Beauty At Work

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Is science a path to cosmic connection?

In this fourth episode of our series from the November 2024 symposium on Spiritual Yearning in a Disenchanted Age held at McGill University, I share results of an ongoing study on Meaning and Mystery in Science, which explores the spiritual experiences of non-religious scientists, and how the practice of science might evoke awe, wonder, and a sense of the transcendent.

We open the episode with a poetry reading from Marie Trotter, and following my presentation is a discussion with Dr. Rob Gilbert, Dr. Rajeev Bhargava, and Dr. Galen Watts.

Here’s a summary of the episode:

1. Marie Trotter opens the episode with original poetry, exploring themes of fragility, hope, and beauty, drawing inspiration from Klimt's paintings
2. Findings from the Meaning and Mystery in Science study reveal how non-religious scientists experience enchantment and spiritual yearning through their work
3. Bhargava notes that spiritual yearning is often disrupted by ideological, social, and political forces, which we need to contend with more seriously
4. Watts explores the idea of science as play, contrasting the childlike enchantment of discovery with the institutionalized pressures of professional science
5. Gilbert highlights the danger of self-satisfaction in science, arguing that humility and vulnerability are essential for true insight

This episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)

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