History

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The Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR) is an interdisciplinary academic association that stimulates, promotes, and communicates social scientific research about religious institutions and experiences. SSSR was founded at Harvard University in 1949 as the Committee for the Social Scientific Study of Religion. From 1951 to 1956, the organization was called the Committee for the Scientific Study of Religion, and, with membership numbering in the hundreds, the change to the present name was made at the end of 1956. Today SSSR fosters interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration among more than a thousand scholars from sociology, religious studies, psychology, political science, economics, international studies, gender studies, and many other fields. The Society's flagship publication, the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, is the most cited resource in the field. Our annual meetings bring together leading scholars in the social and behavioral scientific study of religion for three days of networking, presentations, plenary sessions, and small group meetings in a different city each fall.

More Information

Glock, Charles Y. 2000. “Remembrances of Things Past: SSSR’s Formative Years.” JSSR 39(4):423–426.

Newman, William M. 1974. “The Society for the Scientific Study of Religion: The Development of an Academic Society.” RRA 15(3):137–151.

Swatos, William H. 1998. “Society for the Scientific Study of Religion.” P. 482 in Encyclopedia of Religion and Society. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.