Themes
One theme, every tradition: the passages that speak most closely to it in each scripture, side by side, and the Library’s books that echo it. Study guides, quizzes and lesson plans built on these are coming.
The passages are found by comparing meaning (the same method as the cross references), not chosen by hand, so some will fit better than others. Each theme’s one-line description was written with AI.
Love and mercy
- ForgivenessForgiving those who wrong us, pardon of sins, letting go of resentment and revenge, being forgiven.15 traditions · 8 books
- Mercy and compassionMercy, compassion and kindness toward the suffering; pity for the weak; tender care for others.14 traditions · 8 books
- LoveLove for others, for one's neighbour and for God; love that is patient, kind and gives itself.16 traditions · 8 books
- Loving enemiesReturning good for evil, loving and blessing one's enemies, not repaying hatred with hatred.15 traditions · 8 books
- Hospitality and the strangerWelcoming the stranger, the guest and the foreigner; giving food and shelter to travellers.8 traditions · 8 books
- Giving and charityGiving to the poor, generosity, alms and sharing what one has with those in need.14 traditions · 8 books
- FriendshipTrue friendship, loyalty between friends, the value and duties of a faithful friend.15 traditions · 8 books
- Parents and childrenHonouring father and mother, raising children, the bond and duties between parents and children.11 traditions · 8 books
Right and wrong
- JusticeJustice and fairness, judging rightly, defending the oppressed, the righteous judge and just laws.14 traditions · 8 books
- Truth and honestySpeaking the truth, honesty, avoiding lies and deceit, the value of truthfulness.10 traditions · 8 books
- Pride and humilityPride goes before a fall; humility, the humble are raised up and the proud brought low.14 traditions · 8 books
- Greed and contentmentGreed and the love of money against contentment with little; desire that is never satisfied.11 traditions · 8 books
- Anger and patienceControlling anger, patience, being slow to wrath, calming rage and keeping one's temper.13 traditions · 8 books
- TemptationTemptation and resisting it, being led astray by desire, the struggle against sin and evil impulses.16 traditions · 8 books
- Envy and jealousyEnvy of others' good fortune, jealousy and coveting what belongs to one's neighbour.10 traditions · 8 books
- RepentanceTurning back from wrongdoing, remorse, confessing faults and starting again on the right path.15 traditions · 8 books
- Conscience and dutyThe inner voice of conscience, doing one's duty, moral law within, acting rightly when no one sees.13 traditions · 8 books
- The golden ruleDo to others as you would have them do to you; do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself.16 traditions · 8 books
Life and death
- SufferingWhy we suffer, pain and affliction, enduring hardship and grief, finding meaning in suffering.15 traditions · 8 books
- DeathDeath and dying, mortality, the shortness of life, facing one's own death without fear.14 traditions · 8 books
- AfterlifeWhat happens after death: heaven, the underworld, paradise, judgment of the dead, rebirth.12 traditions · 7 books
- Rebirth and karmaRebirth into new lives, karma, deeds that bear fruit in the next life, the cycle of birth and death.16 traditions · 8 books
- Grief and mourningMourning the dead, weeping and lament, comfort for those who grieve a loved one.16 traditions · 8 books
- Youth and old ageGrowing old, the strength of youth and the wisdom of age, the seasons of a life.11 traditions · 8 books
- Time and changeEverything passes, impermanence, a time for everything, the changing seasons and fleeting days.8 traditions · 5 books
- Fate and free willDestiny and fate, whether our lives are fixed or chosen, providence and human freedom.10 traditions · 7 books
God and the world
- CreationHow the world began, the creation of heaven and earth, the first light, the making of the first humans.16 traditions · 8 books
- The great floodA great flood that covers the earth, a boat or ark that saves a few, the waters going down.13 traditions · 8 books
- NatureThe beauty of nature, mountains, rivers, trees, animals and the sky; the natural world as a sign or teacher.15 traditions · 8 books
- The nature of GodWhat God is: one, eternal, all-powerful, beyond understanding, the source of all things.16 traditions · 8 books
- Doubt and questioningDoubting religion, questioning God's existence, reason against faith, scepticism about miracles and scripture.13 traditions · 8 books
- The problem of evilWhy a good God allows evil and suffering; the existence of evil in the world.15 traditions · 8 books
- Miracles and signsMiracles, wonders and signs: healing the sick, parting waters, the dead raised.13 traditions · 8 books
- Spirits, angels and demonsAngels, spirits, demons and gods who visit people, messengers from heaven, evil spirits.14 traditions · 8 books
- The end of the worldThe end of the world, the last days, final judgment, the destruction and renewal of all things.7 traditions · 8 books
The spiritual life
- PrayerPraying, calling on God, words addressed to the divine, asking, thanking and praising in prayer.15 traditions · 8 books
- Meditation and stillnessMeditation, stilling the mind, silence, contemplation and inner calm.9 traditions · 7 books
- The soulThe soul or self within: what it is, whether it is immortal, its relation to the body.15 traditions · 8 books
- Faith and trustFaith and trust in God, believing without seeing, relying on the divine in danger.13 traditions · 8 books
- GratitudeGiving thanks, gratitude for blessings received, praise for the good things of life.14 traditions · 8 books
- Fasting and self-denialFasting, giving up food and comforts, discipline of the body, ascetic practice.15 traditions · 5 books
- Sacrifice and offeringOfferings and sacrifices to God or the gods, burnt offerings, giving up something precious.16 traditions · 8 books
- Journey and pilgrimageA sacred journey, pilgrimage to a holy place, wandering in search of something.10 traditions · 8 books
- Desire and detachmentLetting go of desire and attachment, freedom from craving, equanimity in pleasure and pain.10 traditions · 8 books
- AwakeningEnlightenment and awakening, seeing reality as it is, liberation of the mind.9 traditions · 8 books
Wisdom and knowledge
- WisdomTrue wisdom, its worth above gold, the wise and the fool, how to gain understanding.16 traditions · 8 books
- Knowledge and learningStudy and learning, the pursuit of knowledge, teachers and students, books and instruction.9 traditions · 8 books
- Words and the tongueThe power of words, guarding the tongue, gossip and slander, speaking kindly and little.12 traditions · 8 books
- Know yourselfKnowing oneself, self-examination, the examined life, mastering oneself before others.12 traditions · 8 books
- HappinessWhat true happiness is, the good life, joy, contentment and peace of mind.13 traditions · 8 books
- Virtue and characterVirtue and good character, courage, temperance, self-control, the habits of a good person.15 traditions · 8 books
People together
- War and peaceWar and battle, violence and bloodshed, against peace, swords into ploughshares, making peace.10 traditions · 8 books
- Wealth and povertyThe rich and the poor, riches that do not last, the dignity of the poor, oppression by the wealthy.11 traditions · 8 books
- Kings and rulersKings, rulers and government; good and wicked rulers, power and its abuse, how to govern.11 traditions · 8 books
- Freedom and slaverySlavery and liberation, captives set free, bondage and freedom, the escape of an enslaved people.11 traditions · 8 books
- Exile and homelandExile from home, being driven out, longing for one's homeland, the return of exiles.10 traditions · 8 books
- Work and labourHonest work, labour and the fruits of toil, laziness and diligence, the dignity of work.7 traditions · 8 books
- MarriageHusband and wife, marriage and faithfulness, weddings, the love between spouses.13 traditions · 8 books
- WomenA wise and strong woman: a mother, daughter, queen or prophetess, her courage and her words, and how women are honoured.9 traditions · 8 books
- Law and commandmentsLaws and commandments, rules for living given to a people, keeping or breaking the law.17 traditions · 8 books
Images and symbols
- Light and darknessLight shining in darkness, day and night, light as truth and goodness, darkness as ignorance or evil.14 traditions · 8 books
- Water and riversLiving water: rivers and springs, rain on dry land, washing clean, the thirsty given water to drink.15 traditions · 8 books
- The sea and stormsSailing on the sea, storms and shipwreck, the deep ocean, calming the waves.10 traditions · 8 books
- Gardens, trees and harvestGardens, trees and seeds, sowing and harvest, fruit that a good tree bears.11 traditions · 8 books
- AnimalsAnimals and how to treat them: sheep and shepherds, lions, birds, serpents and beasts.14 traditions · 8 books
- Dreams and visionsDreams and visions, a vision in the night, interpreting dreams, prophecy given in sleep.13 traditions · 8 books
- Heroes and trialsA hero sets out on a great quest, faces danger with courage, fights a monster or a giant, and comes home victorious.10 traditions · 8 books