Sacred texts include the Bible (Christianity), The Vedas and The Upanishads (Hinduism), The Quran and The Hadiths (Islam), Tanakh and the Talmud (Judaism).
When using online bibles, such as Bible Gateway, use one of the following Catholic versions:
In Citemaker choose Internet > Website as the source type. You will then need to treat the Pope as an organisation author, enter the name of the encyclical or message as the website page title and add [Encyclical Letter] or [Message] in square brackets. Example:
John Paul II. (1995). Evangelium vitae [Encyclical letter]. Retrieved from http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae.html
In-text Citation Structure : Book Chapter:Verse/s, Version, Dates
Indicate which version of the sacred text you are quoting for the first reference, after that do not include the version unless you use a different version. Also, if known, include the first publication date along with the publication date of the edition you are using. In the example below, The New American Bible was first published in 1970, the edition used was published in 2011. These dates are represented at the end of the citation with the earlier date first. You may need to research when the version was first published. If the original publication date is unknown, leave this date out. Enter the source into Citemaker first, Citemaker > Reference > Religious (tick Internet if using an online bible). Remember, Citemaker will provide the in-text citation for you.
Example - Direct Quote
In Genesis 1:26, "God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth" (The New American Bible Revised Edition, 1970/2011).
Example - Paraphrasing
In Genesis 1:26 (The New American Bible Revised Edition, 1970/2011) God said that humans were ...
Reference list
Sacred texts are treated as books in a References list with the addition of the original publication date. Citemaker > Reference > Religious (tick Internet if using an online bible).
Example - Print
The New American Bible (Revised Edition). (2012). Harper Collins Publishers. (Original work published 1970).
Example - Online
New American Bible (Revised Edition). (2010). Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=genesis&version=NABRE (Original work published 1970).
Qur'an : In-text citations
Example
"O You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace. Do not follow in the footsteps of satan. He is an outright enemy to you" (Qur'an 2:208).
Example
According to the Qur'an 28:56, there is no compulsion to believe in Islam.
Use the Pope's name, year and the section number of the Encyclical letter in your text. See examples below:
Example
Pope John Paul II (1995) depicts the certainty of future immortality as casting new light on the mystery of suffering and death.
Example
"Quite different from this is the way of love and true mercy, which our common humanity calls for, and upon which faith in Christ the Redeemer, who died and rose again, sheds ever new light" (John Paul II, 1995).