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Benefits of Joining the AAR

When you become an AAR member, you join the largest society dedicated to the academic study of religion. Your participation strengthens the field and advances the invaluable work being done by scholars around the world. As a member, you receive special discounts, access to the latest scholarship, promotion of your own accomplishments through our official channels, and invitations to members-only events.

Networking

For more than a century, we've convened scholars of religion for discussion, collaboration, and professional development. Our in-person events bring together members from around the world for presentations and critique, workshops, and conversations with publishers. Scholars can also connect through the AAR member directory and online communities.

Annual Meeting

Members receive deep discounts on registration fees for the Annual Meeting, which is held in a major US city every November. Each year's program includes more than 500 academic sessions, plenaries with leaders in the field, and hundreds of academic publishers. Learn more about the Annual Meeting.

Regional Meetings

For many scholars, meetings organized by our ten regions provide deeper engagement than the much larger annual event. Regional meetings offer increased local accessibility, exchange across specializations, and presentation opportunities for students. Learn more about the AAR regions.

Member Directory

Through our member directory and online communities, scholars can engage in conversation, share resources, and search for colleagues by research area, institution, or involvement in the AAR. Members must sign in to access the member directory.

Member Promotion

Members can submit their professional accomplishments—such as awards, media mentions, and major publications and projects—for promotion through our official communication channels, including social media, our website, and quarterly newsletters. Submit a member note.

Volunteer Leadership

Serving on a committee, task force, or jury offers meaningful opportunities to connect with scholars who share similar interests or expertise. Becoming a volunteer leader also strengthens the AAR membership and advances the field. Learn more about our volunteer leadership groups.

IAHR Membership

Because we're a member of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR), all AAR members enjoy IAHR membership as well, including registration discounts for the IAHR World Congress and eligibility for travel grants. Learn more about IAHR.

Career Resources

Members enjoy access to numerous career resources, including a job board, online training for job seekers, funding opportunities for research projects and travel to the Annual Meeting, and promotion of professional accomplishments through our official channels.

Training for Job Seekers

Through a partnership with Beyond the Professoriate, we provide access to Aurora, an e-learning platform for scholars pursuing work within or outside academia. It covers topics such as interviewing, resumes, and networking, among others. Learn more about Aurora.

Job Board

Members can search employment listings on our job board, managed jointly with the Society of Biblical Literature. We post openings regularly, including faculty positions, editorial jobs, and ministerial roles. Visit the job board site.

Grant Programs

We maintain several grant programs for members. You can apply for funding to pursue individual or collaborative projects, regional development, international dissertation research, travel to the Annual Meeting, and public engagement. Learn more about our grant programs.

Publications

Members enjoy online access to the Journal of the American Academy of Religion and significant discounts on books from Oxford University Press. We also have partnerships with JSTOR and academic presses to help members without robust library privileges continue their research.

Access to JAAR

AAR membership includes online access to current and archived issues of the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, the premier academic journal in religious studies. Each issue also contains a large and valuable book review section.

JSTOR Religious Studies Collection

Access to JSTOR's Religious Studies Collection comes with every AAR membership. JSTOR updates its collections on an annual basis, with the current list of journals nearing 150.

Publication Discounts

Our partner in publishing, Oxford University Press, offers discounts on academic and trade books across all disciplines. Members also receive discounts on journals from Penn State Press and Cambridge University Press, among others.