The Association for the Sociology of Religion (ASR) is an academic association with more than 700 members worldwide. It publishes a journal, ''

Sociology of Religion Sociology of religion is the study of the beliefs, practices and organizational forms of religion using the tools and methods of the discipline of sociology. This objective investigation may include the use both of quantitative methods (surveys, ...

'', and holds meetings at the same venues and times as the American Sociological Association.

History

The ASR was founded by Catholic sociologists in Chicago in 1938 as the American Catholic Sociological Society. The organization adopted its present name in 1970, reflecting changes in the

Vatican Vatican may refer to: Vatican City, the city-state ruled by the pope in Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum The Holy See * The Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church and sovereign entity recognized ...

's policy that led to greater openness towards other faiths. It has long since become a base for sociological research on religion without regard to belief, creed, or religious orientation.

Activities

The association publishes a journal, ''

'', as well as a quarterly newsletter. It is the co-publisher of an annual series entitled ''Religion and the Social Order''. The association provides research grants. The ASR, which has over 700 members worldwide, continues its historical practice of holding its meetings at the same venues and times as the American Sociological Association, allowing mutual cross-fertilization between the two associations. Past presidents of the ASR include David G. Bromley, James T. Richardson,

Eileen Barker Eileen Vartan Barker (born 21 April 1938, in Edinburgh, UK) is a professor in sociology, an emeritus member of the London School of Economics (LSE), and a consultant to that institution's Centre for the Study of Human Rights. She is the chairpe ...

Benton Johnson Benton Johnson (born 1928) is an American sociologist and professor emeritus of the University of Oregon's Department of Sociology. Life Benton Johnson is the son of Guy Benton Johnson and Guion Griffis Johnson. He was named Guy Benton Joh ...

, and

Christopher G. Ellison Christopher Gaillard Ellison (born October 15, 1960) is an American sociologist specializing in the sociology of religion. He is Dean's Distinguished Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he has ...

Presidents

* 1938: Ralph A. Gallagher * 1939: Raymond W. Murray * 1940: Paul J. Mundie * 1941: Francis J. Friedel * 1942:

Walter L. Willigan Walter Luke Willigan (October 13, 1907September 20, 1974) was an American historian, sociologist, and educator who taught at St. John's University for forty years. Life and career Willigan was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 13, 1907, t ...

* 1943: Eva J. Ross * 1944:

Paul Hanly Furfey Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) * Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...

* 1945: Gerald J. Schnepp * 1946: Alphonse H. Clemens * 1947: Leo J. Robinson * 1948: Franz Mueller * 1949: Robert B. Navin * 1950: Clement S. Mihanovich * 1951: Thomas P. Harte * 1952: John J. Kane * 1953: Joseph P. Fitzpatrick * 1954: C. J. Neuse * 1955: M. Jeanine Gruesser * 1956: D. Augustine McCaffrey * 1957: Allen Spitzer * 1958: John D. Donovan * 1959: Mary Edward Healy * 1960: John L. Thomas * 1961: Jack H. Curtis * 1962: Frances Jerome Woods * 1963: John E. Hughes * 1964: Paul Facey * 1965: Paul Mundy * 1966:

Andrew Greeley Andrew M. Greeley (February 5, 1928 – May 29, 2013) was an American Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist and popular novelist. Greeley was a professor of sociology at the University of Arizona and the University of Chicago, and a researc ...

* 1967: Donald N. Barrett * 1968:

Gordon Zahn Gordon Zahn (born Gordon Charles Paul Roach; August 7, 1918, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – December 9, 2007, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin) was an American sociology, sociologist, pacifist, professor, and author. Early life Born out of wedlock, Zahn ...

* 1969: Robert J. McNamara * 1970: Paul Reiss * 1971: Ralph Lane Jr. * 1972: Marie Augusta Neal * 1973: Thomas P. Imse * 1974: William H. Jarrett * 1975: Ruth A. Wallace * 1976: John L. Thomas * 1977:

David O. Moberg David Oscar Moberg (born February 13, 1922) is an American Christian scholar, who is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Marquette University. His areas of specialization included methodology in qualitative research, sociology of religion, sociology ...

* 1978: Thomas M. Gannon * 1979:

Jeffrey K. Hadden Jeffrey K. Hadden (1937–2003) was an American professor of sociology. He began his teaching career at Western Reserve University and then at the University of Virginia commencing in 1972. Hadden earned his Ph.D. in 1963 at the University of Wis ...

* 1980: Carroll J. Bourg * 1981: Hart M. Nelsen * 1982: Meredith B. McGuire * 1983:

Rodney Stark Rodney William Stark (July 8, 1934 — July 21, 2022) was an American sociologist of religion who was a longtime professor of sociology and of comparative religion at the University of Washington. At the time of his death he was the Distinguished ...

* 1984: Patrick H. McNamara * 1985: William R. Garrett * 1986: James T. Richardson * 1987:

* 1988:

Roland Robertson Roland Robertson (born 1938, died 2022) was a sociologist and theorist of globalization who lectured at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Formerly, he was a professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh, and in 1988 he was the Pr ...

* 1989: James A. Beckford * 1990: Helen Rose Ebaugh * 1991:

Theodore E. Long Theodore E. Long is the former president of Elizabethtown College. Long became president in 1996, and he retired in 2011. Prior to becoming president of Elizabethtown, Long served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Merrimack Col ...

* 1992: Edward C. Lehman * 1993:

William V. D'Antonio William Vincent D'Antonio (born February 7, 1926) is an Italian-American sociologist and educator. His contributions, to these fields include 12 book publications and numerous articles published in professional journals and newspapers. He was t ...

* 1994: David G. Bromley * 1995: John H. Simpson * 1996:

Nancy Ammerman Nancy Tatom Ammerman (born 1950) is an American professor of sociology of religion at Boston University School of Theology. Life In 1984, Ammerman joined the faculty of Emory University. Her book, ''Baptist Battles'', won the 1992 Distinguished ...

* 1997: R. Stephen Warner * 1998: James R. Kelly * 1999: Nancy Nason-Clark * 2000: José Casanova * 2001: Anthony J. Blasi * 2002:

* 2003:

Grace Davie Grace Riestra Claire Davie (born 1946) is a British sociologist who serves as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Exeter. She is the author of the book ''Religion in Britain Since 1945: Believing Without Belonging''. Academic ...

* 2004: Joseph B. Tamney * 2005: N. J. Demerath III * 2006: Kevin J. Christiano * 2007: James D. Davidson * 2008: Mary Jo Neitz * 2009: Michele Dillon * 2010: Rhys H. Williams * 2011: Peter Beyer * 2012:

Roger Finke Roger Finke is a Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies at The Pennsylvania State University and Director of the Association of Religion Data Archives. He is a former president of the Association for the Sociology of Religion. Career Roge ...

* 2013: Fred Kniss * 2014:

* 2015: Melissa J. Wilde * 2016: Lori G. Beaman * 2018–2019: Paula Nesbitt * 2019–present: James C. Cavendish

References

External links

* Organizations established in 1938 Sociological organizations {{US-org-stub

History

Activities

Presidents

See also

References

External links