An Eternal Return All Over Again: The Religious Conversation Endures

The most recent of the presidential addresses to the American Academy of Religion by Robert Orsi, entitled "A New Beginning All Over Again," suggests that the AAR has approved a radical change of orientation and adoption of new goals. I set out here to review the thoughts and ideas of the elected leaders of the AAR in their presidential addresses over the past decade in search of evidence for such a new beginning. I argue that, for the most part, the message of those addresses provides support for making the voice of religion heard both on college and university campuses and society at large and that in this, the AAR still reflects the intentions and aims of the National Association of Biblical Instructors from which the AAR evolved.