About Jim Spickard

Jim Spickard retired in 2020 after 47 years of college and university teaching -- the last 31 at the University of Redlands, where he taught courses on the sociology of religion, social inequality, and social theory. He has written or edited eight books and authored over 80 journal articles and book chapters on such topics as theory in the sociology of religion, religious experience, religious social activism, human rights, and social science research methods. His most recent monograph, "Alternative Sociologies of Religion" (NYU 2017), reimagines what sociologists might notice about religion if they began from non-Western starting points rather than from Western Christian ones. His most recent edited book is ""Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization: Practical Tools for Improving Teaching, Research, and Scholarship", co-edited with Abby Day, Lois Lee, and Dave S.P. Thomas (Bristol 2022).
8 02, 2024

CFP for Sociology of Religion at the Nov 2024 AAR

2024-02-08T14:46:39-05:00

We are happy to announce our CFP for the AAR Annual Meeting in San Diego during Nov. 23-26, 2024. Proposals are due on February 29, 2024, at 5:00 EST.   You can find our CFP below or visit our webpage here: https://papers.aarweb.org/pu/sociology-religion-unit

Instructions for submitting proposals can be found here:

We hope you’ll consider submitting a paper, panel, or roundtable proposal. You don’t need to be an AAR member in order to submit a proposal. And we’re glad to answer any questions you may have. Need help submitting a proposal? Contact papers_support@aarweb.org.

Warmest wishes,
Dusty & Di Di
Co-Chairs of the AAR Sociology of Religion Unit


Call for Proposals

The purpose of the Sociology of Religion Unit of the American Academy […]

CFP for Sociology of Religion at the Nov 2024 AAR2024-02-08T14:46:39-05:00
15 01, 2024

January Message from the ASR Executive Officer

2024-04-19T11:27:04-04:00

From ASR Executive Officer Rachel Kraus
January 15, 2024

Happy New Year! The ASR wishes you and yours a very happy and healthy 2024. I am writing with important information about our conference, submissions, and grants/awards.

  1. We are now accepting paper abstracts, mini workshops, and complete session proposals for our 2024 conference in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. For any questions, contact the C0-Program Chairs, Andrea Henderson-Platt (akhender@mailbox.sc.edu) & Aida Ramos. You can learn more about the conference by visiting the annual meeting page on the ASR website. You can make your room reservations here.
  2. We are also accepting submissions for our various grants, papers, and award competitions. You can learn more about these competitions on the ASR website and […]
January Message from the ASR Executive Officer2024-04-19T11:27:04-04:00
9 01, 2024

2024 ASR Theme: “Religion & Intersectionality”; ASR Grants and Awards

2024-04-19T11:24:23-04:00

The theme for this year’s annual meeting is “Religion and Intersectionality.” The meeting will be held August 9-11, 2024 at the Hotel Monville in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  Our President, Grace Yukich, and Co-Program Chairs, Andrea Henderson-Platt and Aida Ramos, have promised to make this year’s meeting unique in terms of both its intellectual content and social gatherings.  We can look forward to unique sessions, workshops, our Presidential and Furfey lectures, and receptions.  As usual, we will begin our meeting with an Opening Night Reception on Friday, August 9.  Our awards ceremony will recognize the winners of the McNamara Student Paper Award, Distinguished Sociology of Religion Article Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Be sure to check the website (www.sociologyofreligion.org) for submitting […]

2024 ASR Theme: “Religion & Intersectionality”; ASR Grants and Awards2024-04-19T11:24:23-04:00
30 12, 2023

Consider a Tax-Deductible Gift to the ASR

2023-12-30T14:37:11-05:00

In 2023, the Association for the Sociology of Religion (ASR) celebrated 85 years of advancing theory and scholarship in the sociology of religion. As we emerge from the disruptions of a global pandemic and strategize for the coming year, we ask that you consider contributing a tax-deductible financial donation as part of your year-end giving to support the mission of ASR.

Just in this past year, we celebrate:

  • A successful annual meeting in Philadelphia featuring 51 sessions, panels, and workshops
  • New awards recognizing outstanding scholarship, including a Lifetime Achievement Award for R. Stephen Warner
  • Fresh distribution of $20,000 in grant funding for research and travel
  • Colleagues dedicating service on ASR committees and executive council
  • Strong participation by our international membership
  • Continued efforts […]
Consider a Tax-Deductible Gift to the ASR2023-12-30T14:37:11-05:00
29 11, 2023

Job Opening, University of Hawaii at Hilo

2023-11-29T11:36:30-05:00

University of Hawai’i at Hilo, Instructor of Sociology (#82821)

Position Description
UH-Hilo, College of Arts & Sciences, non-tenure-track, general funds, full-time, nine-month appointment to begin approximately August 2024, pending position clearance and availability of funding.

Duties
Teach courses in Sociology (12 credits per semester). Provide academic advising to students. Engage in scholarly activities, and/or creative endeavors which contribute to the mission of the University. Participate in department, academic, university and community service.

Minimum Qualifications
ABD in Sociology (or Master’s in Sociology with ABD/PhD in a closely related field such as Social Work) from an accredited college or university with expected completion by start of employment. Experience teaching or description of ability to teach CORE sociology courses such as Introductory Sociology, Social Statistics, and/or Social Research Methods. […]

Job Opening, University of Hawaii at Hilo2023-11-29T11:36:30-05:00
27 11, 2023

Lake Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships on Faith and Giving

2023-11-27T19:26:52-05:00

The Lake Institute on Faith & Giving is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 Lake Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship for doctoral students whose research engages issues at the intersection of religion and philanthropy or faith and generosity. While the intersection of faith and giving is key to our mission, we are glad to receive a broad range of proposals that consider these topics together. 

Lake Institute helps to promote the emerging field of faith and giving by supporting the work of scholars. This one-year fellowship is given annually to support the final year of dissertation writing for a doctoral […]

Lake Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships on Faith and Giving2023-11-27T19:26:52-05:00
10 10, 2023

Job opening: Assistant Professor in Urban Religions

2023-10-10T08:14:27-04:00

Assistant Professor in Urban Religions – Position # 53620

 The Department of Religious Studies in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences at Southern Methodist University invites applications for a tenure track position in Urban Religions at the rank of Assistant Professor. The position requires residency in Dallas and begins August 1, 2024.

As one of eight tenure-line positions associated with Southern Methodist University’s faculty cluster in urban research, this position offers opportunities for rich interdisciplinary connections among new and existing SMU faculty [https://www.smu.edu/Dedman/Research/Clusters]. The cluster fosters research on cities and urbanization from local and global perspectives. SMU’s location in Dallas, the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country, is an ideal setting for studying the […]

Job opening: Assistant Professor in Urban Religions2023-10-10T08:14:27-04:00
3 07, 2023

In Memory of James D. Davidson, Jr. (1942-2022) by Mary Gauthier

2023-07-05T09:22:52-04:00

 James D. “Jim” Davidson, Jr., 79, passed away on May 22, 2022.  Dr. Davidson was President of the Association for the Sociology of Religion from 2006 to 2007.  He was a national authority in the sociology of religion and a popular keynote speaker at gatherings of bishops, religious educators, and other church leaders. He was also an avid golfer, achieving four holes in one on the golf course.

Jim earned his bachelor’s degree in 1964 at Fairfield University and his master’s in 1966 and doctorate in 1969 from the University of Notre Dame. He joined the sociology faculty at Purdue University in 1968 and taught there until he retired in 2009.  Jim and his colleague Roger Finke were central in building […]

In Memory of James D. Davidson, Jr. (1942-2022) by Mary Gauthier2023-07-05T09:22:52-04:00
28 06, 2023

Survey of US Catholics shows refreshed enthusiasm among women

2023-07-05T09:23:45-04:00

National Catholic Reporter, Jan 11 2018

ASR Past-President Michelle Dillon reports on the changing levels of religious commitment among American Catholic women, based on the April, 2017, sixth iteration of the Catholics in Transition survey.  Among the findings is a difference from the 25-year decline in commitment that the team found from its 2011 survey:

“The overall story is one of stability, and even slightly increased commitment, rather than further decline. Catholic women’s weekly Mass attendance has stabilized. In 2011, continuing a pattern of sharp decline from the late 1980s, 31 percent of women went to Mass weekly, and a similar proportion reported weekly Mass in 2017 (see Figure 1). Today, women are just slightly more likely than men to go to […]

Survey of US Catholics shows refreshed enthusiasm among women2023-07-05T09:23:45-04:00
12 06, 2023

ASR News and Announcements (June 3, 2023)

2023-06-12T19:58:00-04:00

The theme for this year’s annual meeting is “Justice and Religion.” The meeting will be held August 19–21, 2023 at the Bellevue Hotel Philadelphia. We will begin with a Welcome Reception on the evening of Saturday, August 19. We are planning this reception as a joint reception with the ASA Religion Section. The ASA Sociology of Religion Section day is Saturday, August 19.

Our President, Gerardo Marti, and Program Chair, Ruth Braunstein, have promised to make this year’s meeting unique in terms of both its intellectual content and social gatherings. We can look forward to receptions, unique thematic sessions, the Presidential address, and our Furfey lecture with Penny Edgell from the University of Minnesota.

The ASR elections have closed. We elected a […]

ASR News and Announcements (June 3, 2023)2023-06-12T19:58:00-04:00
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