About the CSSR

Constituent Societies

CSSR Publications

Institute on Religion
in an Age of Science

An Affiliate Member of CSSR, the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science is an independent society of natural scientists, social scientists, philosophers, religious scholars, theologians, and others who seek to promote dialogue between contemporary scientific theory and the ideas of humankind's religious and practical-philosophy traditions. Its stated purpose is to investigate relationships between science and religion in order to refine the insights of religion, to enrich the meaning of science, and to seek coherence at conceptual levels by examining religion in the light of the sciences.

The Institute resulted from the mid-century initiatives of two pioneer groups: a group of scientists from the Committee on Science and Human Values of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a post-World War II interfaith coalition that hoped to reform and revitalize religion, partially as a motivator of peace and justice. Founded in 1954 as a result of a conference on Religion in an Age of Science on Star Island, off Portsmouth, NH, IRAS continues to hold an annual conference on Star Island the last week of July.

IRAS also carries out its work by sponsoring other conferences and symposia at various institutions of higher education and with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, of which IRAS is an affiliate society. A Newsletter is published by the Institute.

PUBLICATIONS

The IRAS Newsletter is published three times a year. The Newsletter provides IRAS members with information on the activities conducted by IRAS and other activities relevant to the purposes of IRAS.

Much of the thinking from its meetings has been published in book form and, since 1966, in the quarterly journal Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. Information about the Journal may be obtained by writing to Philip Hefner, Chicago Center for Religion and Science, 1100 East 55th St., Chicago IL 60615.

MEMBERSHIP

Members receive a 15% discount on the registration fee for Star Island conferences, a subscription to Zygon (a $45 value), the IRAS Newsletter, as well as access to IRASnet and IRASart discussions on the Web.

IRAS offers the following types of membership: 

Individual Membership - Dues are $60 per year 

Joint Membership - Allows for two memberships, but one set of publications. Dues are $65 per year.

Student Membership - Requires a copy of the student's ID. Dues are $40 per year.

Institutional Membership - Supports IRAS' work. Dues are $100 per year, of which $57.50 is tax-deductible.

Information about membership may be had by addressing Membership coordinator Paula Fangman, 115 Tracy Lane, Bagdad, KY 40003-8047 (502-747-0194). Or, you may send an email to our membership chair ( ) and request a membership application be sent to you via postal mail; be sure to provide your full mailing address. 

OFFICERS OF THE IRAS

PRESIDENT
Christopher Corbally (2000-2001)

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Karl E. Peters (2000-2001)

VICE-PRESIDENT FOR RELIGION
Mary Evelyn Tucker (2000-2001)

VICE-PRESIDENT FOR SCIENCE
Terence W. Deacon (2000-2001)

VICE-PRESIDENT FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY AFFAIRS
Billy Grassie (2000-2001)

VICE-PRESIDENT FOR CONFERENCES
Robert Schaible (1998-2001)

VICE-PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENT
Ursula Goodenough (1999-2002)

SECRETARY
Joan W. Goodwin (2000-2003)

TREASURER
Thomas Fangman (1999-2002)

EDITOR OF ZYGON
Philip Hefner

EDITOR OF NEWSLETTER
William Falla

CONTACT

For further information on the IRAS, please contact:

  Joan W. Goodwin
  545 Centre St #407
  Jamaica Plain, MA  02130-2033

Please visit the IRAS web site at http://www.iras.org/.

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© 2002 The Council of Societies for the Study of Religion.
All Rights Reserved.

Revised: April 2006