Citation and Attribution Policy
Effective date: May 21, 2026 · Last updated: September 30, 2026
1. Overview
ReligionCompare is an educational reference site. Factual claims throughout the glossary, FAQ pages, and other comparative resources are backed by inline citations to scholarly books, peer-reviewed journal articles, primary sacred texts, established encyclopedias, and institutional sources. This page explains how we cite, what categories of source we use, and how to request corrections.
2. Citation Format
Inline citations appear as numbered superscript markers (for example, [1], [2], [3]) within prose. Each cited entry includes its own numbered Sources section listing the full citation for each marker. The numbering restarts at each entry; markers in one entry are not connected to markers in any other entry.
Each citation lists the source title, author or editor, publisher and year for books, page or chapter detail when relevant, and a link to the original where one is publicly available. Citations carry a type label: book, journal article, primary source (a sacred text or other foundational document), encyclopedia entry, or institutional source.
3. Source Categories We Use
- Primary sacred texts. Bible, Quran, Tanakh, Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Pali Canon, Mahayana sutras, Guru Granth Sahib, Avesta, Daodejing, Analects, and related works are cited by book and chapter or verse where applicable.
- Foundational scholarly books. Standard reference works in religious studies (for example, Mary Douglas, Wendy Doniger, Jaroslav Pelikan, Walpola Rahula, Karen Armstrong, Wael Hallaq, Mircea Eliade, Bernard McGinn, Gershom Scholem) are cited by author, title, publisher, and year.
- Peer-reviewed journal articles. Cited by author, article title, journal, volume, issue, year, and page range where applicable.
- Reference works and lexicons. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Online Etymology Dictionary, classical lexicons (Monier-Williams Sanskrit, Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew, Hans Wehr Arabic, Liddell-Scott Greek, Rhys Davids and Stede Pali), and similar sources support etymology and definition.
- Institutional sources. Vatican documents, ecumenical statements, established religious bodies, and academic centers are used where they are the recognized authority for a specific point.
4. Fair Use Claim
ReligionCompare cites brief excerpts and factual claims from copyrighted works for the educational, comparative, and commentary purposes of an encyclopedia-style reference site. We believe this use qualifies as fair use under 17 U.S.C. § 107 of the United States Copyright Act, taking into account the educational and non-commercial purpose, the factual nature of the cited material, the limited portion used relative to the source as a whole, and the absence of any market effect on the original source. Our citations link readers to the original works rather than substituting for them.
5. What Citations Mean Here
A citation on ReligionCompare indicates that the cited source informed or supports the factual claim in the surrounding text. It does not necessarily mean we quote the source directly, that the author of the cited work would phrase the point the same way, or that the source is the only authority for the claim. Religious studies is a field of ongoing scholarly debate, and many points have multiple valid scholarly framings.
Where scholarly opinion is divided, we try to indicate the disagreement rather than presenting one position as settled.
6. AI-Assisted Drafting
Much of the content on ReligionCompare is drafted with the help of artificial intelligence tools. Citations are checked against real, published sources, and claims that cannot be supported are removed. We do not knowingly publish invented citations, fabricated quotations, or attributions to people, books, or articles that do not exist. Any inadvertent error in a citation should be reported and we will correct or remove the citation promptly.
7. Corrections
If you see an error in a citation, a misattributed claim, or a factual mistake, please contact us at [email protected] with the URL of the page, a description of the issue, and a suggested correction with source where possible. We review correction requests promptly and update pages where the report is verified.
8. Takedown Procedure
If you are the copyright owner of a work cited or quoted on ReligionCompare and believe our use exceeds fair use or otherwise infringes your rights, please follow the takedown procedure described on our DMCA page. Send notifications to [email protected] with the information specified by 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3) and we will respond promptly.
9. Contact
For questions about citation, attribution, or sourcing on ReligionCompare:
ReligionCompare, a TPS Worldwide LLC property
Phoenix, AZ, USA
Email: [email protected]