Religion is a peer-reviewed academic journal

Academic journal

An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...

 in the field of Religious Studies

Religious studies

Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...

. It was founded in 1971, with close ties to the Religious Studies program at the University of Lancaster

Lancaster University

Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...

. That program was founded and chaired by Ninian Smart

Ninian Smart

Professor Roderick Ninian Smart was a Scottish writer and university educator. He was a pioneer in the field of secular religious studies...

, and he served as the Chairman of the first editorial board. Four companies have published the journal over the years: Oriel Press (1971-72), Routledge & Kegan Paul

Routledge

Routledge is a British publishing house which has operated under a succession of company names and latterly as an academic imprint. Its origins may be traced back to the 19th-century London bookseller George Routledge...

 (1973-80), Academic Press

Academic Press

Academic Press is an academic book publisher. Originally independent, it was acquired by Harcourt, Brace & World in 1969. Reed Elsevier bought Harcourt in 2000, and Academic Press is now an imprint of Elsevier....

 (1981-2000), Elsevier

Elsevier

Elsevier is a publishing company which publishes medical and scientific literature. It is a part of the Reed Elsevier group. Based in Amsterdam, the company has operations in the United Kingdom, USA and elsewhere....

 (2001-2010), and currently Routledge

Routledge

Routledge is a British publishing house which has operated under a succession of company names and latterly as an academic imprint. Its origins may be traced back to the 19th-century London bookseller George Routledge...

.

Religion publishes academic work on all issues of Religious Studies, including the history, literature, thought, practise, material culture, and institutions of particular religious traditions from a variety of perspectives such as social scientific, humanistic, cognitive, economical, geographical, etc. (but excluding work that falls purely within the areas of theology or philosophy of religion). The journal has European and North-American editors (currently Michael Stausberg

Michael Stausberg

Michael Stausberg is a Professor in Religious Studies He was born in Köln, Germany, April 28, 1966. He studied in Bonn, Tübingen, Bergen and Rome. He is now resident in Bergen, Norway.-Academic career:...

 and Steven Engler

Steven Engler

Steven Joseph Engler is a Canadian scholar of religion. He currently is associate professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Canada...

) and a multi-national Editorial Board.