The terms ‘spiritual aspirations,’ ‘spiritual laws,’ and ‘spiritual realities’ are key concepts in the writings of Sir John Templeton. In this glossary, the initiators of The Enhancing Life Project provide a provisional and more nuanced definition of these concepts. One purpose of the Project is to expand and test these ideas as well as generating new concepts needed for enhancing life.
Over the past three decades a considerable number of studies have been dedicated to the investigation of the dimension of spirituality, practices and spiritual laws in quite diverse fields of life ranging from prayer, to forgiveness, and the power of love. Enhancing Life Studies can build on these insights and will take advantage of this research. For this reason and in this case we have to rephrase our key question from:
What is submerged, what is implicit, and what is not sufficiently examined? Where can “Enhancing Life Studies” make a difference? Where do we want to shift scholarly attention?
To this one: What can be supplemented and advanced further? Where do we need to move from here?
What is peculiar in Enhancing Life Studies vis-á-vis this body of research is the emphasis on the spiritual realities encouraging the dynamic and ongoing process of enhancing life. In addition, with the turn to “life” Enhancing Life Studies will invest scholarly attention to a rich and multilayered concept of life based on spiritual realities and advanced through spiritual needs and aspirations. The focus on “life” reaches out to a number of academic disciplines while at the same time through the concentration on needs and aspirations as well as narratives and frames of enhancing life this Project achieves breath and concentration.
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Benner Carson, Verna and Harold G. Koenig, eds. Spiritual Dimensions of Nursing Practice. West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 2008.
Bersanelli, Marco and Mario Gargantini. From Galileo to Gell-Mann: The Wonder that Inspired the Greatest Scientists of All Time: In Their Own Words. West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Templeton Press, 2009.
Brander, Bruce. Love That Works: The Art And Science Of Giving. West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 2004.
Einhorn, Stefan and Linda Schenck. A Concealed God: Religion, Science, and the Search for Truth. Radnor, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 2002.
Fehr, Beverley Anne, Susan Sprecher, and Lynn G. Underwood. The Science of Compassionate Love : Theory, Research, and Applications. Malden, MA ; Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.
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Herrmann, Robert L. God, Science, and Humility: Ten Scientists Consider Humility Theology. Radnor, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 2000.
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Jeeves, Malcolm and Warren S. Brown. Neuroscience, Psychology, and Religion: Illusions, Delusions, and Realities about Human Nature. West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Templeton Press, 2009.
Koenig, Harold G. and Gregg Lewis. The Healing Connection: The Story of a Physicians Search for the Link between Faith and Health. West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Templeton Press, 2004.
Lamb, Sharon, and Jeffrie G. Murphy, eds. Before Forgiving : Cautionary Views of Forgiveness in Psychotherapy. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Moore, Gary. Spiritual Investments: Wall Street Wisdom from the Career of Sir John Templeton. Radnor, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 1998.
Olver, Ian N. Investigating Prayer: Impact on Health and Quality of Life. Berlin: Springer, 2013
Post, Stephen et. al. Research on Altruism and Love: An Annotated Bibliography of Major Studies in Psychology, Sociology, Evolutionary Biology, and Theology. Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 2003.
Post, Stephen G. et. al., Altruism and Altruistic Love: Science, Philosophy, and Religion in Dialogue. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Post, Stephen Garrard. Unlimited Love: Altruism, Compassion, and Service. Radnor, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 2003.
Staune, Jean, ed. Science and the Search for Meaning: Perspectives from International Scientist. West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 2006.
Templeton, John and Rebekah Alezander Dunlap. Why Are We Created? Increasing Our Understanding of Humanity's Purpose on Earth. Radnor, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 2003.
Templeton, John M. Jr. Thrift And Generosity: The Joy of Giving. West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 2004.
Templeton, John. Pure Unlimited Love: An Eternal Creative Force and Blessing Taught by All Religions. Radnor, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 2000.
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Templeton, John. Wisdom from World Religions: Pathways Towards Heaven on Earth. Radnor, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 2002.
Templeton, John Marks and Kenneth Seeman Giniger, eds. Spiritual Evolution: Scientists Discuss Their Beliefs. Radnor, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 1998.
Templeton, John. Agape Love: A Tradition Found in Eight World Religions. Radnor, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 1999.
Ulanowicz, Robert E. A third window: Natural life beyond Newton and Darwin. West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 2009.