The American Academy of Religion (AAR) is the world's largest association of scholars in the field of religious studies

Religious studies

Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...

 and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association,
serving as a professional and learned society for scholars involved in the academic study of religion. It has some 10,000 members world-wide, with the largest concentration being in the United States and Canada. AAR members are university and college professors, independent scholars, secondary teachers, clergy, seminarians, students, and interested lay-people.

History

It was founded in 1909 as the Association of Biblical Instructors in American Colleges and Secondary Schools. The name was changed to National Association of Biblical Instructors (NABI) in 1933. The American Academy of Religion was adopted as the organization name in 1963 to reflect its broader, inclusive mission to foster the academic study of all religions.

Publications

AAR publishes the Journal of the American Academy of Religion

Journal of the American Academy of Religion

The Journal of the American Academy of Religion is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Academy of Religion...

, generally recognized as the premier academic journal in the field of religious studiesReligious Studies News is the quarterly newspaper of record for the organization; it transitioned from a print to online-only publication in 2010. AAR publishes five book series through Oxford University Press: Academy; Reflection and Theory in the Study of Religion; Religion, Culture, and Theory; Religion in Translation; and Teaching Religious Studies. AAR presents awards each year to notable books in the study of religion. It offers three categories of Awards for Excellence: Analytical-Descriptive Studies, Historical Studies, and Constructive-Reflective Studies.

Annual Meeting

AAR hosts an Annual Meeting each year in November. The AAR Annual Meeting is the world's largest meeting for religious studies scholars. Over 400 events, including meetings, receptions, and academic sessions, occur on the AAR program alone; hundreds more, hosted by affiliated societies and institutions, occur over the course of the meeting. Some 10,000 people attend the AAR Annual Meeting; the location of the meeting changes each year. The AAR Annual Meeting program is developed entirely by volunteers involved in program units representing disciplines and sub-disciplines within the field.

Other Activities

AAR offers activities on a regional level for its members. Professional development resources such as research grants, career services, and scholarships are some of the benefits offer to members. AAR also tries to advocate the importance of the critical study of religion on institutional and national levels.

External links

Book Award Recipients: http://www.aarweb.org/Programs/Awards/Book_Awards/default.asp

• Official website