Templeton Religion Trust

What if horror can convey religious knowledge and understanding? What if horror can make us more spiritually attuned? Learn more: https://bit.ly/4dWiriC

Religious persecution is a growing global crisis, with millions suffering daily due to their beliefs. From terrorism and genocides to cultural extremism, religion often gets implicated in political conflicts, turning communities against each other. Grantee Knox Thames, a former U.S. State Department advisor, argues that every religious group faces persecution somewhere in the world. Traditional methods to combat this crisis are failing, but Thames believes innovative approaches can promote pluralism and religious freedom. His project emphasizes "Covenantal Pluralism," encouraging respect and protection for all beliefs. By advocating for religious literacy and engaging sacred sites as symbols of inclusion, Thames aims to foster deeper understanding and collaboration to defend the rights of all religious communities. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3N0hfza

What does patience look like? How does patience facilitate the search for purpose? As young people enter adolescence, and increasingly young adulthood, they reflect on who they are and who they hope to become. These important questions guide the process of identity development. At the same time, many also consider questions of purpose; what do I hope to accomplish in my life? Questions of identity and purpose tend to inform and support one another. Although much research has explored the search for identity, comparably little has examined the search for purpose. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3N2hf1F

Horror occupies a unique space in culture, both beloved and dismissed as “low art.” Despite this, its enduring popularity spans books, movies, and more, with classics like Frankenstein and Dracula proving its lasting appeal. Grantee Jonathan Greenaway suggests horror taps into deeper spiritual and religious anxieties, using themes like ghosts and demons to explore fears about death, evil, and faith. Greenaway’s work posits that horror allows us to confront existential questions and doubts outside traditional religious frameworks. Through interviews with horror fans, including those whose beliefs were influenced by the genre, he explores whether horror carries religious knowledge. His research aims to bridge the gap between pop culture and academic inquiry, revealing how horror engages with our most profound spiritual concerns. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4dWiriC

What if practicing patience could help us develop more and more rewarding relationships?

Dr. Evans and his team are using society as a mirror to examine accountability, through multiple studies specifically in the fields of human flourishing, mental health, and prison reform. “One of the areas we are exploring is that of criminal offenders – people who are incarcerated. We are studying the ways in which inmates participate in faith-based programs and how that involvement affects them in terms of virtuous behavior. We are creating a system of measurement that can help test whether accountability truly helps criminal offenders to change their behavior; whether being accountable to others, and to God, will impact identity transformation.” – Byron R. Johnson, Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences, Baylor University Learn more: https://bit.ly/3OgDfHb

What constitutes Islamic art in the contemporary world? And what impact does it have on people’s perceptions and beliefs? Learn more: https://bit.ly/46EqDkk

Our society relies on academic institutions not merely to educate a workforce, but to be places where people are devoted to think about what’s true, what’s good, what’s beautiful, and what’s just. Yet, cultural, political, and market pressures have contributed to a splintering or siloing of disciplinary divisions. Syndicate is an online space where academics can share their richest, deepest, and broadest insights into today’s most significant and ever-evolving topics, breathing new life into every discussion. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3FeVt73

What are the cognitive effects of the removal or lack of music-making in a religious community or context on people’s spiritual understanding, insight, and growth? Learn more: https://bit.ly/49M0u4Q

The search for life’s purpose can be challenging and anxiety-inducing, especially for young adults during a critical period of identity development. Grantee Kendall Cotton Bronk’s research explores how purposeful commitments contribute to healthy growth and how young people develop these commitments. Her findings suggest that the search for purpose is a gradual process, not a single moment of discovery, and often involves patience. Bronk’s work highlights how engagement in meaningful activities and social reflection help young adults cultivate purpose. She also explores how young adults, both religious and non-religious, understand and value patience. The research emphasizes that patience can be cultivated through intentional practice, offering both theoretical insights and practical tools to help young adults manage the often stressful process of finding purpose. Ultimately, Bronk hopes this work provides comfort by showing that developing a sense of purpose takes time. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3N2hf1F