[2] ICJ also provided a forum for members of various communities to comment on ISKCON's development.

[7] British sociologist James Beckford saw the ICJ as an example of the contribution of religious movements to their own academic study.

[9] According to the Danish religious studies scholar Mikael Rothstein, the magazine was a means of internal communication in ISKCON, as well as forum for dialogue with academics.

In his view, the magazine represented ISKCON's fundamental interest in good relations with the academic community.

[10] The founder and commissioning editor of ICJ throughout its life was Shaunaka Rishi Das.