General Information
History
The Association was founded in 1938 as the American Catholic Sociological Society. By the mid-1960s, members interests began to focus on the sociology of religion, and in 1971 the ACSS changed its name to the Association for the Sociology of Religion. Since then, ASR has cultivated the unique elements of its diverse heritage to support a broadly based sociology of religion relevant to many other subfields of sociology and to other scholarly disciplines. To reflect this mission, out journal's title was changed, beginning in 1993, from Sociological Analysis to Sociology of Religion.
Membership
Our 700+ members come from all continents of the world, and their interests and perspectives are just as diverse and global. They include some of the world's leading authorities on religion and some of the newest scholars from sociology and other disciplines alike. Dispersed or assembled, our activities are distinguished by inclusive and lively dialogue that is as respectful of of its participants as it is passionate for truth. We invite all who share our goals and interests to join us as members of the Association.
Meetings
The Association meets annually usually for 1 or 2 days before the American Sociological Association, at a nearby hotel. Joint sessions are held with the ASA and occasionally with related groups, including Sociologists for Women in Society, Society for the Study of Social Problems, Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, International Sociological Association, Religious Research Association, Society for the Sociological Study of Mormon Life, and International Society for the Sociology of Religion. Sessions include presentation of research papers, thematic panel discussions, seminars on recent books, and special addresses.
Each year, ASR's program highlights a major theme, for example:
The program also features a variety of nonthematic sessions.
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