Belief

Religious texts are among the earliest recorded literary creations, testament to the prevalence of spiritual belief throughout the world. These texts encompass inspirational tales, histories, songs, lamentations, aphorisms, and parables. Often beautifully composed and artistically rendered, they signify wide-ranging, profound human experiences, and express humanity’s relationship to the divine across civilizations and time periods.

Since its founding, the Library has actively acquired theological works that document the individual religious experience, as well as the history and social implications of sacred devotion. Many of the items on view here possess immense cultural significance and are rare or even unique. The collections represent religious and spiritual beliefs from around the world, though the holdings are primarily concentrated in the three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The works on view—just a few of many such treasures—celebrate not only the diversity of spiritual convictions but also the richness of the Library’s collections of religious texts and artifacts.

Please note when viewing in the gallery: some items listed here as "on view" have undergone page changes, or have been replaced by similar works from the same series, to preserve and maintain the valued artifacts in accordance with conservation guidelines.