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- Published on 10 October 2006
- Written by Wesley Wildman
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The Institute for the Biocultural Study of Religion was founded by Patrick McNamara and Wesley Wildman. The Institute is a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State of Massachusetts as of 2007, though its work predates its incorporation (see Past Projects). As of August 20, 2007, it is a public charity with United States federal tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to the Institute are tax deductible.
IBCSR's mission is three-fold, involving research, training, and outreach.
Research: IBCSR aims to conduct leading-edge research into the biological and cultural foundations and functions of religion.
Training: IBCSR aims to train researchers in the bio-cultural study of religion at the very highest level.
Outreach: IBCSR aims to reach out to researchers, scholars, and the general public to build professional networks and to share information about the bio-cultural study of religion.
Also, the core values of IBCSR's institutional identity include the following:
- maintaining the highest intellectual standards in all phases of our work;
- acting ethically toward our business partners and funding sources;
- maintaining neutrality regarding the ideological promotion or critique of religious traditions, faith communities, and political outlooks; and
- remaining institutionally agile, with minimal institutional overhead.