Library of Congress Classification:Class B -- Philosophy, Psychology, Religion

Last updated July 07, 2025

Class B: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion is a classification used by the Library of Congress Classification system. This article outlines the subclasses of Class B.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

B - Philosophy (General)
BC - Logic
BD - Speculative philosophy
BF - Psychology
BH - Aesthetics
BJ - Ethics
BL - Religions. Mythology. Rationalism
BM - Judaism
BP - Islam. Baháʼí Faith. Theosophy
BQ - Buddhism
BR - Christianity
BS - The Bible
BT - Doctrinal Theology
BV - Practical Theology
BX - Christian Denominations
References
Further reading

B - Philosophy (General)

69-99..........General works

108-5802.......By period (including individual philosophers and schools of philosophy)

108-708.......Ancient

720-765.......Medieval

770-785.......Renaissance

790-5802......Modern

808-849........Special topics and schools of philosophy

850-5739.......By region or country

5800-5802......By religion

BC - Logic

11-39......History

25-39.....By Period

60-99......General works

171-199....Special topics

BD - Speculative philosophy

10-41..........General philosophical works

95-131.........Metaphysics

143-237........Epistemology. Theory of knowledge

240-260........Methodology

300-450........Ontology (including being, the soul, life, death)

493-701........Cosmology (including teleology, space and time, structure of matter, plurality of worlds)

BF - Psychology

1-990.......Psychology

38-64..........Philosophy, Relation to other topics

173-175.5......Psychoanalysis

176-176.5......Psychological tests and testing

180-198.7......Experimental psychology

203............Gestalt psychology

207-209........Psychotropic drugs and other substances

231-299........Sensation, Aesthesiology

309-499........Consciousness, Cognition (including learning, attention, comprehension, memory, imagination, genius, intelligence, thought and thinking, psycholinguistics, mental fatigue)

501-505........Motivation

511-593........Affection, Feeling, Emotion

608-635........Will, Volition, Choice, Control

636-637........Applied psychology

638-648........New Thought, Menticulture, etc.

660-685........Comparative psychology, Animal and human psychology

692-692.5......Psychology of sex, Sexual behavior

697-697.5......Differential psychology. Individuality. Self

698-698.9......Personality

699-711........Genetic psychology

712-724.85.....Developmental psychology (including infant psychology, child psychology, adolescence, adulthood)

795-839........Temperament. Character

839.8-885......Physiognomy. Phrenology

889-905........Graphology. Study of handwriting

908-940........The hand. Palmistry

1001-1389.......Parapsychology

1001-1045......Psychic research. Psychology of the conscious

1048-1108......Hallucinations. Sleep. Dreaming. Visions.

1111-1156......Hypnotism. Suggestion. Mesmerism. Subliminal projection

1161-1171......Telepathy. Mind reading. Thought transference

1228-1389......Spiritualism (including mediumship, spirit messages, clairvoyance)

1404-2055.......Occult sciences

1444-1486......Ghosts. Apparitions. Hauntings

1501-1562......Demonology. Satanism. Possession

1562.5-1584....Witchcraft

1585-1623......Magic. Hermetics. Necromancy

1651-1729......Astrology

1745-1779......Oracles. Sibyls. Divinations

1783-1815......Seers. Prophets. Prophecies

1845-1891......Fortune-telling

2050-2055......Human-alien encounters. Contact between humans and extraterrestrials.

BH - Aesthetics

81-208.....History

301........Special topics

BJ - Ethics

1-1725........Ethics

71-1185.........History and general works. (Including individual ethical philosophers.)

1188-1295.......Religious ethics

1298-1335.......Evolutionary and genetic ethics

1365-1385.......Positivist ethics

1388............Socialist ethics

1390-1390.5.....Communist ethics

1392............Totalitarian ethics

1395............Feminist ethics

1518-1697.......Individual ethics. Character. Virtue. (Including practical and applied ethics, conduct of life, vices, success, ethics for children.)

1725............Ethics of social groups, classes, etc. Professional ethics.

1801-2195......Social usages. Etiquette.

2021-2078.......Etiquette of entertaining

2139-2156.......Etiquette of travel

2195............Telephone etiquette

BL - Religions. Mythology. Rationalism

1-50...................Religion (General)

51-65..................Philosophy of religion. Psychology of religion. Religion in relation to other subjects.

70-71..................Sacred books (General)

71.5-73................Biography

74-99..................Religions of the world.

175-265................Natural Theology

175-190...............General

200...................Theism

205-216...............Nature and attributes of Deity

217...................Polytheism

218...................Dualism

220...................Pantheism

221...................Monotheism

224-227...............Creation. Theory of the earth.

239-265...............Religion and science

270....................Unity and plurality

290....................The soul

300-325................The myth. Comparative mythology

350-385................Classification of religions

410....................Religions in relation to one another

425-490................Religious doctrines (General)

430...................Origins of religion

435-457...............Nature worship

458...................Women in comparative religion

460...................Sex worship. Phallicism.

465-470...............Worship of human beings

473-490...............Other

500-547................Eschatology

550-619................Worship. Cultus.

624-629.5..............Religious life.

630-(632.5)............Religious organization

660-2680...............History and principles of religions

660...................Indo-European. Aryan.

685...................Ural-Altaic.

687...................Mediterranean region.

689-980...............European. Occidental

700-820..............Classical (Etruscan, Greek, Roman)

830-875..............Germanic and Norse

900-980..............Other European

1000-2370.............Asian. Oriental

1000-1035............General

1050-1060............By region

1100-1295............Hinduism

1100-1107.5.........General

1108.2-1108.7.......Religious education

1109.2-1109.7.......Antiquities. Archaeology. Inscriptions

1111-1143.2.........Sacred books. Sources

1112.2-1137.5......Vedic texts

1140.2-1140.4......Purānas

1141.2-1142.6......Tantric texts

1145-1146...........Hindu literature

1153.7-1168.........By region or country

1212.32-1215........Doctrines. Theology

1216-1225...........Hindu pantheon. Deities

1225.2-1243.58......Religious life

1243.72-1243.78.....Monasteries. Temples, etc.

1271.2-1295.........Modifications. Sects

1284.5-1289.592....Vaishnavism

1300-1380............Jainism

1310-1314.2.........Sacred books. Sources

1315-1317...........Jain literature

1375.3-1375.7.......Jain pantheon. Deities

1376-1378.85........Forms of worship

1379-1380...........Modifications, etc.

1500-1590............Zoroastrianism (Mazdeism). Parseeism

1595.................Yezidis

1600-1695............Semitic religions

1600-1605...........General

1610................Aramean

1615-1616...........Sumerian

1620-1625...........Assyro-Babylonian

1630................Chaldean

1635................Harranian. Pseudo-Sabian

1640-1645...........Syrian. Palestinian. Samaritan

1650................Hebrew. (For Judaism, see subclass BM)

1660-1665...........Phoenician. Carthaginian, etc.

1670-1672...........Canaanite

1675................Moabite. Philistine

1680-1685...........Arabian (except Islam)

1695................Druses

1710.................Ethiopian

1750-2350............By region or country

1790-1975...........China

1830-1883..........Confucianism

1899-1942.85.......Taoism

2000-2032...........India

2017-2018.7........Sikhism

2195-2228...........Japan

2216-2227.8........Shinto

2230-2240...........Korea

2390-2490.............African

2420-2460............Egyptian

2500-2592.............American. (For American Indians, see class E and class F)

2600-2630.............Pacific Ocean Islands. Oceania

2670..................Arctic regions

2700-2790..............Rationalism

BM - Judaism

1-449..........General

70-135..........Study and teaching

150-449..........History

201-449..........By region or country

480-488.8..........Pre-Talmudic Jewish literature (non-Biblical)

495-532............Sources of Jewish religion. Rabbinical literature

497-509..........Talmudic literature

497-497.8..........Mishnah

498-498.8..........Palestinian Talmud

499-504.7..........Babylonian Talmud

507-507.5..........Baraita

508-508.5..........Tosefta

510-518..........Midrash

520-523.7..........Halacha

525-526..........Cabala

529..........Jewish tradition

534-538..........Relation of Judaism to special subject fields

534-536..........Religions

545-582..........Principles of Judaism (General)

585-585.4..........Controversial works against the Jews

590-591..........Jewish works against Christianity and Islam

600-645..........Dogmatic Judaism

646..........Heresy, heresies

648..........Apologetics

650-747..........Practical Judaism

651-652.7..........Priests, rabbis, etc.

653-653.7..........Congregations. Synagogues

654-655.6..........The tabernacle. The temple

656-657..........Forms of worship

660-679..........Liturgy and ritual

690-695..........Festivals and fasts

700-720..........Rites and customs

723-729..........Jewish way of life. Spiritual life. Mysticism. Personal religion. Moral theology

730-747..........Preaching. Homiletics

750-755..........Biography

900-990..........Samaritans

BP - Islam. Baháʼí Faith. Theosophy

1-253......Islam

1-68.......General

42-48......Study and teaching

60-68......History

70-80......Biography

75-77.75.......................Muhammad, Prophet

87-89......Islamic literature

100-157..Sacred books

100-134......Quran

128.15-129.83...... Special parts and chapters

130-134..................Works about the Quran

135-136.9....Hadith literature. Traditions. Sunna

137-136.9....Koranic and other Islamic legends

160-165.......General works on Islam

165.5...........Dogma (ʻAqā̓id)

166-166.94..Theology (Kalām)

167.5............Heresy, heresies, heretics

168................Apostasy from Islam

169.................Works against Islam and the Koran

170................Works in defense of Islam. Islamic apologetics

170.2.........Benevolent work. Social work. Welfare work, etc...

170.3-170.5..Missionary work of Islam

171-173.........Relation of Islam to other religions

173.25-173.45..Islamic sociology

174-190............The practice of Islam

176-181..........The five duties of a Muslim. Five Pillars of Islam.

182..................Jihad (Holy war)

184-184.9........Religious ceremonies, rites, etc...

186-186.97......Special days and seasons, fasts, feasts, festival, etc. Relics

187-187.9........Shrines, sacred places, etc.

188-190...........Islamic religious life

188.2-188.3........Devotional literature

188.45-189.65.....Sufism. Mysticism. Dervishes

189.68-189.7.......Monasticism

191-253...........Branches, sects, etc

192-194.9.......Shiites

221-223...........Black muslims

232...................Moorish Science Temple of America

251-253............Nurculuk

300-395.....Bahai [ sic ] Faith

500-585.....Theosophy

595-597......Anthroposophy

600-610......Other beliefs and movements

BQ - Buddhism

1-10..........Periodicals. Yearbooks (General)

12-93..........Societies, councils, associations, clubs, etc.

96-99..........Financial institutions. Trusts

100-102..........Congresses. Conferences (General)

104-105..........Directories (General)

107-109..........Museums. Exhibitions

115-126..........General collections. Collected works

128..........Encyclopedias (General)

130..........Dictionaries (General)

133..........Terminology

135..........Questions and answers. Maxims (General)

141-209..........Religious education (General)

210-219..........Research

221-249..........Antiquities. Archaeology

240-244..........Literary discoveries

246-249..........Inscriptions, etc.

251-799..........History

800-829..........Persecutions

840-999..........Biography

840-858..........Collective

860-999..........Individual

860-939..........Gautama Buddha

940-999..........Other

1001-1045..........Buddhist literature

1100-3340..........Tripitaka (Canonical literature)

4000-4060..........General works

4061-4570..........Doctrinal and systematic Buddhism

4180-4565..........Special doctrines

4570..........Special topics and relations to special subjects

4600-4610..........Relation to other religious and philosophical systems

4620-4905..........Buddhist Pantheon

4911-5720..........Practice of Buddhism. Forms of worship

4965-5030..........Ceremonies and rites. Ceremonial rules

5035-5065..........Hymns. Chants. Recitations

5070-5075..........Altar, liturgical objects, ornaments, memorials, etc.

5080-5085..........Vestments, altar cloths, etc.

5090-5095..........Liturgical functions

5100-5125..........Symbols and symbolism

5130-5137..........Temple. Temple organization

5140-5355..........Buddhist ministry. Priesthood. Organization

5251-5305..........Education and training

5310-5350..........Preaching

5360-5680..........Religious life

5485-5530..........Precepts for laymen

5535-5594..........Devotional literature. Meditations. Prayers

5595-5633..........Devotion. Meditation. Prayer

5635-5675..........Spiritual life. Mysticism. Englightenment. Perfection

5700-5720..........Festivals. Days and seasons

5725-5845..........Folklore

5821-5845..........Miracle literature

5851-5899..........Benevolent work. Social work. Welfare work, etc.

5901-5975..........Missionary work

6001-6160..........Monasticism and monastic life Samgha (Order)

6200-6240..........Asceticism. Hermits. Wayfaring life

6300-6388..........Monasteries. Temples. Shrines. Sites

6400-6495..........Pilgrims and pilgrimages

7001-9800..........Modifications, schools, etc.

7100-7285..........Theravāda (Hinayana) Buddhism

7300-7529..........Mahayana Buddhism

7530-7950..........Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism)

7960-7989..........Bonpo (Sect)

8000-9800..........Special modifications, sects, etc.

8500-8769..........Pure Land Buddhism

8900-9099..........Tantric Buddhism

9250-9519..........Zen Buddhism

BR - Christianity

60-67..........Early Christian literature. Fathers of the Church, etc.

115..........Christianity in relation to special subjects

130-133.5..........Christian antiquities. Archaeology. Museums

140-1510..........History of Christianity

160-481..........By period

160-275..........Early and medieval

280..........Renaissance. Renaissance and Reformation

290-481..........Modern period

323.5-334.2..........Martin Luther

500-1510..........By region or country

1600-1609..........Persecution. Martyrs

1609.5..........Dissent

1610..........Tolerance and toleration

1615-1617..........Liberalism

1620..........Sacrilege (History)

1690-1725..........Biography

BS - The Bible

11-115 Early versions

125-355 Modern texts and versions

125-198 English

199-313 Other European languages

315-355 Non

325 African languages

335 Languages of Oceania and Australasia

345 American Indian languages

350 Mixed languages

355 Artificial languages

410-680 Works about the Bible

500-534.8 Criticism and interpretation

535-537 The Bible as literature

546-558 Bible stories. Paraphrases of Bible stories. The Bible story

569-580 Men, women, and children of the Bible

580 Individual Old Testament characters

585-613 Study and teaching

647-649 Prophecy

650-667 Bible and science

670-672 Bible and social sciences

701-1830 Old Testament

705-815 Early versions

825-1013 Modern texts and versions

1091-1099 Selections. Quotations

1110-1199 Works about the Old Testament

1160-1191.5 Criticism and interpretation

1200-1830 Special parts of the Old Testament

1901-2970 New Testament

1937-2020 Early texts and versions

2025-2213 Modern texts and versions

2260-2269 Selections. Quotations

2280-2545 Works about the New Testament

2350-2393 Criticism and interpretation

2415-2417 The teachings of Jesus

2430-2520 Men, women, and children of the New Testament

2525-2544 Study and teaching

2547-2970 Special parts of the New Testament

2640-2765.6 Epistles of Paul

BT - Doctrinal Theology

19-37 Doctrine and dogma

93-93.6 Judaism

95-97.2 Divine law. Moral government

98-180 God

109-115 Doctrine of the Trinity

117-123 Holy Spirit. The Paraclete

126-127.5 Revelation

130-153 Divine attributes

198-590 Christology

296-500 Life of Christ

580 Miracles. Apparitions. Shrines, sanctuaries, images, processions, etc.

587 Relics

595-680 Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ. Mariology

650-660 Miracles. Apparitions. Shrines, sanctuaries, images, processions, etc.

695-749 Creation

750-811 Salvation. Soteriology

819-891 Eschatology. Last things

899-940 Future state. Future life

960-985 Invisible world (saints, demons, etc.)

990-1010 Creeds, confessions, covenants, etc.

1029-1040 Catechisms

1095-1255 Apologetics. Evidences of Christianity

1313-1480 History of specific doctrines and movements. Heresies and schisms

BV - Practical Theology

5-530 Worship (Public and private)

30-135 Times and seasons. The Church year

43-64 Feast days

65-70 Saints' days

80-105 Fasts

107-133 Lord's Day. Sunday. Sabbath

150-168 Christian symbols and symbolism

169-199 Liturgy and ritual

200 Family worship

205-287 Prayer

301-530 Hymnology

360-465 Denominational and special types of hymnbooks in English

467-510 Hymns in languages other than English

590-1652 Ecclesiastical theology

598-603 The Church

629-631 Church and state

637-637.5 City churches

638-638.8 The rural church. The church and country life

646-651 Church polity

652-652.9 Church management. Efficiency

652.95-657 Mass media and telecommunication in religion

659-683 Ministry. Clergy. Religious vocations

700-707 Parish. Congregation. The local church

770-777 Church finance. Church property

800-873 Sacraments. Ordinances

803-814 Baptism

823-828 Holy Communion. Lord's Supper. Eucharist

835-838 Marriage

840-850 Penance

895-896 Shrines. Holy places

900-1450 Religious societies, associations, etc.

950-1280 Religious societies of men, brotherhoods, etc.

1000-1220 Young Men's Christian Associations

1300-1395 Religious societies of women

1300-1393 Young Women's Christian Associations

1460-1615 Religious education (General)

1620-1652 Social life, recreation, etc., in the church

2000-3705 Missions

2123-2595 Special churches

2130-2300 Roman Catholic Church

2350-2595 Protestant churches

2610-2695 Special types of missions

2750-3695 Missions in individual countries

3750-3799 Evangelism. Revivals

4000-4470 Pastoral theology

4019-4180 Education

4019-4167 Training for the ordained ministry

4168-4180 Training for lay workers

4200-4317 Preaching. Homiletics

4239-4317 Sermons

4390-4399 Personal life of the clergy

4400-4470 Practical church work. Social work. Work of the layman

4485-5099 Practical religion. The Christian life

4520-4526.2 Religious duties

4625-4780 Moral theology

4625-4627 Sins and vices

4630-4647 Virtues

4650-4715 Precepts from the Bible

4720-4780 Precepts of the Church. Commandments of the Church

4800-4897 Works of meditation and devotion

4900-4911 Works of consolation and cheer

4912-4950 Conversion literature

5015-5068 Asceticism

5070-5095 Mysticism

5099 Quietism

BX - Christian Denominations

1-9.5 Church unity. Ecumenical movement. Interdenominational cooperation

100-189 Eastern churches. Oriental churches

100-107 General

120-129 Armenian Church

130-139 Coptic Church

140-149 Ethiopic or Abyssinian Church

150-159 Nestorian, Chaldean, or East Syrian Church

160-169 St. Thomas Christians. Malabar Christians. Mar Thoma Syrian Church

170-179 Syrian or Jacobite Church

180-189 Maronite Church

200-756 Orthodox Eastern Church

200-395 General

400-756 Divisions of the church

400-440 Patriarchates of the East. Melchites

450-450.93 Church of Cyprus

460-605 Russian Church

610-620 Church of Greece

630-639 Orthodox Church in Austria and Hungary

650-659 Bulgarian Church

660-669 Georgian Church

670-679 Montenegrin Church

690-699 Romanian Church

710-719 Serbian Church. Yugoslav Church

720-729 Orthodox Eastern Church, Macedonian

729.5 Orthodox Eastern Church, Ukrainian

729.9-755 Orthodox Church in other regions or countries

800-4795 Catholic Church

800-839 Periodicals. Societies, councils, congresses, etc.

840 Museums. Exhibitions

841 Dictionaries. Encyclopedias

845 Directories. Yearbooks

847 Atlases

850-875 Documents

880-891 General collected works

895-939 Study and teaching

940-1745 History. Including lives of popes

1746-1755 Theology. Doctrine. Dogmatics

1756 Sermons

1760-1779.5 Controversial works

1781-1788 Catholic Church and other churches

1790-1793 Catholic Church and the state

1800-1920 Government and organization

1958-1968 Creeds and catechisms

1969 Forms of worship. Catholic practice

1970-2175 Liturgy and ritual

2050-2175 Prayers and devotions

2177-2198 Meditations. Devotional readings. Spiritual exercises, etc.

2200-2292 Sacraments

2295-2310 Sacramentals

2312 Images

2315-2324 Relics. Shrines. Pilgrimages. Processions

2325-2333 Saints. Hagiology

2347-2377 Practical religion. Christian life

2380-2386 Religious life. Religious state

2400-4563 Monasticism. Religious orders

2890-4192 Religious orders of men

4200-4563 Religious orders of women

4600-4644 Churches, cathedrals, abbeys (as parish churches), etc.

4650-4705 Biography and portraits

4650-4698 Collective

4654-4662 Saints and martyrs

4700-4705 Individual

4700 Saints

4710.1-4715.95 Eastern churches in communion with Rome. Catholics of the Oriental rites. Uniats

4716.4-4795 Dissenting sects other than Protestant

4718.5-4735 Jansenists

4737 French schisms of the 19th century

4740 German Catholics

4751-4793 Old Catholics

4793.5-4794.25 Independent Catholic Churches

4795 Other

4800-9999 Protestantism

4800-4861 General

4872-4924 Pre-Reformation

4872-4893 Waldenses and Albigenses

4900-4906 Lollards. Wycliffites

4913-4924 Hussites

4920-4924 Bohemian Brethren

4929-4951 Post-Reformation

4929-4946 Anabaptists

4950-4951 Plain People

5001-5009 Anglican Communion (General)

5011-5207 Church of England

5011-5050 General

5051-5110 History. Local divisions

5115-5126 Special parties and movements

5127-5129.8 Church of England and other churches

5130-5132 General

5133 Sermons. Tracts. Addresses. Essays

5135-5136 Controversial works

5137-5139 Creeds and catechisms, etc.

5140.5-5147 Liturgy and ritual

5148-5149 Sacraments

5150-5182.5 Government. Organization. Discipline

5183-5187 Religious communities. Conventual life. Religious societies

5194-5195 Cathedrals, churches, etc. in England and Wales

5197-5199 Biography

5200-5207 Dissent and nonconformity

5210-5395 Episcopal Church in Scotland

5410-5595 Church of Ireland

5596-5598 Church in Wales

5600-5740 Church of England outside of Great Britain

5601-5620 Anglican Church of Canada

5800-5995 Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America

5996-6030 Protestant Episcopal Church outside the United States

6051-6093 Reformed Episcopal Church

6101-9999 Other Protestant denominations (Alphabetical; only larger denominations listed. The subarrangement is essentially the same for each sect, the primary features being indicated by way of example under Baptists)

6101-6193 Adventists. "Millerites"

6195-6197 Arminians. Remonstrants

6201-6495 Baptists

6201-6227 General

6231-6328 History. By region or country

6329 Baptists relations with other churches

6330-6331 Doctrine

6332 Addresses, essays, lectures

6333 Sermons. Tracts

6334 Controversial works

6335-6336 Creeds. Catechisms

6337 Service. Ritual. Liturgy