European Society for the Study of Religions

European Society for the Study of Religions
Name	European Society for the Study of Religions
Abbreviation	ESSR
Formation	1960s
Type	Learned society
Region	Europe
Membership	Scholars

European Society for the Study of Religions is a pan‑European learned society that brings together scholars of religion from across France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and beyond, operating alongside organizations such as American Academy of Religion, International Association for the History of Religions, International Society for Folk Narrative Research, World Council of Churches, and European Association of Social Anthropologists. It serves as a nodal institution in networks connecting research centers like the Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Max Planck Society, University of Oxford, Humboldt University of Berlin, and University of Bologna while participating in collaborative projects with funders such as the European Commission and foundations like the Wellcome Trust and the Horizon Europe programme.

History

The society originated during postwar scholarly consolidation when scholars linked to institutions such as Sorbonne University, University of Cambridge, University of Leiden, University of Oslo, and University of Copenhagen sought coordination similar to initiatives by UNESCO, Council of Europe, and the British Academy. Early meetings featured contributors associated with figures like Mircea Eliade, Wilhelm Schmidt, Émile Durkheim, Max Müller, and Sigrid Undset and drew on disciplinary currents from phenomenology, comparative religion, and debates that engaged journals like Numen, Religion, and Journal of the American Academy of Religion. Over successive decades the society adapted to intellectual shifts prompted by conferences in cities such as Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid, and Stockholm and by broader transformations tied to events including the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the expansion of the European Union, and the Bologna reforms associated with European Higher Education Area.

Mission and Objectives

The society's mission emphasizes scholarly exchange among specialists in areas represented by institutions such as Princeton University, Harvard University, Utrecht University, University of Vienna, and Trinity College Dublin while aligning with professional standards promoted by bodies like the Royal Historical Society and the European Science Foundation. Its objectives include fostering comparative work on traditions exemplified by Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and indigenous traditions studied at centers like the School of Oriental and African Studies and encouraging interdisciplinary projects linking to archives such as the Vatican Archives and museums including the British Museum. The society supports methodological pluralism that engages authors and theorists recognized by publishers like Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Routledge, and Brill.

Membership and Organization

Membership comprises academics, early career researchers, and institutional affiliates from universities such as University of Edinburgh, Leiden University, LMU Munich, University of Warsaw, and University of Barcelona as well as research institutes like the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris, Max Weber Foundation, and the European University Institute. Governance typically mirrors models used by the Royal Society, Academia Europaea, and national academies in Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, and Poland with elected officers, an executive committee, and standing committees responsible for finance, ethics, and publications. Membership categories often reflect career stages comparable to those in European Research Council grants and involve affiliation with networks including the European Consortium for Church and State Research and the Association for the Sociology of Religion.

Conferences and Events

The society organizes biennial and annual conferences hosted in cities such as Lisbon, Vienna, Prague, Athens, and Dublin with keynote speakers drawn from faculties at King's College London, University of St Andrews, University of Helsinki, University of Zurich, and Charles University. Events frequently feature panels that intersect with themes found at meetings of European Sociological Association, International Political Science Association, International Communication Association, and museums like the Rijksmuseum and the Museo Nacional del Prado when public engagement is central. Special symposia have been convened in collaboration with archives and libraries including the British Library, Bibliothèque nationale de France, and the Vatican Library and sometimes coincide with thematic projects funded by initiatives such as Horizon 2020 and networks like the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

Publications and Research Activities

The society oversees publication series and collaborates with academic presses such as Brill, Routledge, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, and journals including Numen, Religion, Journal of Religion in Europe, Method & Theory in the Study of Religion, and Entangled Religions. Research activities include edited volumes, monographs, and special journal issues that engage case studies from regions represented by universities like University of Sarajevo, Eötvös Loránd University, University of Belgrade, Moscow State University, and University of Istanbul. Collaborative projects have intersected with digital humanities initiatives at institutions such as King's College London Digital Humanities, Max Planck Digital Library, and consortia including the European Research Infrastructure Consortium.

Awards and Recognition

The society grants awards and prizes recognizing contributions by scholars affiliated with departments at University of Cambridge, Yale University, Columbia University, University of Leiden, and University of Groningen and honors work that has also been recognized by prizes such as the Kluge Prize, Rolf Schock Prizes, and national awards administered by academies in France and Germany. Award categories often parallel those of the British Academy and Academia Europaea and celebrate lifetime achievement, early career scholarship, and outstanding monographs published with presses including Oxford University Press and Brill; laureates have held visiting chairs at institutions such as Princeton University, Harvard University, and the European University Institute.

Category:Learned societies