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Supporting science, theology and philosophy research

November 28, 2022

Open Access Government unpacks the work of the John Templeton Foundation in supporting research across the sciences as well as in the areas of theology and philosophy

The John Templeton Foundation, based in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the United States (U.S.) (1) finances work on wide-ranging topics such as black holes, evolution, creativity, free will and forgiveness.

Starting its life back in 1987, the Foundation catalyses conversations and supports research that inspires us with wonder and awe in theology and philosophy. In addition, they encourage civil, informed dialogue among scientists, theologians, philosophers and the
public. “Our aspiration is to help people create lives of meaning and purpose and to become a global catalyst for discoveries that contribute to human flourishing,” the Foundation explains.

Standout scholarship across the sciences

The Foundation is among the 25 largest grant-making foundations in the U.S., with an impressive endowment of $3.8 billion and annual giving worth around $140 million. While based in the U.S., the reach of the Foundation extends to 57 countries globally and all major faith traditions. (2) We know that the grantees of the Foundation are responsible for standout scholarship across the sciences, theology, and philosophy. It is fascinating to see this point developed further by the Foundation in their own words, including research on prayer: “From probing gravitational waves to updating the modern evolutionary synthesis, they have contributed to major discoveries in the basic sciences. Other grantees have opened critical new topics to scientific investigation, including prayer, gratitude, immortality, and imagination. In addition to supporting academic research, we fund a wide range of media – print, digital, broadcast, and film – to raise awareness about
discoveries in ways that are clear and thought-provoking.” (3)

We discover that Sir John Templeton gave an impressive portion of his assets to the Foundation, an organisation he expected to stand apart from dogma or personal religious belief considerations and to locate grantees who are “innovative, creative, enthusiastic, and open to competition and new ideas” in their approach to the Big Questions. In 1992, the Foundation heralded its first general research program, which very much focused on scientific methods for understanding the purpose and work of the creator, as well as research on the benefits of religion, for example. (4)

Science & the Big Questions funding

Did you know that the Foundation directs a large chunk of its funding for Science & the Big Questions – around $325 million since 2019 and continuing up to 2023 – for twelve specific priorities? The twelve areas include: Dynamics of Religious Change, Intellectual Humility;
Mathematical & Physical Sciences; Health, Religion, & Spirituality; Science of Purpose and Science-Engaged Theology.

The hope is that progress in topics that promise to advance the frontiers of knowledge and understanding will accelerate. (5)

Intellectual Humility

One of the strategic priorities for Science & the Big Questions is Intellectual Humility. This concerns the theory, understanding and practice of intellectual humility, an area of research the Foundation strongly supports. For the funding cycle this year, the Foundation is especially interested in Online Funding Inquiries concerning the aetiology and developmental trajectory of intellectual humility in childhood and adolescence. More information about this opportunity can be found here in ‘Intellectual Humility in Childhood and Adolescence’.

“In this strategic priority, we aim to extend recent efforts to improve empirical methods and measures of intellectual humility and to increase understanding of the nature, causes, and effects of this epistemological virtue,” the Foundation explains. (6) In this field,
the Foundation website details the Featured Grants, such as The Development, Validation, And Dissemination Of Measures Of Intellectual Humility And Humility led by Biola University. (7). You can read about the other funded intellectual humility projects here.

In an interview with Richard Bollinger, Program Officer in Character Virtue Development, he discusses his thoughts on Intellectual Humility. One fascinating observation concerns the most exciting aspect of this field that he links back to the core purposes of what
Sir John Templeton sought to achieve.

“Intellectual humility goes back to one of the core purposes of what Sir John Templeton was trying to achieve. He believed the nature of reality was too big for any one person or
one discipline to understand. Discerning reality requires being open to learning from different people and different perspectives.

“For instance, he had a deep appreciation for ancient sources of wisdom, and it troubled him to see the modern world casually discarding them without evaluating their truthfulness or value, Bollinger adds. It’s definitely worth delving into the interview to find
out more. (8)

Theology and philosophy: the power of the sciences

Hopefully, this article provides a flavour of Sir John Templeton’s optimism about the power of the sciences and disciplines to further what we understand about the deepest and most perplexing questions humankind faces. “Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? Are we immortal? Was the universe created? What is love?” These are some of the questions raised on the website of the Foundation. Perhaps we can also ask if we are inspired with awe and wonder as we ponder these and other thought-provoking questions across the sciences. (3)