Sources Library

Every article on this site cites its sources. This page turns those citations inside out: all the primary texts we draw on — scripture, rabbinic literature, papal documents, and history — each linked to the articles where it's discussed in plain English. Different from the glossary, which defines terms; this is the reading room.

Hebrew Bible 51

1 Samuel 8 — Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Religious Nationalism
2 Kings 23:10 — The Valley of Hinnom in the Hebrew Bible Hell, Damnation & the Afterlife
Amos 5:21–24 — Justice Over Ceremony (Hebrew Bible) "Common Sense" and the Gospel That Had None · Space Travel & Our Place in the Cosmos
Amos 5:21–24 — Justice Over Ritual (Hebrew Bible) Who Gets Communion — and Who Gets Turned Away
Amos 5:21–24 — The Book of Amos (Hebrew Bible/Old Testament) Racial Justice
Amos 5:21–24 — The Prophet Amos (Hebrew Bible) Mega Churches & Televangelists
Amos 8:4–7 — The Book of Amos (Hebrew Bible/Old Testament) The Prosperity Gospel
Augustine of Hippo, The Literal Meaning of Genesis (c. 415 CE) Creationism, the Ark Encounter & the Young Earth
Deuteronomy 15:7–11 — The Torah (Hebrew Bible) Wealth & Poverty
Deuteronomy 20:19–20 — Bal Tashchit (Hebrew Bible) Space Travel & Our Place in the Cosmos
Deuteronomy 20:19–20 — Do Not Destroy Fruit Trees (Hebrew Bible) Consumer Culture & Corporate Waste
Deuteronomy 20:19–20 — The Torah (Hebrew Bible) Environmental Stewardship
Deuteronomy 25:4; 22:6–7 — Animal Welfare Laws (Hebrew Bible) Do Animals Have Souls? Does God Care?
Deuteronomy 30:12 — "It Is Not in Heaven" (Hebrew Bible) The Constitution Is Not Scripture
Exodus 20:7 — The Third Commandment (Hebrew Bible) The Branded Bible & Political Religion
Exodus 20:8–11 — The Sabbath Commandment (Hebrew Bible) Christmas, Easter, and the Billion-Dollar Holidays
Exodus 21:22–25 — The Torah (Hebrew Bible) Reproductive Rights & Bodily Autonomy
Exodus 23:9 — The Torah (Hebrew Bible) Immigration & Refugees
Genesis 1:1–2:3 — Creation (Hebrew Bible) Evolution, Science & Faith
Genesis 1:1–2:3 — The Creation Account (Hebrew Bible) Creationism, the Ark Encounter & the Young Earth
Genesis 1:20–25, 2:7 — Nefesh Chayah (Hebrew Bible) Do Animals Have Souls? Does God Care?
Genesis 1:26–28 — Stewardship and the Image of God (Hebrew Bible) Artificial Intelligence & Scientific Progress
Genesis 1:27 — The Torah (Hebrew Bible) LGBTQ+ Inclusion · Women's Rights & Gender Equality
Genesis 18:1–8 — The Torah (Hebrew Bible) Homelessness & Housing
Genesis 2–3 — The Garden of Eden (Hebrew Bible) Free Choice, the Snake & Original Sin
Genesis 3:22 — God's acknowledgment (Hebrew Bible) Free Choice, the Snake & Original Sin
Isaiah 1:17 — Seek Justice (Hebrew Bible) Segregation & Modern America
Isaiah 2:1–4 — Swords into Plowshares (Hebrew Bible) The Holy Land & the Middle East
Isaiah 2:4 — Swords into Plowshares (Hebrew Bible) Is War or Violence Ever Acceptable?
Isaiah 2:4 — The Book of Isaiah (Hebrew Bible/Old Testament) Gun Violence Prevention
Isaiah 56:3–5 — Eunuchs in God's House (Hebrew Bible) Gender, Biological Sex & Trans People
Jeremiah 7:1–11 — The Temple Sermon (Hebrew Bible) The Branded Bible & Political Religion
Job 38–42 — The Book of Job (Hebrew Bible) Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
John C. Whitcomb & Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Flood (1961) Creationism, the Ark Encounter & the Young Earth
Lamentations 1–5 — The Book of Lamentations (Hebrew Bible) Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
Leviticus 19 — The Holiness Code (Hebrew Bible) Tattoos, Piercings & Body Modifications
Leviticus 19:15 — The Torah (Hebrew Bible) Racial Justice
Leviticus 19:16 — The Torah (Hebrew Bible) Gun Violence Prevention
Leviticus 19:17 — The Torah (Hebrew Bible) Forgiveness & Accountability
Leviticus 19:28 — Tattoo Prohibition (Hebrew Bible) Tattoos, Piercings & Body Modifications
Leviticus 19:33–34 — Love the Stranger (Hebrew Bible) The Holy Land & the Middle East
Leviticus 19:33–34 — The Torah (Hebrew Bible) Immigration & Refugees
Leviticus 25:1–55 — The Jubilee Year (Hebrew Bible) The Billionaire Class
Leviticus 25:1–7 — The Torah (Hebrew Bible) Environmental Stewardship
Leviticus 25:8–17 — The Torah (Hebrew Bible) Homelessness & Housing
Micah 6:8 — The Prophet Micah (Hebrew Bible) Would Jesus Be a Republican or a Democrat?
Proverbs 31:6–7 — Wine for the Suffering (Hebrew Bible) Drinking, Drugs, and the Moral Panic Around Both
Psalm 19:1–4 — The Heavens Declare (Hebrew Bible) Space Travel & Our Place in the Cosmos
Psalm 22 — Psalms (Hebrew Bible) Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
Song of Songs — Erotic Poetry (Hebrew Bible) Unmarried Couples and Pre-Marital Sex
The Book of Job — Hebrew Bible/Old Testament The Prosperity Gospel

New Testament 83

1 Corinthians 1:18–25 — The Foolishness of the Cross (New Testament) "Common Sense" and the Gospel That Had None
1 Corinthians 11:17–34 — Paul on the Lord's Supper (New Testament) Who Gets Communion — and Who Gets Turned Away
1 Corinthians 6:12–20 — The Body Is a Temple (New Testament) Unmarried Couples and Pre-Marital Sex
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 — Body as Temple (New Testament) Tattoos, Piercings & Body Modifications
1 Timothy 5:23 — A Little Wine for Your Stomach (New Testament) Drinking, Drugs, and the Moral Panic Around Both
Acts 2:42–47 — The Acts of the Apostles (New Testament) Loneliness & Community
Acts 4:32–35 — The Acts of the Apostles (New Testament) Wealth & Poverty
Acts 8:26–40 — The Ethiopian Eunuch (New Testament) Gender, Biological Sex & Trans People
Ephesians 5:18 — Do Not Get Drunk (New Testament) Drinking, Drugs, and the Moral Panic Around Both
Galatians 3:28 — Letter to the Galatians (New Testament) LGBTQ+ Inclusion · Women's Rights & Gender Equality
John 11:1–44 — The Raising of Lazarus (New Testament) Loneliness & Community
John 18:36 — The Gospel of John (New Testament) Religious Nationalism
John 2:1–11 — The Wedding at Cana (New Testament) Loneliness & Community
John 2:1–11 — Wedding at Cana (New Testament) Drinking, Drugs, and the Moral Panic Around Both
John 2:13–16 — Cleansing of the Temple (New Testament) Christmas, Easter, and the Billion-Dollar Holidays
John 20:11–18 — The Gospel of John (New Testament) Women's Rights & Gender Equality
John 21:1–14 — The Miraculous Catch of Fish (New Testament) Loneliness & Community
John 21:9–17 — Breakfast on the Beach (New Testament) Family Estrangement & Political Friendships
John 4:1–42 — The Gospel of John (New Testament) Racial Justice · Women's Rights & Gender Equality
John 4:1–42 — The Woman at the Well (New Testament) Sex Trafficking & Modern Slavery
John 6:15 — The Gospel of John (New Testament) Religious Nationalism
John 8:1–11 — The Gospel of John (New Testament) Death Penalty & Criminal Justice · LGBTQ+ Inclusion
John 8:1–11 — The Woman Caught in Adultery (New Testament) Unmarried Couples and Pre-Marital Sex · Sex Trafficking & Modern Slavery
John Hick, Evil and the God of Love (1966) Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
Luke 10:25–37 — The Good Samaritan (New Testament) Segregation & Modern America
Luke 10:25–37 — The Gospel of Luke (New Testament) Racial Justice
Luke 12:13–21 — The Parable of the Rich Fool (New Testament) Consumer Culture & Corporate Waste
Luke 15:1–7 — The Lost Sheep (New Testament) Family Estrangement & Political Friendships
Luke 15:11–32 — The Gospel of Luke (New Testament) Death Penalty & Criminal Justice · Mental Health & Addiction
Luke 16:19–31 — The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus Homelessness & Housing · Wealth & Poverty
Luke 16:19–31 — The Rich Man and Lazarus (New Testament) The Billionaire Class · Space Travel & Our Place in the Cosmos
Luke 17:11–19 — The Gospel of Luke (New Testament) Universal Healthcare
Luke 19:1–10 — Zacchaeus (New Testament) Who Gets Communion — and Who Gets Turned Away · Family Estrangement & Political Friendships
Luke 2:1–20 — The Birth of Jesus (New Testament) Christmas, Easter, and the Billion-Dollar Holidays
Luke 23:34 — The Gospel of Luke (New Testament) Death Penalty & Criminal Justice · Forgiveness & Accountability
Luke 4:16–21 — Jesus's First Sermon at Nazareth (New Testament) Would Jesus Be a Republican or a Democrat?
Luke 5:31–32 — The Gospel of Luke (New Testament) Mental Health & Addiction
Luke 6:15; Matthew 9:9 — Simon the Zealot and Matthew the Tax Collector (New Testament) Family Estrangement & Political Friendships · Would Jesus Be a Republican or a Democrat?
Luke 6:24 — Woe to the Rich (New Testament) Mega Churches & Televangelists
Luke 6:27–36 — Radical Love of Enemies (New Testament) "Common Sense" and the Gospel That Had None
Luke 6:6–11 — The Gospel of Luke (New Testament) Universal Healthcare
Luke 7:36–50 — The Sinful Woman at Simon's Table (New Testament) Who Gets Communion — and Who Gets Turned Away
Luke 8:1–3 — The Gospel of Luke (New Testament) Women's Rights & Gender Equality
Luke 8:1–3 — Women Disciples (New Testament) Sex Trafficking & Modern Slavery
Mark 10:17–27 — The Gospel of Mark (New Testament) The Prosperity Gospel
Mark 10:17–31 — The Rich Young Ruler (New Testament) The Billionaire Class
Mark 10:25 — The Gospel of Mark (New Testament) Wealth & Poverty
Mark 11:15–17 — Cleansing of the Temple (New Testament) Mega Churches & Televangelists · The Branded Bible & Political Religion
Mark 12:38–40 — Beware of the Teachers of the Law (New Testament) Mega Churches & Televangelists
Mark 2:1–12 — The Healing of the Paralyzed Man (New Testament) Loneliness & Community
Mark 5:1–20 — The Gospel of Mark (New Testament) Mental Health & Addiction
Matthew 10:29–31 — Sparrows and the Father's Care (New Testament) Do Animals Have Souls? Does God Care?
Matthew 18:21–22 — The Gospel of Matthew (New Testament) Forgiveness & Accountability
Matthew 19:12 — Eunuchs from Birth (New Testament) Gender, Biological Sex & Trans People
Matthew 2:13–15 — The Gospel of Matthew (New Testament) Immigration & Refugees
Matthew 22:20–21 — Render unto Caesar (New Testament) The Constitution Is Not Scripture
Matthew 22:21 — The Gospel of Matthew (New Testament) Religious Nationalism
Matthew 22:36–40 — The Gospel of Matthew (New Testament) LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Matthew 25:31–46 — The Gospel of Matthew (New Testament) Immigration & Refugees
Matthew 25:31–46 — The Judgment of the Nations (New Testament) Would Jesus Be a Republican or a Democrat? · Space Travel & Our Place in the Cosmos
Matthew 26:52 — The Gospel of Matthew (New Testament) Gun Violence Prevention
Matthew 26:52 vs. Luke 22:36 — Sword passages (New Testament) Is War or Violence Ever Acceptable?
Matthew 27:46 — Jesus on the Cross (New Testament) Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
Matthew 4:8–10 — The Gospel of Matthew (New Testament) Religious Nationalism
Matthew 5:22, 29–30; 10:28; 23:33 — Gehenna in the Gospels Hell, Damnation & the Afterlife
Matthew 5:3–12 — The Beatitudes (New Testament) "Common Sense" and the Gospel That Had None · The Prosperity Gospel
Matthew 5:38–45 — Turn the Other Cheek; Love Your Enemies (New Testament) "Common Sense" and the Gospel That Had None
Matthew 5:9 — Blessed Are the Peacemakers (New Testament) The Holy Land & the Middle East
Matthew 5:9 — The Gospel of Matthew (New Testament) Gun Violence Prevention
Matthew 5:9, 38–48 — Beatitudes and Love of Enemies (New Testament) Is War or Violence Ever Acceptable?
Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18 — Sermon on the Mount (New Testament) Mega Churches & Televangelists
Matthew 6:19–21 — Treasures in Heaven (New Testament) Christmas, Easter, and the Billion-Dollar Holidays
Matthew 6:19–21, 24–34 — Do Not Store Up Treasures (New Testament) Consumer Culture & Corporate Waste
Matthew 6:24 — The Gospel of Matthew (New Testament) The Prosperity Gospel
Matthew 6:26–29 — The Gospel of Matthew (New Testament) Environmental Stewardship
Matthew 8:1–17 — The Gospel of Matthew (New Testament) Universal Healthcare
Matthew 8:20 — The Gospel of Matthew (New Testament) Homelessness & Housing
Pope John Paul II, Address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (1996) Creationism, the Ark Encounter & the Young Earth · Evolution, Science & Faith
Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae (1995) Reproductive Rights & Bodily Autonomy
Pope John Paul II, General Audience on Hell (July 28, 1999) Hell, Damnation & the Afterlife
Pope John Paul II, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (1987), §§36–40 Homelessness & Housing
Pope John Paul II, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (1987), §36–37 Racial Justice
Pope John XXIII, Pacem in Terris (1963), §11 Universal Healthcare

Talmud, Mishnah & Rabbinic Literature 20

Maimonides (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon), The Guide for the Perplexed (c. 1190) Evolution, Science & Faith
Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Gifts to the Poor, 10:7–14 The Billionaire Class · Wealth & Poverty
Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentance, 2:1–4 Forgiveness & Accountability
Mishnah Eduyot 2:10 — Twelve-month limit of Gehinnom Hell, Damnation & the Afterlife
Mishnah Makkot 1:10 — Rabbinic Law Death Penalty & Criminal Justice
Mishnah Ohalot 7:6 — Rabbinic Law Reproductive Rights & Bodily Autonomy
Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 Death Penalty & Criminal Justice · Gun Violence Prevention
Mishnah, Bikkurim 4:1–5 — The Androgynos (Talmud) Gender, Biological Sex & Trans People
Pirkei Avot 5:17 — Disputes for the Sake of Heaven (Talmud) Family Estrangement & Political Friendships
Responsa of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (Conservative Judaism) Reproductive Rights & Bodily Autonomy
Talmud Bavli, Bava Metzia 58b–59b — Laws of Exploitation Sex Trafficking & Modern Slavery
Talmud Bavli, Berakhot 32b — on persistent prayer and struggle Mental Health & Addiction
Talmud Bavli, Chagigah 11b–12a — Creation Speculation (Talmud) Creationism, the Ark Encounter & the Young Earth
Talmud Bavli, Kiddushin 32a (on Bal Tashchit) Environmental Stewardship
Talmud Bavli, Makkot 21a — Tattooing in Jewish Law Tattoos, Piercings & Body Modifications
Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 72a — The Law of the Pursuer (Rodef) Is War or Violence Ever Acceptable?
Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 127a Homelessness & Housing · Loneliness & Community
Talmud Bavli, Yoma 69b — The capture of the Yetzer HaRa Free Choice, the Snake & Original Sin
Talmud Bavli, Yoma 85b Universal Healthcare
Talmud Bavli, Yoma 86a — Laws of Chillul Hashem The Branded Bible & Political Religion

Papal & Church Documents 57

Catechism of the Catholic Church §§2290–2291 Drinking, Drugs, and the Moral Panic Around Both
Catechism of the Catholic Church §§2337–2359 Unmarried Couples and Pre-Marital Sex
Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§1030–1037 Hell, Damnation & the Afterlife
Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§1707–1709 Free Choice, the Snake & Original Sin
Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§1897–1904 The Constitution Is Not Scripture
Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§2290–2291 and §1735 Mental Health & Addiction
Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§2302–2317 Is War or Violence Ever Acceptable?
Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§2415–2418 Do Animals Have Souls? Does God Care?
Catechism of the Catholic Church, §2267 (revised 2018) Death Penalty & Criminal Justice
Catechism of the Catholic Church, §2270–2275 Reproductive Rights & Bodily Autonomy
Catechism of the Catholic Church, §2843–2845 Forgiveness & Accountability
Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Infinite Dignity (2024) Gender, Biological Sex & Trans People
Pontifical Academy for Life, Rome Call for AI Ethics (2020) Artificial Intelligence & Scientific Progress
Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, Modern Slavery (2015) Sex Trafficking & Modern Slavery
Pope Francis, Address to Conference on "Nonviolence and Just Peace" (2016) Is War or Violence Ever Acceptable?
Pope Francis, Address to the Drug Enforcement Community (various) Mental Health & Addiction
Pope Francis, Address to the G7 Summit on AI (2024) Artificial Intelligence & Scientific Progress
Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia (2016) Who Gets Communion — and Who Gets Turned Away
Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia (2016), §§54–56, 173–177 Women's Rights & Gender Equality
Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia (2016), Chapter 8 Unmarried Couples and Pre-Marital Sex
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (2013), §§52–60 The Billionaire Class
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (2013), §§53–54 Christmas, Easter, and the Billion-Dollar Holidays
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (2013), §§54–56 The Prosperity Gospel
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (2013), §§87–92 Loneliness & Community
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (2013), §§93–97 Mega Churches & Televangelists
Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti (2020), §§117–127 Wealth & Poverty
Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti (2020), §§156–162 Religious Nationalism
Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti (2020), §§170–175 The Branded Bible & Political Religion
Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti (2020), §§198–214 Family Estrangement & Political Friendships
Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti (2020), §§240–242 Forgiveness & Accountability
Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti (2020), §§255–262 Gun Violence Prevention
Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti (2020), §§35–42, 129–133 Would Jesus Be a Republican or a Democrat?
Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti (2020), §§37–39, 129–132 Immigration & Refugees
Pope Francis, Laudate Deum (2023) Environmental Stewardship
Pope Francis, Laudato Si' (2015) Environmental Stewardship
Pope Francis, Laudato Si' (2015), §§16–22, 43–47 Consumer Culture & Corporate Waste
Pope Francis, Laudato Si' (2015), §§32–42, 69–75 Do Animals Have Souls? Does God Care?
Pope Francis, Laudato Si' (2015), §§46–52 Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
Pope Francis, Laudato Si' (2015), §§49, 161 Space Travel & Our Place in the Cosmos
Pope Francis, Meeting with Palestinian and Israeli Leaders (multiple occasions) The Holy Land & the Middle East
Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (annual) Immigration & Refugees
Pope Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum (1891) Wealth & Poverty
Pope Pius XII, Humani Generis (1950) Evolution, Science & Faith
Rerum Novarum (1891) applied to AI and labor displacement Artificial Intelligence & Scientific Progress
Second Vatican Council, Dei Verbum (1965) Evolution, Science & Faith
Second Vatican Council, Dignitatis Humanae (1965) The Constitution Is Not Scripture
Second Vatican Council, Nostra Aetate (1965) The Holy Land & the Middle East
Synod on Synodality, Final Document (2024) Women's Rights & Gender Equality
USCCB, A Framework for Comprehensive Health Care Reform (1993, reaffirmed) Universal Healthcare
USCCB, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (2007, revised) Would Jesus Be a Republican or a Democrat?
USCCB, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (updated regularly) Gun Violence Prevention
USCCB, Open Wide Our Hearts (2018) Segregation & Modern America
USCCB, Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love (2018) Racial Justice
USCCB, Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration (2000) Death Penalty & Criminal Justice
Vatican II, Dignitatis Humanae (1965) Religious Nationalism
Vatican, Dignitas Infinita (2024) LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Vatican, Fiducia Supplicans (2023) LGBTQ+ Inclusion

Early Church, Philosophy & History 8

Archbishop James Ussher, Annales Veteris Testamenti (1650) Creationism, the Ark Encounter & the Young Earth
Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (413–426 CE) Free Choice, the Snake & Original Sin
Martin Luther King Jr., "Letter from Birmingham Jail" (1963) Segregation & Modern America
Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963) The Constitution Is Not Scripture
Robert Bellah, Civil Religion in America (1967) The Branded Bible & Political Religion
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II Q. 64 (on the Principle of Double Effect) Reproductive Rights & Bodily Autonomy
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to James Madison (September 6, 1789) The Constitution Is Not Scripture
Thomas Paine, Common Sense (1776) "Common Sense" and the Gospel That Had None

Other Sources 13