Journal of the American Academy of Religion

Journal of the American Academy of Religion is a quarterly academic journal published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Academy of Religion, an organization founded by George Foot Moore, Isaac Husik, and Elihu Grant. The journal is considered one of the premier publications in the field of religious studies, with a focus on comparative religion, theology, and philosophy of religion, often engaging with the work of scholars such as Rudolf Bultmann, Paul Tillich, and Mircea Eliade. The journal's contributors and editors have included prominent scholars like Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, David Tracy, and Wendy Doniger, who have written on topics ranging from biblical studies to Hinduism and Buddhism, often in dialogue with the ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, and Emmanuel Levinas.

● History

The journal was first published in 1933, with George Foot Moore as its first editor, and has since become a leading platform for scholars such as Wilfred Cantwell Smith, Robert Bellah, and Clifford Geertz to share their research on topics like Islamic studies, Jewish studies, and Christian theology, often in conversation with the work of Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Reinhold Niebuhr. Over the years, the journal has undergone several changes in editorial leadership, with notable editors including Langdon Gilkey, Gordon Kaufman, and Catherine Keller, who have shaped the journal's focus on ecumenism, interfaith dialogue, and feminist theology, engaging with the ideas of Rosemary Radford Ruether, Letty Russell, and Delores Williams. The journal has also published special issues on topics like religion and science, religion and politics, and religion and culture, featuring contributions from scholars such as Ian Barbour, Nancey Murphy, and Peter Berger.

● Publication

The journal is published quarterly by Oxford University Press and is available in both print and online formats, with online access provided through JSTOR and Project MUSE, allowing readers to engage with the work of scholars like Talal Asad, Saba Mahmood, and Webb Keane, who have written on topics like anthropology of religion, secularism, and postcolonial theory. The journal's publication schedule is managed by a team of editors and staff, who work to ensure the timely release of each issue, often featuring articles and reviews on topics like Biblical archaeology, Qur'anic studies, and Tibetan Buddhism, written by scholars such as John Bright, Fazlur Rahman, and Robert Thurman.

● Content

The journal publishes a wide range of content, including articles, book reviews, and review essays, on topics like systematic theology, historical theology, and practical theology, often engaging with the work of scholars such as Karl Rahner, Hans Urs von Balthasar, and Stanley Hauerwas. The journal's articles are written by scholars from a variety of disciplines, including religious studies, theology, philosophy, and history, and often feature discussions of the work of thinkers like Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir. The journal also publishes reviews of new books in the field, written by scholars such as David Ford, Denys Turner, and Amy Hollywood, who have reviewed works by authors like Rowan Williams, John Milbank, and Catherine Pickstock.

● Impact

The journal has had a significant impact on the field of religious studies and has been widely cited by scholars such as Talal Asad, Saba Mahmood, and Webb Keane, who have written on topics like anthropology of religion, secularism, and postcolonial theory. The journal's articles and reviews have been influential in shaping the field and have contributed to ongoing debates and discussions, often engaging with the ideas of scholars like Foucault, Derrida, and Deleuze. The journal's impact can be seen in the work of scholars such as Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, David Tracy, and Wendy Doniger, who have built on the journal's publications to advance their own research, often in dialogue with the work of Adrienne Rich, Audre Lorde, and bell hooks.

● Editorial_Board

The journal's editorial board is composed of prominent scholars in the field of religious studies, including Catherine Keller, Mark Jordan, and Vincent Wimbush, who have shaped the journal's focus on feminist theology, queer theology, and African American religious studies. The editorial board is responsible for reviewing submissions, making editorial decisions, and shaping the journal's content, often in consultation with scholars like Serene Jones, Kwok Pui-lan, and M. Shawn Copeland. The board also includes scholars from a variety of disciplines, including theology, philosophy, and history, who have written on topics like patristics, medieval studies, and Reformation history, often engaging with the work of scholars like Jaroslav Pelikan, Bernard McGinn, and Heiko Oberman.

● Awards_and_Recognition

The journal has received several awards and recognitions, including the American Academy of Religion's Award for Excellence in Religious Studies and the Association of American Publishers' Award for Best Scholarly Journal in Religion. The journal has also been recognized for its contributions to the field of religious studies by organizations such as the Society of Biblical Literature and the American Society of Church History, often in conjunction with the work of scholars like Krister Stendahl, James Cone, and Rosemary Radford Ruether. The journal's editors and contributors have also received individual awards and recognition for their work, including the Grawemeyer Award and the National Humanities Medal, often in recognition of their contributions to fields like biblical studies, theological ethics, and philosophy of religion.

Category:Academic journals