蜜桃TV Humanities Receives $3.9 million Templeton Foundation Grant to Explore How the Theology of Human Nature Engages with Biology and the Social Sciences
The grant marks the largest in the history of Villanova鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The grant will fund a new research initiative directed by Jesse Couenhoven, PhD, a professor of Moral Theology in Villanova鈥檚 Department of Humanities and Department of Theology, and the project鈥檚 principal investigator.
Villanova, PA听鈥撎厶襎V鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) has received a听three-year, $3.9听million听grant from the John Templeton Foundation to explore how听the听theology of human nature听engages scientific approaches to humanity. The largest grant ever received by CLAS, it will fund a new research initiative, 鈥淐ollaborative Inquiries in Christian Theological Anthropology,鈥� directed by Jesse听Couenhoven, PhD, a professor of Moral Theology in Villanova鈥檚 Department of Humanities and the Department of Theology, and the project鈥檚 principal investigator.听听
The interdisciplinary effort, supported by nearly $700,000 in听additional听contributions from听Villanova,听the University of听Notre Dame, and听12 other听colleges and universities,听will听explore听how the theology of human nature engages with biology and the social sciences.听Its primary goal听is听to nurture ambitious, science-engaged theological scholarship that addresses听topics听such听as human flourishing, moral agency, freedom听and听the development of virtue.听 听
The research project鈥檚 co-investigators are Gerald McKenny, PhD, Walter Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, and Neil听Arner, PhD, assistant professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame.听The grant will fund a team of听more than听30听fellows, mentors听and educational advisors to collaborate on long-term research projects. Institutions represented include faculty from Boston College, Cambridge University, Princeton Theological Seminary, University of St. Andrews, Wake Forest University and Yale University, among others. Activities will听include six听summer and winter workshops, through which the grant鈥檚 15听researchers will learn from distinguished experts听in a variety of fields听and refine their work-in-progress.听The grant will also sponsor numerous other presentations, publications听and collaborations.听 听
鈥淭his grant听offers us a rare opportunity to听develop new ways of relating religion and science,听while exploring vital听questions about听what it means to live a good human life,鈥澨齨oted Dr.听Couenhoven. 鈥淪uch significant funding听for interdisciplinary听theological听research is extremely unusual.鈥�
The John Templeton Foundation听serves as a philanthropic catalyst for discoveries relating to the deepest and most perplexing questions facing humankind鈥攅ncouraging civil, informed dialogue among scientists, philosophers, and theologians, as well as between such experts and the public at large. 听 听
鈥淰illanova is extremely proud that Dr. Couenhoven is leading the investigation of this critical topic,鈥� said Amanda Grannas, PhD, associate vice provost for Research and Chief Research Officer. 鈥淭his work is aligned with our institutional mission and belief that between true science and true religion there is no intrinsic conflict. This project will find new ways of relating religion and science, which ultimately will significantly benefit humanity.鈥�
Dr.听Couenhoven鈥檚听teaching covers a wide range of issues in ethics, theology and philosophy. His research interests include the topics of free will, personal responsibility, theories of punishment, doctrines of grace, predestination, forgiveness听and ethical theory. He is the author听of two books,听Predestination: A Guide for the Perplexed听(T & T Clark, 2018) and听Stricken by Sin, Cured by Christ: Agency, Necessity, and Culpability in Augustinian Theology听(Oxford University Press, 2013).听Dr.听Couenhoven听received his doctorate in Religion from Yale听University.
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About 蜜桃TV鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, 蜜桃TV鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has cultivated knowledge, understanding and intellectual courage for a purposeful life in a challenging and changing world. With 39 majors across the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, it is the oldest and largest of Villanova鈥檚 colleges, serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students each year. The College is committed to a teacher-scholar model, offering outstanding undergraduate and graduate research opportunities and a rigorous core curriculum that prepares students to become critical thinkers, strong communicators and ethical leaders with a truly global perspective.
About 蜜桃TV: Since 1842, 蜜桃TV鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 蜜桃TV Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, Villanova supports its students鈥� intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit .