Applications Invited for Spiritual Yearning Research Initiative (SYRI)

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About the Organization

Sir John Templeton lived in an era of unparalleled scientific and technological progress. The accelerating pace of scientific discovery led Sir John to wonder whether the methods of science might be harnessed to make similar progress in understanding the deepest and most perplexing questions facing humankind. Today, the Foundation that bears his name aspires to fulfill his vision — relentless curiosity in pursuit of infinite discovery.

About the Grant

The John Templeton Foundation invites Online Funding Inquiry (OFI) submissions to the $2.2M Spiritual Yearning Research Initiative (SYRI), which aims at addressing the spiritual yearnings, existential concerns, and search for meaning of spiritually curious but nonreligious individuals and communities. SYRI’s overarching Big Question is: How can those who experience a deep yearning for a meaningful spiritual life, but find traditional religion unsatisfying, fulfill that yearning? This question involves empirical, conceptual, and normative dimensions, calling for an approach that is cross-disciplinary in nature. The Foundation’s aim in this funding competition is to arrive at a better understanding of spiritual yearning and flourishing among the spiritually curious but nonreligious, by supporting research by scholars within philosophy, theology, religious studies, and the psychological sciences.

One of the Foundation’s current funding priorities is science-engaged theology, in which theologians—broadly construed to include scholars within philosophy and religious studies— closely engage the methods, concepts, literatures, and research communities of the sciences in their research efforts. The Foundation is particularly focused on funding projects that advance our understanding of the following themes at the intersection of theology and the psychological sciences: human nature in relation to divine realities, how humans conceive of and think about divine realities, the cultivation of intellectual and moral character virtues, and the relationship between religion and human flourishing.

SYRI’s purpose is to support science-engaged theological scholarship of this kind on the experiences, yearnings, and possibilities for spiritual flourishing of those who either do not find themselves at home within traditional religious communities or do not find the belief systems of traditional religions compelling. Such people may describe themselves as “religious Nones,” “spiritual but not religious,” agnostic, or something else altogether. Regardless of the particular label such individuals might use to describe their spiritual orientations, the Foundation is here primarily interested in the phenomenon of spiritual yearning among the nonreligious, as opposed to those who are either uninterested in questions of existential or ultimate concern, or are otherwise unbothered by spiritual matters.

Thematic Scope:

The current funding competition focuses on the two broad themes of spiritual yearning and meaning-making for the nonreligious, with each of these themes covering a number of possible empirical and conceptual research questions. We invite proposals that make use of a variety of research methods, including but not limited to qualitative research, theory-construction, conceptual clarification, surveys, experimental research, and normative argument. While we anticipate funding at least one project consisting primarily or exclusively of new empirical research (i.e., data collection, data analysis, and/or experimental work), the majority of the successful proposals will include conceptual or cross-disciplinary dimensions.

Eligibility  

We welcome proposals from a wide range of organizations. We anticipate a significant majority of the awardees will have a 501(c)(3) nonprofit status or an equivalent nonprofit status recognized by a non-US government.

Non-US organizations are subject to special constraints on their project’s design. Please read and consult the “Online Funding Inquiry Instructions and Notes” document for further details.

How to Apply

The application process begins with an Online Funding Inquiry (OFI) on the John Templeton Foundation’s application portal. Please click here for the link to our online application portal. In the Cycle & Area section of the application, select the “Spiritual Yearning Research Initiative” funding cycle.

The Foundation has a two-step application process, the first stage of which is the submission of an Online Funding Inquiry (OFI). A subset of OFI submissions will be invited to submit a full proposal. Here is the timeline:

• OFI Submission (June – August 2022): All OFIs must be submitted by August 19, 2022 for consideration.
• Review (August-October 2022): Applicants will receive notification of a decision on their OFI by October 14, 2022.
• Full Proposal Submission (October 2022 – January 2023): Applicants who receive an invitation to submit a Full Proposal should expect to submit their Full Proposal by January 20, 2023. Applicants will receive notification of a decision on their Full Proposal by July 14, 2023.

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