When we hear the word "religion," many often think of dusty texts and static, dogmatic ideas. Like a typewriter, religion can feel like something that's outlived its usefulness. But Sir John Templeton believed spiritual texts alone were not enough ... but that religious innovation comes through empirical discovery. He felt we know only a tiny fraction of the spiritual realm that surrounds us. And that, rather than being stuck in the past, religion can be adaptive and vibrant, driving human flourishing, toward a better future.
- What if … Religions of all kinds took a humble approach, admitting they know less than 1% about spiritual reality?
- What if religions were discovery-oriented, taking an empirical approach to spiritual exploration?
- What if religions look forward, not backward, expecting to grow and learn from their mistakes?
- What if religions sought to benefit from the most inspiring bits of other religions, and not just tolerate them?
- Could religion evolve and progress? Driving new discoveries and revealing previously unseen realities?
- At Templeton Religion Trust, we’re engaging philosophers and theologians, artists and scientists of all kinds to learn more about the mysteries, forces and unseen realities surrounding us. We're seeking connecting threads - between the "how" of science and the "why" of theology. We're seeking to uncover what fundamental laws of nature reveal about what it means to be human.
Participants:- Moderator: Kimon Sargeant, Templeton Religion Trust
- Panelist: Richard Flory, Center for Religion and Civic Culture as USC
- Panelist: Tina Ramirez, Hardwired Global
- Panelist: Brandon Vaidyanathan, The Catholic University of America
- Panelist: Jonathan Evans, Pew Research Center
