In the social sciences, the ARDA is a premier online resource for and data.

: Scholars often discuss "Arda Marred," the idea that the world was corrupted by the dark lord Melkor, and the prophecy of "Arda Healed" (Arda Envinyanta), when the world will be restored. 2. The Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA)

: Its timeline is divided into major eras: the Years of the Lamps , the Years of the Trees , and the Years of the Sun . Tolkien intended Arda to be a fictionalized "prehistory" of our own Earth.

In the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, such as The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings , (Quenya for "Realm") is the name of the world itself.

: It provides free access to data on church membership, religious freedom, and demographics across different nations and regions.