by Robert Stockman
The Wilmette Institute had a display in the exhibit hall of the American Academy of Religion November 18-22, 2022, in Denver, CO. The American Academy of Religion (AAR) is a professional scholarly organization for university students, professors, journalists, clergy, and others who study religion. The AAR annual meeting typically is attended by over 10,000 people and several thousand presentations on every imaginable aspect of religion are made during the conference.
The exhibit hall has displays from over 100 publishers and other religion-related businesses and organizations, and that was where the Wilmette Institute had its booth. The contents of the exhibit had two foci: the programs the Wilmette Institute is now offering, and a sample of Bahá’í scripture and current scholarship, to impress visitors with the depth and breadth of published materials about the Faith. As a result of a steady stream of visitors, people took some 100 fliers about Wilmette Institute programs and about new books suitable for classroom use, as well as copies of The Bahá’ís magazine and the Peace Statement. The booth also provided an opportunity to encounter old contacts and make new friends.
A Bahá’í display has been a regular presence at the AAR since 1986 and may be one reason that the Faith is now appearing in more religious studies publications, and with more accurate information than previously.
