Dear all,

My colleagues Martin Pickup, David Cheetham and I are starting the second phase of a large-scale Templeton project on Global Philosophy of Religion at the University of Birmingham, and we wanted to bring your attention on our open calls for funding (with deadlines upcoming: March 31), as they are of relevance for colleagues working on Indian philosophy and philosophy of religion.

 

We would be delighted if some of you would consider applying, there are notably up to 10 projects up to £30,000 each on Theoretical and Conceptual Research, and the same amount for Science-Engaged Projects. There are also 2 scholarships for MA Studies in Jainism, and there will soon be a postdoctoral position, travel grants, grants for public engagement, stipends to academics who will develop a new course that contributes to the diversification of their philosophy of religion curriculums, and many more exciting opportunities! (see below)

 

We would be very grateful if you would pass on this information to others who might be interested.

 

With many thanks!

 

Marie-Hélène

 

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The Global Philosophy of Religion Project 2, funded by the John Templeton Foundation and a number of other sources, is running a series of funding competitions over the coming months. These include theoretical and conceptual research, science-engaged research, public engagement and impact, and several teaching and training stipends. The first call for applications is now open at this site with the earliest deadlines on 31st March 2025. A press release is available here. Please share widely to anyone who might be interested, and contact gpr@contacts.bham.ac.uk with any questions.

 

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project: Fundamental Spiritual Reality, Human Purpose, and Living Well is a £2.4million initiative to transform the philosophy of religion into a truly global and diverse field of inquiry. Based at the Birmingham Centre for the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Birmingham, it is led by Martin Pickup with Marie-Hélène Gorisse and David Cheetham. Continuing the work of the first Global Philosophy of Religion project (run by Yujin Nagasawa), this second stage has a particular focus on human purpose, the meaning of life, and what it is to live well, including ‘down-stream’ questions connected to religious practice. It will consider what role (if any) fundamental spiritual realities like God or other divine entities play in addressing such issues. It will expand to cover all religious traditions, including traditions which are at the crossroads between religions, philosophies, spiritualities and ways of life, such as Buddhism and various East Asian philosophies (e.g., Jainism, Confucianism and Taoism), as well as the position that can be described as the “spiritual but not religious.”