IASBS Now Affiliated RSO with AAR

M. Editor  |  June 26, 2012

The North American District of the International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies is happy to announce that we have been accepted by the American Academy of Religion (AAR) as a Related Scholarly Organization (RSO).

The AAR is North America’s largest professional organization for scholars of religion. Each year, the AAR hosts an annual meeting drawing thousands of religious studies scholars together. RSOs, mainly smaller academic and professional organizations, benefit from their affiliation with the AAR by being included in the AAR’s promotional materials as well as being able to host meetings, conferences, and symposia in conjunction with the annual meeting.

As an RSO, the North American District of the AAR will be able to provide a regular venue for scholars to meet and share their work on Pure Land Buddhism. Our hope is to be able to bring Pure Land Buddhist Studies to the attention of a broader array of religious studies scholars.

RSO status will go into effect immediately. During the 2012 AAR annual meeting in Chicago, members of the North American District Steering Committee will meet to discuss how best to use this new status. We hope to begin offering an annual symposium at the AAR annual meeting beginning in 2013.

For more information, please visit the IASBS website.