Institute on Religion and Public Life

The Institute on Religion and Public Life (IRPL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by Richard John Neuhaus, a Lutheran pastor who later became a Catholic priest. It is the publisher of First Things, a journal whose inaugural issue appeared in March 1990. From its founding editorial, "Putting First Things First," the Institute's stated mission has been to advance a religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society. The organization is based in the United States and operates primarily through its publishing and programming activities. First Things is the Institute's flagship publication, described on its website as "America's most influential journal of religion and public life." The print magazine is published ten times each year, and the Institute also maintains a website featuring commentary at the intersection of religion, culture, and politics, along with podcasts and newsletters delivered to subscribers. The journal publishes essays, reviews, and opinion pieces by a wide range of contributors, including R. R. Reno, Peter J. Leithart, Carl R. Trueman, George Weigel, and Mark Regnerus, among others. Beyond publishing, the Institute hosts events and programming intended to strengthen the intellectual core of the journal and to cultivate a community of readers. These include the annual Erasmus Lecture, which comprises a poetry reading, a post-lecture dinner for supporters and leading scholars, and a scholarly colloquium; the Evangelicals and Catholics Together seminar, established in 1994, which convenes prominent Protestant and Catholic scholars to publish public statements on theological, cultural, and political topics; and a Junior Fellows Program that trains two recent graduates each year. The Institute also solicits donations and subscriptions to support its work. The Institute on Religion and Public Life occupies a distinctive niche at the intersection of religious thought and public affairs. Its mission is to amplify religious voices in the public square and to strengthen and unify communities of religious believers. While its primary audience is in the United States, its website and digital offerings extend its reach internationally. The organization remains active and continues to publish First Things and host its signature programs.

The Institute on Religion and Public Life was founded in 1989 by Richard John Neuhaus, a Lutheran pastor who later became a Catholic priest. Neuhaus was a prominent public intellectual and the author of works such as The Naked Public Square, which argued for a greater role for religion in American public life. The Institute was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of advancing a religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society. The inaugural issue of First Things, the Institute's flagship journal, was published in March 1990. The founding editorial, "Putting First Things First," articulated the journal's purpose and set the tone for its subsequent coverage of religion, culture, and politics. Under Neuhaus's leadership, First Things quickly became a leading voice in American religious and intellectual life, attracting contributions from a wide range of scholars, theologians, and writers. In 1994, the Institute established the Evangelicals and Catholics Together seminar, a significant ecumenical initiative that convenes prominent Protestant and Catholic scholars to publish public statements on critical theological, cultural, and political topics. This program reflected the Institute's commitment to fostering dialogue and cooperation among religious traditions. Richard John Neuhaus died in 2009, but the Institute continued to operate and publish First Things. The journal maintained its influence and expanded its reach through digital media, including a website, podcasts, and newsletters. The Institute also continued its programming, including the annual Erasmus Lecture, which features a poetry reading, a post-lecture dinner for supporters and leading scholars, and a scholarly colloquium, and the Junior Fellows Program, which trains two recent graduates each year. Today, First Things is described as "America's most influential journal of religion and public life." The print magazine is published ten times each year, and the Institute's website features the latest ideas at the intersection of religion, culture, and politics. The Institute remains dedicated to its founding mission of amplifying religious voices in the public square and strengthening communities of religious believers.

• 2009

  Founder Richard John Neuhaus dies.

• 1994

  Evangelicals and Catholics Together seminar established.

• 1990

  Inaugural issue of First Things published in March.

• 1989

  Institute on Religion and Public Life founded by Richard John Neuhaus.

A religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society; America's most influential journal of religion and public life.

• First Things magazine

  Print magazine published ten times per year.

• First Things website

  Online platform featuring articles, podcasts, and newsletters.

• Erasmus Lecture

  Annual lecture with poetry reading, dinner, and scholarly colloquium.

• Evangelicals and Catholics Together

  Seminar convening Protestant and Catholic scholars.

• Junior Fellows Program

  Fellowship training two recent graduates each year.

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