The Laws of Life Contest
What is the meaning of life? What is a good life? In order to answer this question, philanthropist John Templeton compiled answers from the major world religions, and from philosophers, authors, scientists and historians, creating the inspirational book, “Discovering the Laws of Life”. Published in 1997, the book is a treasure trove of wisdom from many different fields, encompassing perspectives from religion, science, and various cultures and historical periods. It documents the human search for meaning in a world in which it is sometimes difficult to find.
John Templeton, one of the most successful businessmen of the last century, had a long interest in spiritual questions, evident in his involvement in the Presbyterian Church and his founding of the Templeton Foundation, which awards philanthropic aid for research into spiritual questions. Born in 1912, he passed away at the age of 95 in 2008.
Templeton Press is marking the centenary of John Templeton’s birth by releasing a revised version of the book, retitled “The Essential Worldwide Laws of Life”. The publishing company is also establishing a contest for students to win a scholarship of $5,000. This is primarily a scholarship for high school seniors. Students are asked to share their perspective on the question: what are we here for? They are encouraged to share their vision for themselves and the world. This could take the form of an essay or a video.
John Templeton was a driven and ambitious man who emphasized the importance of having a strong sense of purpose in life. He wrote that it was valuable to recognize one’s own positive traits in order to use these to create a new and better world. This provides us with a “why”, grounding is a solid purpose, that gives us to strength to endure difficult times and to succeed, growing as people and improving the world in which we live. Students are asked to respond to this idea, explaining their purpose and how they could achieve it within the next five years. To be eligible, seniors must be graduating this year and planning to enter high studies in fall.
