Now in its tenth year, The Center for Religious Inquiry™ is a unique adult education program of classes and other events about the great religions of the world, presented in a safe and comfortable environment. Each CRI™ season includes a wide array of offerings, reflecting the breadth and depth of the CRI mission.

CRI short courses explore Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and other eastern and western religions. These courses are taught by renowned scholars, with doctorate degrees from the most distinguished universities in the world.

CRI sponsors free lectures throughout year as a gift to the New York community. These talks have included presentations by John Updike, James Carroll, Marcus Borg, Diana Eck, former Ambassador Dennis Ross, and former Senator George Mitchell (former chair of the CRI Advisory Board), among others.

In addition, CRI sponsors music programs, such as the early music group Ivory Consort, playing Muslim, Jewish and Christian music from the 14th and 15th centuries; an annual Jewish Evensong, presenting a variety of classical and contemporary Jewish music; and lectures about the religious music of well-known composers from Bach to Brahms to Handel.

Two major institutions, in Los Angeles (The Wilshire Boulevard Temple) and Minneapolis (St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral), have launched programs in emulation of the St. Bart's CRI programs. They are part of the CRI Affiliates™ program. Others are in the process of development now.

From its inception in 1999, CRI has been directed by Rabbi Leonard A. Schoolman, one of the best-known Jewish educators in America. He was for 18 years national director of program of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now the Union for Reform Judaism. Rabbi Schoolman was ordained at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati.