religion, 1890-1899 (see below.)
Archiv für Reformationsgeschichte
Location / holdings information
Focus is on the history of the Reformation and its role in world affairs. Provides summary notes for current books, often in English. Organization is by topic, with an author index located at the back of each volume. In German.
Bibliografia Teologica Comentada del Área Iberoamericana
Location / holdings information
Coverage of Latin American, Spanish language journals in theology. Organized topically, with four indexes (by subject, biblical passage, ecumenical organization, and author). Covers Bible, theology, history and culture. Runs several years behind. In Spanish. Publication ceased in 1996.
Bulletin de Bibliographie Biblique
Location / holdings information
Periodicals and monographs in the fields of biblical studies and the ancient world. Organized topically. Coverage is from 1991 onwards. In French.
Bulletin de Théologie Ancienne et Médiévale (Bulletin of Ancient and Medieval Christian Literature)
Location / holdings information
Brief reviews of works on ancient and medieval theology. Covers both books and articles. Includes author and subject indexes at the end of each volume. Coverage is from 1929 to 1995.
Bulletin Signalétique 527, Histoire et Science des Religions (1979-1990) and Francis Bulletin Signalétique 527, Histoire et Science des Religions (1991-1994)
Location / holdings information
Index for articles in religious studies and world religions. Organized topically (i.e., Studies in Religion, Ancient Religions, Christianity, Islam, etc.) In French and English.
Canon Law Abstracts
Location / holdings information
Covers periodical literature on canon law. Comes out biannually. Arrangement of entries begins with General Subjects and Historical Subjects, then follows the text of canon law. A list of abbreviations for periodicals and contributors is provided. Whether the entry is an article, book, document, etc. is indicated in parenthesis, and a short abstract of the work is provided.
Catholic Periodical Index (1930-1966) and Catholic Periodical and Literature Index (1967 onwards)
Location / holdings information
Index of Catholic periodicals deemed to be of permanent value. Print equivalent to the electronic resource Catholic Periodical and Literature Index (see above under Electronic Databases). The electronic version goes back to 1981, while the print goes back to 1930. Includes subject, author/editor, and title entries. Also includes a book review index. Published quarterly.
Centre Protestant d'Études et de Documentation (1969-1978) and Bulletin du Centre Protestant d'Études et de Documentation (1978-1991)
Location / holdings information
Selective bibliographies, with abstracts, covering various topics in religion including theology, biblical studies, ethics, and the history of religions. Organization is by topic. In French.
Christian Periodical Index
Location / holdings information
Covers approximately 80 popular and scholarly publications of a primarily evangelical and fundamentalist nature. Prepared by the librarians of the Association of Christian Librarians, a predominantly evangelical group. Comes out three times per year and is cumulated annually. Entries for authors and specific subjects are provided in a single alphabetic sequence. Book reviews are listed in a separate section at the back.
Critical Review of Books in Religion
Location / holdings information
AAR/SBL annual collection of selective book reviews across all areas of religion. Includes review articles as well as shorter book reviews. Organized topically, with three indexes: authors and editors; reviewers; publishers. From 1988-1996.
Elenchus Bibliographicus Biblicus (1968-1978), Elenchus Bibliographicus Biblicus of Biblica (1979-1984) and Elenchus of Biblica (1985 onwards)
Elenchus Bibliographicus location / holdings information
Elenchus of Biblica location / holdings information
Comprehensive index for Biblical studies. Indexes almost every journal / serial / book / dissertation world-wide. Runs 3 years behind.
Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses
Location / holdings information
Extensive current coverage of American, European, and extra-Western World journals, serials, monographs, polygraphs, and dissertations. Topics covered include church history, world religions, Bible, theology, and canon law. Organization is by topic. Coverage begins in 1924.
Guide to Social Science and Religion in Periodical Literature
Location / holdings information
Covers about 100 semi-scholarly and popular English language periodicals in the fields of the social sciences and religion. Arrangement is by subject category only.
Index to Jewish Periodicals
Location / holdings information
Covers current Jewish topics that appear in periodicals published in the U.S., Canada, England, Israel, South Africa, and Australia. Author and subject entries are listed in a single alphabetical arrangement. A list of titles indexed is provided. Book reviews are also included and are listed by author of the review in the main sequence. Journal coverage from 1988 on also available through the Index to Jewish Periodicals database.
Index to Periodical Literature on Christ and the Gospels
Location / holdings information
Arrangement is by topic, with each major category further subdividing; a detailed listing of the contents is provided. Entries are in chronological order, with oldest entries listed first (the index covers articles as far back as the 1800s). Articles covered are drawn from approximately 160 periodicals, in several languages. Includes an author index.
Internationale Zeitschriftenschau für Bibelwissenschaft und Grenzgebiete (IZBG) (also known as International review of Biblical studies or Revue internationale des études bibliques
Location / holdings information
Abstracts of periodicals and books in Biblical studies. Organized topically; table of contents and author index provided in back. Coverage is from 1951 onwards. In German and English.
Kiryat Sefer: Bibliographical Quarterly of the Jewish National and University Library, Jerusalem
Location / holdings information
Extensive bibliography of all the publications in Israel and of Judaica from abroad. In Hebrew and English. No longer published in print; online available online at http://aleph.nli.org.il (if necessary, choose Qiryat Sefer from "Select Library dropdown).
New Testament Abstracts
Location / holdings information
Periodical abstracts and book notices of primarily European and American works dealing with the New Testament. Earlier volumes abstracted only periodical articles; currently, books are also included in each volume. NTA typically abstracts around 2,000 articles chosen from more than 500 periodicals in numerous languages. Nearly 850 current books are also summarized annually. More recent content also available electronically.
Old Testament Abstracts
Location / holdings information
Periodical abstracts and book notices of primarily European and American works dealing with the Old Testament. Organized topically, with author and scripture reference indexes. More recent content also available electronically.
Pastoral Care and Counseling Abstracts (1972-1978) and Abstracts of Research in Pastoral Care and Counseling (1979-1998)
Location / holdings information
Provides abstracts of research in various areas of pastoral care. Covers journal articles, theses and dissertations, unpublished manuscripts, and research in progress. An author index is provided. Ceased publication in 1998.
Periodical Articles on Religion, 1890-1899
Location / holdings information
Companion volume to An Alphabetical Subject Index and Index Encyclopaedia to Periodical Articles on Religion, 1890-1899 (see above). The same works that are covered in An Alphabetical Subject Index are here indexed by author. The user must consult An Alphabetical Subject Index in order to get the abbreviations used.
Religious and Theological Abstracts
Location / holdings information
Provides abstracts of periodical articles in religion. Coverage is from 1958 - 2008.
Revue d'Histoire Ecclesiastique
Location / holdings information
Exhaustive European-American periodical and book coverage of church history from early church to contemporary times. Organization is topical. The Table of Contents is located in the back of each volume. An author index ("Table Onomastique") is also provided. In French.
Science of Religion Bulletin: Abstracts and Index of Recent Articles (1976-1979) and Science of Religion: Abstracts and Indexes of Recent Articles (1980-1991)
Location / holdings information
Abstracts of periodical articles in religion. Excludes Biblical studies. Arrangement is topical, with author and subject indexes provided. Coverage is from 1976-1991.
Theological Book Review
Location / holdings information
Brief book reviews of current British (and some American) works in theology. Comes out three times per year. Organization is by Dewey decimal classification number, but there is both an alphabetical listing of topics and the corresponding Dewey number as well as an author index in the back to aid the user in locating the desired review.