The Westar Scholars are a community of academics committed to engaging in collaborative, cumulative scholarship on questions about religion that matter in society.
Membership as a Westar Scholar is open to:
- Scholars with advanced academic degrees (Ph.D. or equivalent) in religious studies or related disciplines from accredited universities worldwide.
- Published authors who are recognized authorities in the field of religion (by special invitation only).
Since 1985, more than 250 scholars have participated in the Jesus Seminar and other Westar projects. At various stages of the projects, different scholars have been involved in the research and deliberations.
Westar Scholars are critical scholars. Critical scholars make empirical evidence—evidence open to confirmation by independent, neutral observers—the controlling factor in historical and theological judgements, rather than putting dogmatic considerations first and insisting that the evidence confirm theological premises.
Westar Scholars who exemplify the ideals of a critical scholar may be inducted into the Order of David Friedrich Strauss or the Order of Baruch Spinoza. Strauss and Spinoza are regarded as two key pioneers in development of historical critical research in the study of religion.
Benefits for Westar Scholars
In addition to all the benefits of Westar membership, including The Fourth R magazine, the Forum Journal, and Westar Wednesday events, access to archive, and more, as a scholar:
- You have access to a designated scholar members' space within the membership. Share your news, debate, collaborate, make friends, and grow in wisdom and knowledge.
- You can write about your research aimed at a popular audience. The Fourth R magazine has a thousand subscribers waiting for you. And you will be paid for your article (on average, article are 10 to 15 pages, 3000 to 5000 words).
- A peer-reviewed academic journal awaits your paper! Forum is Westar’s unique peer-reviewed journal. Forum can be career-making and will ensure your scholarship has a public audience.
- You can attend either free or heavily discounted in-person conferences. Other academic organizations do not offer this benefit to their scholar members. Westar does.
- You can present your scholarship in the format of a Westar Wednesday online event and be paid for your contribution.
- You can have your book published with Westar either in popular format (Westar Press) or as an academic book (Polebridge Press). Westar can also publish your book with Cascade Press (Wipf and Stock) in the Westar Series. Westar has more built-in publishing options than other academic communities.
- You can contribute to the Westar blog on Substack where thousands will learn about your scholarship and gain from your insights. You can make a difference.
- Remember, your membership fees support your fellow Westar scholars and help Westar fund seminar research and development.
If you think that you cannot afford to be a Westar Scholar ($120/year), the Westar membership is less than the SBL/AAR, offers more, and you can get paid for producing a Fourth R article or leading a Westar Wednesday event. The payment will more than cover your annual membership fee.
Scholars support scholars when they are members.
Collaboration
Westar Scholas collaborate with one another on large-scale projects that address specific questions and stress sharing the resulting scholarship with the general public.
Outreach
Opportunity for public outreach:
- Interact and engage with Associate and Praxis members on Zoom or at in-person meetings.
- Share scholarship with non-specialists through social media outlets, the Westar blog, and The Fourth R
- Present scholarship to the general public at regional Jesus Seminars on the Road programs or in online formats.
- Publish peer-reviewed academic articles in Forum.
Publications
- The Fourth R: Westar’s popular bimonthly magazine for members
- Forum: Westar’s academic journal featuring peer-reviewed articles and listed in digital libraries.
- Seminar papers: Prepared by scholars and distributed before each national meeting, they form the basis for deliberations at Westar Seminars
Advantages
- Exclusive publishing relationship with Wipf and Stock Publishers, Cascade imprint, through Westar Series.
- 20% discount on Polebridge Press books and other Westar media
- Discounts on registration for seminar meetings.
The distinctive culture of Westar seminars depends upon scholars taking active part in the conversation. Westar Scholars are expected to attend Westar meetings, participate in the discussion, and present contributions, as appropriate, to Westar’s scholarly projects.
