The Foundation seeks new insights into the fundamentally spiritual nature of the human person. For example, the Foundation supports new research to unlock the mysteries of spirituality in the human mind using recent advances in neurobiology to generate empirically based insights on the trends, patterns and principles of spiritual growth during the college years. The research is guided by Sir John's unyielding optimism that there is much to learn from examining scientifically the nature and benefits of such spiritual principles as creativity, gratitude and altruism. Anthropologists, psychologists, economists, educational researchers and other scholars pool their talents and expertise on topics as diverse as thrift, generosity and purpose.


“If God is dead, nothing remains but an indifferent void which engulfs and annihilates us. No trace remains of our lives and our labours; there is only the meaningless dance of protons and electrons. The universe wants nothing and cares for nothing; it strives towards no goal; it neither rewards nor punishes. Whoever says that there is no God and all is well deceives himself.”

— Leszek Kolakowski
Winner of the first John W. Kluge Prize for Lifetime Achievement
in the Humanities and Social Sciences



“If we believe in a progressive, forward-moving existence with wonderful potential, we will be living an interesting life. A big difference between happiness and misery, success and failure, effectiveness and uselessness, cannot be blamed on circumstances or other people. The condition of your mind creates your reality.”

— Sir John Templeton



“I cannot imagine life without purpose. Purpose fuels my soul.”

— Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president Children's Defense Fund