Religious Research Association

Religious Research Association is a professional association for scholars and practitioners focused on empirical and theoretical study of religion and related social phenomena. The association connects researchers across disciplines including sociology, psychology, history, anthropology, and theology, fostering collaboration among members affiliated with institutions such as Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, University of Chicago, and Columbia University. It engages with topics that intersect with organizations and events like Pew Research Center, American Sociological Association, American Psychological Association, Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, and American Academy of Religion.

History

The association traces roots to post-World War II scholarly networks linked to figures associated with Edinburgh Missionary Conference, World Council of Churches, National Council of Churches, Vatican II, and research groups at universities including Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, Rutgers University, and Northwestern University. Early conferences featured contributors from institutions such as Columbia University Teachers College, Boston University, Emory University, University of Notre Dame, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Influential scholars connected to the association include those with ties to Peter Berger, Robert Bellah, Emile Durkheim-inspired lines at University of Paris, and later researchers associated with Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, and Cornell University. Over decades the association adapted to shifts highlighted by events like the Civil Rights Movement, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and the emergence of digital networks exemplified by Internet Archive-era dissemination.

Mission and Activities

The association's mission emphasizes empirical study and interdisciplinary dialogue, aligning with institutions and initiatives such as National Science Foundation, Social Science Research Council, John Templeton Foundation, Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Activities encompass collaborative projects with organizations like Pew Research Center, Gallup, RAND Corporation, Brookings Institution, and Hoover Institution. Programming often engages themes resonant with policy forums at United Nations, European Union, World Bank, and conferences connected to American Political Science Association, Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, and International Sociological Association.

Publications and Conferences

The association publishes peer-reviewed material and organizes annual meetings drawing presenters affiliated with journals and presses including Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Sociology of Religion, Religion, State & Society, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Routledge, and Brill. Conferences have hosted keynote speakers linked to Princeton University Press authors, contributors associated with Harvard Divinity School, Yale Divinity School, Vanderbilt University, McGill University, Toronto School of Theology, and research centers such as Harvard Kennedy School, Berkman Klein Center, Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Proceedings and symposia frequently engage topics parallel to scholarship from Michaelson Prize recipients, winners of the Guggenheim Fellowship, MacArthur Fellows Program awardees, and laureates of the National Humanities Medal.

Organizational Structure and Membership

Governance follows a board-and-officer model with elected roles mirrored in professional organizations such as American Association for the Advancement of Science, Association of American Universities, Council of American Overseas Research Centers, and Society for Applied Anthropology. Membership comprises faculty, graduate students, independent scholars, and practitioners affiliated with universities and institutions like Oxford University, Cambridge University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, King's College London, London School of Economics, University of Edinburgh, Trinity College Dublin, Heidelberg University, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Tokyo, National University of Singapore, University of Melbourne, and Australian National University. Committees coordinate with groups such as AAAS sections, editorial boards at SAGE Publications, and grant panels at Wellcome Trust and European Research Council.

Research Impact and Contributions

Research fostered by the association has influenced scholarship and policy discussions linked to reports by Pew Research Center, analyses cited in Congressional Research Service briefs, and amicus filings in cases before courts such as the Supreme Court of the United States. Scholarly output has intersected with debates involving institutions and topics like pluralism dialogues at Interfaith Youth Core, social capital studies influenced by Robert Putnam-related work at Harvard Kennedy School, and demographic analyses comparable to projects by U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics Canada, and Eurostat. Contributions include empirical studies informing curricula at seminaries like Princeton Theological Seminary and policy recommendations used by think tanks including American Enterprise Institute, Center for American Progress, and Heritage Foundation.

Category:Scholarly societies