Melton has a well-earned reputation as one of America’s foremost authorities on American religious groups; previous titles produced by his Institute for Study of American Religion have become standards, as will this one. Here he has compiled more than 450 creedal statements of both traditional and nontraditional religions in the United States and Canada. Not intended to replace other sources, this volume emphasizes contemporaneity by including only creeds currently acknowledged. Texts are arranged by the “religious family” groupings used in Melton’s Encyclopedia of American Religions (Gale, 1986. 2d ed.) . A superb reference that also makes fascinating reading; highly recommended. Craig W. Beard, Harding Univ. Lib., Searcy, Ark.
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