In 2022, we launched the Science of Religious and Spiritual Exercises (SoRSE) portfolio, funding 13 projects studying a variety of practices. A second round of Requests For Proposals (RFP) in this area of study has been announced. Visit this link to learn about the current RFP, open through July 2, 2023.
This second RFP will give priority to research on spiritual exercises not represented in the previously funded projects, listed here. Click the links below to learn more about each project.
Accelerating Global Spiritual Innovation Sacred Design Lab seeks to propose a working definition of, and map the global landscape of spiritual innovation. Following a series of field visits and extensive interviews with innovators, the lab plans to develop resources to support scientists and practitioners working to understand and promote spiritual wellbeing.
Centering and Flourishing: A Smartphone-Based Intervention Experiment This project aims to evaluate the impact of a Christian contemplative practice — the Centering Prayer — on practitioners' wellbeing.
Creating the Sacred from the Profane: The Psychological Mechanisms, Moderators, and Outcomes of Mass Singing Events Held By Koolulam This project aims to elucidate the impact of collective singing on wellbeing. A mix of field and lab studies will be used to explore collective effervescence — the feeling of unity and sacredness — as a potential mediator of the relationship between the practice of mass singing and flourishing.
Expanding the Exercise, Science, and Discourse of Spiritual Flourishing: Toward a Science and Practice of Indigenous Traditions This project seeks to bring attention to the scientific study of ancient systems of Indigenous traditions, with a focus on Deep Relationality and Ecological Belonging. The researchers are working in collaboration with the Inuit Peoples of the Arctic region; the Mayan Indigenous communities of Mesoamerica; and five Indigenous peoples of the Putumayo region in South America.
Extending the Table: Does Shabbat Dinner as a Spiritual Practice Increase Social Connectedness? This project will evaluate the hypothesis that the practice of Shabbat increases social connectedness at the relational, collective, and universal levels. Researchers will collect and measure data from participants of OneTable, a non-profit program encouraging 20-30 year olds to find, share, and enjoy Shabbat dinners.
From the Heart: Testing the Efficacy of Heart-Centered Contemplation Can the practice of heart-centered spiritual exercises from Christian and Muslim traditions increase human flourishing by positively impacting one's health and interpersonal behaviors?
Fasting and Flourishing: A Comparative Analysis In this multi-method, multi-year research project, the effects of religious fasting during Yom Kippur will be investigated. The researchers will engage a panel of practitioners from multiple faith traditions to provide input, approve study designs, and discuss results and findings.
Gratitude Blessings as a Key to Flourishing: The Translational Potential of the Jewish "Nisim B'chol Yom" (Miracles of the Every Day) Does engagement in Jewish blessing practices increase daily feelings of gratitude? Do those feelings of gratitude lead to enhanced feelings of wellbeing, social connection, and virtuous behaviors? Can this spiritual exercise be put into a more nonsectarian form while still allowing accrual of benefits?
Temporal Dynamics of Felt Security in Jewish Ritual and Experience This project aims to examine the impact of Jewish practice of Shabbat and personal prayers (Hitbodedut) on flourishing-related outcomes both in the moment and over time.
The Christian Practice of Lament: Mechanisms of Change, Moderators, and Flourishing Outcomes Research from an interdisciplinary team will examine if the regular practice of lament increases flourishing, and if so, will explore what are the spiritual or psychological mechanisms and other factors that lead to this increase.
The Paradoxical Effects of Religious Fasting on Prosociality and Flourishing Physical hunger appears to be associated with some antisocial aspects of human nature. Why then would religious traditions recommend fasting as a spiritual discipline?
Toward Evidence-Based Spiritual Therapeutics: Randomized Controlled Trial of Hesychastic Prayer Do practices in theistic traditions offer psychological benefits? This team is studying the effects of Hesychastic prayer, a widespread simple form of contemplative prayer with origins in the Orthodox Christian tradition, also known as the Jesus Prayer, on the wellbeing of self-identified Christians.
Understanding the Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Outcomes of the Ramadan Fast What are the effects of the Ramadan fast on physical and mental health, social relationships, sense of fulfillment, life satisfaction, and spirituality?
