Edward Irons

Dr. Edward A. Irons, PhD, is Director of the Institute for Culture, Commerce and Religion (ICCR), based in Phoenix and Hong Kong. His work focuses on contemporary religion, new religious movements, Chinese religions, and the ways religious communities develop and interact across cultures. He combines academic research with public-facing projects intended to make the religious diversity of local communities more visible and accessible.

He currently directs the Greater Phoenix Religious Directory, a guide to the religious communities of metropolitan Phoenix, and The Greater Sedona Directory of New Age, Religions and Wellness Resources, covering Sedona and the Verde Valley. Recent research has included studies of Jehovah's Witnesses in Arizona, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and related organizations in India, and Shincheonji in Los Angeles. His broader interests include interfaith relations, religious organization, conversion, and transnational religious movements.