The Methodology of Introduction Sections in Certain Bibliographies on Religious Orders and Doctrines: An Analytical Study

Abstract

This study analyzes introduction sections in selected bibliographies on religious orders, ideologies, and doctrines. This paper, however, makes no emphasis on the ideological content in these bibliographies, but rather, on the formal and technical presentation of these introduction sections. A preliminary observation of some of these introduction sections shows that some introductions are detailed, others are summaries, and some others are in-between. To realize how introduction sections were composed in these bibliographies, the paper sets three key aims; how these introduction sections were composed, why certain introduction sections are different, and what methodologies were followed in such composition. Undoubtedly, the authors’ ideologies have affected the way these introduction sections were composed. As early as the 900s-1000s A.D., many works were authored on religious ideologies and orders across the Arab and Muslim territories, at times when politically motivated and unmotivated religious and sectarian disagreements were high. The bibliographies, therefore, authored at that time on sects, orders, and religions reflected the author-specific attitudes towards that religion or this order.