Why do the names of religious texts not receive a treatment—italics, underlines, etc—to make them stand out among other text in the same manner that is done with other written works?
Good question. Chicago's only comment about setting anything religious is "The editors of the University of Chicago Press urge a spare, down style in this field as in others: capitalize what are clearly proper nouns and adjectives, and lowercase everything else except to avoid ambiguity." (Section 7.77)
In a discussion of religious writings in particular (7.87), their dictum is "Capitalize names--and use roman type--for the Judeo-Christian Bible and its versions and editions:..." Also further on in that section is the same reco for books or other sacred works (such as the Dead Sea Scrols or the Talmud).
5 Dec 2006 — 1:00pm
Good question. Chicago's only comment about setting anything religious is "The editors of the University of Chicago Press urge a spare, down style in this field as in others: capitalize what are clearly proper nouns and adjectives, and lowercase everything else except to avoid ambiguity." (Section 7.77)
In a discussion of religious writings in particular (7.87), their dictum is "Capitalize names--and use roman type--for the Judeo-Christian Bible and its versions and editions:..." Also further on in that section is the same reco for books or other sacred works (such as the Dead Sea Scrols or the Talmud).