Searching the Internet
Bethel Seminary Faculty Colloquium
March 25, 1998
The purpose of this web page is to demonstrate the capabilities
of the Alta Vista Search Engine and investigate interesting web
sites that have theological application for research and study.
Contents
Theological Web
Sites
Web Course in
the Box Demo
Last Updated on July 8, 1998 by Dr. Gregory
W. Bourgond
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Internet
The Internet, started in 1969 as a Department of Defense research project,
connects millions of computers worldwide in a complex and ever changing
network.
Directories
Internet directories provide hierarchically organized lists of links
be categories defined and maintained by the keepers of the specific directory.
Sites that haven't been cataloged can't be found in the directory.
Search Engines
Search engines maintain a database with links to Internet resources. These
engines collect information about the WWW sites and allow seekers to search
for specific data. Most search engines index some of the words or some
of the information from some of the sites.
Copyright
Issues
Real
Audio
Blackboard
Introduction
to Blackboard
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Search Techniques
Alta Vista Search Engine
is one of the most advanced search tools available on the Internet. Digital
Equipment Corporation developed AltaVista in 1995 in its Palo Alto research
labs to do the unthinkable -- index the whole Internet. Using AltaVista,
you can find any word in any document published on the World Wide Web or
in Usenet discussion groups, which makes AltaVista an invaluable tool for
helping you find information.
AltaVista's Speed: You can
search through AltaVista's entire Web index -- approximately 200 Gigabytes
of data -- in less than a second!
AltaVista's Ease of Use:
Using AltaVista is a cinch! Just type a question or a few words, click
Submit, and AltaVista promptly returns your results. AltaVista also sorts
the results so the best matches appear the top of the list.
Simple and Advanced Searches: Even
using Simple Search, you get the full power and scope that AltaVista offers.
(Here at AltaVista, we all use Simple Search for most of our searches!)
Or, for you power users, you can also use Advanced Search and search by
date or construct carefully detailed searches that include (or exclude!)
any combination of words or phrases.
Simple
Searches of Usenet Newsgroups
There are over 16,000 newsgroups on the WWW. Newsgroups are simply
collections of messages addressed to a group of people with common interests.
Each newsgroup has a designated suject. They are usually free-for-alls
allowing everyone to participate placing no one individual or company in
the role of owner or information provider. Postings expire as they
age and are automatically deleted when they expire, in 6 to 8 weeks maximum.
Contrained
Searches
Simple and Advanced Searches can be improved by searching according
to structural elements. Structural elements for Web Searches
include anchor, applet, domain, host, image, link, text, title and
url. Structural elements for Usenet Searches (newsgroups)
document include from, subject, newsgroups, summary and keywords.
In most situations, conducting Simples Searches will yield
results as good as those in Advanced Searches. Only
use Advanced Search for the following reasons.
1) to search for a word or phrase that occurs near another
one (returns hits that include both terms you enter that are within
10 words of each other),
2) to organize long, complex queries,
3) to restrict your search based on dates, and
4) to retrieve more than 200 matching items ( queries which
include ranking information will return matched items not exceeding 200).
((strategic
OR ministry) NEAR plan); ranking "ministry plan"
Finds the specified words (strategic or ministry)
within the set of parantheses and within 10 words of plan.
Ranks the results by putting ministry plans at the top of
the list. In this particular example, only those documents
that which have been submitted or revised on or after 1 Jan 95
will be included
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Christian Directories
Internet directories provide hierarchically organized lists of links.
Directories present a carefully categorized, logically structured facade
to WWW-based information. They are only as good as the diligence of the
catalogers in maintaining the directory. Sites that haven't been cataloged
cannot be found using a directory.
Contains 17 categories and 141 sites. They need to be evaluated. Includes
search engines (7), directories (3), Christian directories (10), churches
(2), schools (3), organizations (11), general research (6), Christian research
(30), apologetics (6), preaching (14), liturgy & worship (3), Christian
journals (8), Christian resources (22), demographics (5), literature &
history (2), other resources (7), and miscellaneous sites (2).
Bethel's
Christian Resources
Contains daily devotionals (6), scholarly discussions and information
(16), references, books, magazines and other texts (18), Christian resource
list (11), other Christian resources (11), organizations (20) and search
engines (3).
Contains 18 categories and 67 sub-categories. Included in the directory
are Bibles & Studies, churches, informational resources, ministries,
periodicals, publishing, and Web directories & supersites.
Contains Bible studies and helps (10), Christian resource directories (10),
general Christian links (22),leader resources (13), searching the net (6),
seekers (5), youth and college ministry (7), and worship and Christian
music (11).
Return to Table of Contents
Theological Web Sites
This page contains web sites of potential theological interest to the
faculty. The faculty is encouraged to check out these sites to determine
if they may be of help for research purposes for faculty or students.
THEOLOGICAL CATEGORIES
GENERAL RESEARCH
Gives directions on how to cite online references
found on the Internet.
Offers an easy to use online search of the MTLA catalog,
including the library catalog records of Bethel Seminary's St. Paul and
San Diego Campuses and several other Minnesota theological seminaries;
Luther, United and St. Paul Seminaries.
With The Electric Library, any person can pose a
question in plain English and launch a comprehensive, simultaneous search
through more than 150 full-text newspapers, hundreds and hundreds of full-text
magazines, two international newswires, two thousand classic books, hundreds
of maps, thousands of photographs, as well as major works of literature
and art.
Includes areas for collections, legislation, exhibitions,
library services, and research tools. Also permits extensive searches for
information held in the library.
Provides official census data to researches. Includes
the following tools: News Search, Access Tools, CenStats - CenStore, Subjects
A-Z Just for Fun, About the Census, User Manual, New on the Site, Pop Clock,
Economic clock, and Other Official Statistics/FedStats.
CHRISTIAN
RESEARCH
The Biblical Studies Foundation is a non-profit organization
founded for the purpose of distributing sound, evangelical Bible study
materials in electronic format so those with small personal libraries or
without access to a local Bible college or seminary library, etc., may
have access to sound biblical studies from their home. Contains the following
links: resources, search, NET Bible, bible studies, latest additions, site
favorites, advanced studies, church history, theological journals, pastoral
helps, prof's soapbox, illustrations, bits & pieces and discussion
area.
This site is maintained by Boston University School
of Theology and includes the following contents: General Religion, Asian
Religions, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Philosophy, Library Catalogs and
Library Research Guides. This guide provides a selected listing of local
and world-wide Internet sources for religion and philosophy.
Contains full texts of Christian classics including
non-fiction, fiction, hymns and reference materials.
Focuses on early Christian writings and their social
world, bible texts, translations and related texts, biblical studies electronically
published, aspects of the Mediterranean social world, biblical studies
and computer technology and Philo of Alexandria.
Language Sites
Includes the subjects of paleography, manuscript
transmission, modern critical text, textual criticism, exercise in textual
criticism, glossary, index, table of greek manuscripts and related articles.
This site was developed at Brown University with the aid of an Educational
Computing Grant to the Religious Studies Department. The main focus of
the web is on the process used to study the ancient manuscripts upon which
the New Testament is based. While the language discussed is Greek, almost
everything is explained with transliterations into English and, where applicable,
translations from standard English Bibles.
Church History and Archeology Sites
Includes the following subjects: the church fathers,
the medieval churchmen, the heretics, the eastern orthodox, the catholics,
the reformers, the puritans, the anabaptists, the arminians, the cultists,
the unorthodox, the baptists and the recent stalwarts.
The Early Church On-Line Encyclopedia (Ecole) Initiative
is a cooperative effort on the part of scholars across the Internet to
establish a hypertext encyclopedia of early Church history (to the Reformation)
on the World-Wide Web. Each article is linked directly to related articles
and other information available on the Web.
Development of the database was a collaboration between
John Sanders, Head of the Oriental Institute Computer Laboratory, and Charles
Jones, Oriental Institute Research Archivist. Objective in creating this
database: to have information about the Oriental Institute reach a world-wide
audience through the medium of electronic publication; to make available
descriptions and publications of the projects in ancient Near Eastern archaeology
and philology by the faculty and staff of the Oriental Institute and its
various units.
The Giza Plateau Mapping Project, under the direction
of Mark Lehner, Assistant Professor of Egyptian archaeology, is dedicated
to research on the geology and topography of the Giza plateau, the construction
and function of the Sphinx, the Great Pyrimids, the associated tombs and
temples, and the Old Kingdom town in the vicinity. Lehner is a pioneer
in the use of state-of-the-art computer graphics and remote sensing technology
to model the ancient configuration of the Giza Plateau.
Contains extensive data on the Philistines, their
history, culture, and influence.
APOLOGETICS
Where you will find biblical answers to important
contemporary questions on the following topics: creation/evolution, bible
archaeology, bible & theology, religions & cults, family and marriage,
social issues & government, youth issues, kids' questions, and this
month's top question.
Yahoo
Directory: Faiths & Practices
Contains information on 48 separate faiths and practices.
The purpose of this forum is to address the questions
that you are really asking--and the questions that you are being asked--about
Christianity. JIM SIRE is a senior editor at InterVarsity Press and a campus
lecturer for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. His most recent book is
Why Should Anyone Believe and Anything at All? DOUG GROOTHUIS is assistant
professor of philosophy of religion and ethics at Denver Seminary. His
books include Unmasking the New Age, Confronting the New Age and, most
recently, Christianity That Counts.
The Crossroads Project is a group of Christian scholars
and communicators dedicated to offering the church at large the latest
in cutting-edge apologetics materials and instruction. The focus is primarily
on the postmodern challenge to Christian thought.
The Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics
(CRTA) is dedicated to providing biblically sound online resources for
the edification of God's people. The Center is committed to the system
of doctrine called Calvinism, which the authors of this site see to be
the most biblically faithful systematization of the Bible's teachings.
On those issues, such as eschatology, where there is genuine disagreement
among Reformed believers, the Center presents the debate surrounding the
issue in order to help God's people prayerfully consider the alternative
perspectives.
Contains numerous articles on apologetical issues.
Its primary focus is on the subject of evolution and its refutation.
This web site has expanded to include a wide variety
of options for participating in apologetical debates and discussions. The
Apologetics Channel exists to provide a forum for Christians to rationally
defend the faith to all who would question or challenge it. The Apologetics
Forum is a web-based Usenet-like "bulletin board" discussion area. The
Apologetics-List is a semi-moderated listserv where discussions and debates
take place via email.
The Christian Apologetics Bookshelf web site was
established July 1, 1996 for the glory of GOD. Our purpose is to educate,
equip, and encourage Bible believing Christians to uphold the truth and
authority of the Word of God and to refute those who contradict.
Contains a list of individuals who classify themselves
as both philosophers and theists including our own Dr. David Clark. They
are working in such diverse areas as metaphysics, epistemology, logic,
action theory, ethics, aesthetics, philosophy of language, philosophy of
logic, philosophy of science, philosophy of religion, philosophical theology,
existentialism, phenomenology, political philosophy, and the history of
philosophy.
EPS is an organization of evangelical Christians
who meet annually to discuss philosophical matters of mutual interest.
It emphasizes philosophy of religion defined broadly to include philosophical
theology, ethics, apologetics, as well as other fields as they relate to
the faith. EPS was founded in 1974 and has grown to over 200 members. Contains
web sites of interest to evangelical philosophers.
Theology
Includes general guides, biblical studies, history
of theology, contemporary theology, pastoral studies, religions & denominations,
print & electronic publishers, institutions, departments & (digital)
libraries.
Yahoo
Directory: Theology
Contains 14 theological web sites.
The
Christian Theology Page
This directory incluedes not just major theological sites around the
world, but also listings by Christian tradition.
A conservative Christian systematic theology. The
theology is a practical work divided into small portions that would be
the start of good lessons. Contains a complete systematic theology and
comprehensive index of theological subjects, a massive work on the net.
CHRISTIAN
JOURNALS
CHRISTIAN
RESOURCES
LITURGY &
WORSHIP
PREACHING
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