Benefits of Membership

When you become an AAR member, you join the largest society dedicated to the academic study of religion. You also gain a wide range of benefits that will enable you to elevate your career and grow your community.

Present at Our Annual Meetings

Present at Our Annual Meetings

Develop Your Skills and Career

Develop Your Skills and Career

Grow Your Network and Community

Grow Your Network and Community

Access Professional Resources, Discounts, and More

Access Professional Resources, Discounts, and More

Emilie Townes Photo

Emilie Townes

Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor of Religion and Black Studies, Boston University
Member since 1985

The opportunity to present papers, meet senior scholars, discover the scholars in my age cohort, forge both friendships and project partners, serve on committees, and become AAR's first Black woman president was made possible by my membership.

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Asma Afsaruddin

Herman B. Wells Endowed Professor of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, Indiana University at Bloomington
Member Since 1999

AAR has been a wonderful venue to present my research and learn from the work of other specialists in my field and beyond. Every annual conference provides a cornucopia of panels to attend and opportunities to network with colleagues who keep me connected with the latest trends in my field.

Wendy Mallette

Wendy Mallette

Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, University of Oklahoma
Member Since 2013

AAR has enabled me to keep up with friends and colleagues, even as we’ve moved to different institutions across the country. The support that comes from these opportunities to catch up with old friends and to meet new ones has been immensely generative for me over the years.

WebinAAR Recordings

AAR produces and sponsors webinAARs every month on topics related to the academic study and teaching of religion. Recordings typically require an AAR membership to view.

WebinAAR

May 22, 2025

Preparing Graduate Students for a Variety of Futures

This webinAAR is a crash course on what departments should be doing to better prepare their graduate students for a variety of futures.

WebinAAR

April 30, 2025

The Departmental External Review: Preparation in Precarious Times

Religious Studies departments routinely use regular external reviews as an opportunity both to educate home colleagues and administrators about the nature of our field, as well as to envision or argue for potential areas of growth or change in the curriculum. The webinAAR discusses how to make the most of those reviews.

WebinAAR

April 29, 2025

Getting Engaged in Public Scholarship: Strategies and Modalities, Risks and Opportunities

How do you “succeed” in public scholarship — doing work of intellectual rigor that  “counts” as scholarship in the academy and has a meaningful impact in the public square? Hear a conversation with colleagues who are doing amazing work in this arena.

More to Explore

Opportunities Calendar

Discover grants, awards, and other upcoming opportunities for scholars of religion.

Book Reviews

Read the latest reviews published in our openly accessible book review website, Reading Religion.

Why AAR

Religious Studies Matters

Religion influences most aspects of our world and the study of religion has never been more important. AAR is committed to advocating for the academic study of religion. We support religion scholars working in many fields, and we provide resources and engagement opportunities to improve the public understanding of religion.

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