How We Source

Our Sourcing Philosophy

ReligionCompare is built on a simple principle: every factual claim must be backed by a verifiable citation. We do not present opinions, personal interpretations, or unsourced assertions as facts. Our goal is to be the most trustworthy comparative religion resource on the internet.

Source Tiers

We classify all sources into three reliability tiers:

  • Primary Sources — Sacred texts, official doctrinal documents, catechisms, and authoritative religious bodies. Examples: the Quran, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Guru Granth Sahib, Pali Canon.
  • Secondary Sources — Peer-reviewed academic publications, university press books, established encyclopedias (Britannica, Oxford), and major research institutions (Pew Research Center). These interpret and analyze primary sources.
  • Tertiary Sources — Reputable journalistic outlets, educational websites, and well-sourced reference materials. Used sparingly and only when primary/secondary sources are unavailable.

The Atomic Claim Model

Rather than writing long narrative articles, we break religious information into atomic claims — individual, verifiable factual statements. Each claim is:

  • A single, clear factual statement
  • Linked to one or more citations with page numbers or URLs
  • Categorized (beliefs, practices, history, demographics, ethics, sacred texts)
  • Attributed to a specific religion or denomination
  • Reviewed by editors before publication

This model allows for precise comparisons and makes it easy to verify any individual piece of information.

Editorial Review Process

  1. Research — Claims are drafted from primary and secondary sources by trained editors.
  2. Citation — Every claim is linked to at least one verifiable source with specific page numbers, URLs, or section references.
  3. Peer Review — A second editor reviews the claim for accuracy, neutrality, and proper citation.
  4. Publication — Approved claims are published with full citation metadata visible to users.
  5. Ongoing Review — Published claims are periodically reviewed and updated as new scholarship emerges.

Handling Disagreements

Religious traditions are diverse and interpretations vary. When sources disagree, we:

  • Present the majority scholarly view as the primary claim
  • Note significant minority views or denominational differences
  • Cite sources for all perspectives presented
  • Never present one interpretation as "correct" over another

Report an Error

If you find an inaccuracy, missing citation, or biased presentation, please let us know. You can use the Corrections & Feedback forum or email us at corrections@religioncompare.com. We take all reports seriously and respond within 48 hours.