Human Flourishing: The Science of Spiritual and Religious Exercises

The Templeton World Charity Foundation began a strategic initiative to scientifically study the spiritual exercises from the world’s great religious traditions as an aspect of human flourishing. Spiritual exercises have been a fundamental aspect of the human species for thousands of years, offering a range of methods through which people have discovered thriving and transformation throughout the globe and across all known civilizations. The Center for Optimal Health Across the Lifespan, led by Jesse Fox, PhD (Principal Investigator), in partnership with Joseph Currier, PhD (Co-Investigator) from the University of South Alabama and Paul Granello, PhD (Co-Investigator ) from The Ohio State University, received a $500,000 research grant through the generous funding of the Templeton World Charity Foundation to study the implications of human flourishing from the spiritual practice called Lectio Divina (Latin for the “Divine Reading”). This project is expected to last for two years, beginning in 2022 and ending in 2024 (Grant Number: 32530; Grant: DOI DOIORG/10.54224/32530).