Templeton Religion Trust

It’s easy for most of us to recall at least one professor who profoundly influenced us — while we were students and well beyond. More than just imparting book knowledge, they showed us how to approach unknowns and differences. Be open to new ideas. Stay resilient through challenges. They showed us how to relate and debate. They shared their opinions and beliefs. They made us more sure of who we were. They helped us grow. Beyond personal experiences, there’s ample evidence from research that faculty exert more influence than anyone else on students’ learning, development, persistence, and degree attainment. The quality of the college experience is determined by the faculty, Grantee Matthew Mayhew stresses. Moreover, a pluralism of beliefs among faculty is critical for true education to take place. Through a first-of-its-kind study, Mayhew is working to gain empirical documentation and a fuller understanding of faculty’s religious, spiritual, and secular identities and how these affect their work. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3QUpBuH

Are we still making progress? Grantee Ben Hurlbut is leading a boundary-pushing social research project. Its aim is to explore ideas of progress that underpin our common understanding of what it means to be human, to live a good life, and to aspire to a better future—ideas which are culturally powerful but are seldom questioned. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4doBphQ

What if we better understood the collective experience of art? Learn more: https://bit.ly/40JZtGq

What if we approach literary engagement not as a mere escape from reality, but as a means of actually accessing hidden dimensions of reality?

Stories on screens via film, television, and streaming are central to our lives. They allow us to experience complex moral situations from multiple perspectives on screen. Cognitive science, philosophy, and film studies are coming together to better understand how character engagement, reflection, the powerful experience of a film, and moral understanding are connected. Learn more: https://bit.ly/45BjvFn

What changes take place when individuals, communities, and societies become exposed to formal education? Learn more about this project's findings: https://bit.ly/3y8sWzY

The dream we have of making a difference in the world can be lost and we can end up feeling more like a money machine rather than a human being. Rather than work with purpose, it can all seem pointless and a little bit soulless. Revaluating value is an ongoing process. We need an epiphany moment to show us a wider view of the value we produce. That often starts with ask ourselves deep in our heart and soul, what are we seeking – to grow a bigger business, or to build better lives through business? Learn more: https://bit.ly/49BvL9z

Our YouTube channel is home to over 100 videos showcasing the work of featured grantees around the world and across disciplines. Discover more: https://bit.ly/46o7948

Chaplains (or “spiritual care providers”) have long served people in the midst of life’s challenges in places like hospitals, hospices, the military, prisons, and institutions of higher education. More of the people chaplains serve today are not connected to local religious leaders. Looking to the future, it is likely that chaplains will be the primary spiritual and religious leaders who care for growing numbers of people in the United States. But are chaplains being prepared for this reality? Learn more: https://bit.ly/3uoLKZL

Very little research has focused on the distancing, transcendent mindsets that reportedly occur when people experience art. Grantee Simone Schnall and her team began the challenging process of designing experiments to address two intriguing questions: - Does appreciating the world aesthetically actually lead to an abstract mindset? - And does appreciating the world aesthetically help people connect with higher values? Learn more: https://bit.ly/4cPvJNx