Templeton Prize Ceremonial Meeting ****************************************************************************************** * Templeton Prize Ceremonial Meeting ****************************************************************************************** I must admit, before attending this ceremonial meeting in the Karolinum on the 8th of Dece heard of the Templeton Prize. A rudimentary bit of research prior to attending had me blow has an incredibly rich history of remarkable recipients, among them the very first Templet Mother Teresa in 1973, and 2013 winner Desmond Tutu. Once I realized the gravity, the pres award, I pounced on the opportunity to attend. The event was remarkably well organized, as I noticed the minute I walked in the door and to the Great Hall immediately. There was a coatroom and a desk handing out headphones for those who didn’t speak Czech, and everyone was extremely helpful and attentive. On enterin of the Karolinum, I was stunned. The room was so ornate and grandiose; I knew that I was i special. As the room began to fill out and the crowds gathered in anticipation, the music guests of honour entered the room. Everyone stood to attention as the throngs passed, amon President of the Templeton Foundation himself, John Templeton Jr., the Minister of Culture Republic Daniel Herman, Vice-Rector and Professor in the Institute of Art History Jan Royt Charles University Tomáš Zima, and the guests of honour, 2007 Templeton Prize winner Charl this year’s Templeton Prize winner, Tomáš Halík. From the moment the event began I was in awe. First to speak was Jan Royt, who gave a brie religion in the Czech Republic, calling Prague the spiritual capital of Central Europe. He for long before handing over the reins to another honoured guest, John Templeton Jr. himse beautiful speech outlining first the history of the Templeton foundation itself. He explai been formed in 1972 by his father, John Templeton, with the purpose of awarding those who insights into the limitless potential of the human spirit. He spoke extremely highly also Halík, who he said had rigorously pursued intellectual discussion of the bond between the spirit, and had embraced both believers and non-believers. After finishing his speech, he with a beautiful crystal pyramid to commemorate the event. Next to speak was former Czech priest, and now Minister of Culture Daniel Herman. While he relatively short, he too praised Halík for his promotion of freedom of religion and intell Tomáš Zima, Rector of Charles University, was next to speak. He gave a brief background to Charles Taylor, and highly praised his work as a philosopher, calling him “among the best acclaimed of the modern generation of philosophers.” He pointed out that Dr. Taylor was a lecturer at Charles University, and how he had been the Chairperson of the Jan Hus Educati in 1980-81. After completing his praise of Taylor, he presented him with the Charles Unive which Taylor accepted gracefully and amid much applause. He then went on to give an excellent speech and subsequent lecture which was remarkably in he gave a history of his experience in Prague in the 1980s, which to me was perhaps the mo purely because I had never heard of the Jan Hus Educational Foundation before. The Jan Hus Foundation was set up as an underground education network in former Czechoslovakia under C Taylor stated that the lectures he gave to those students who he taught in utmost secrecy the most rewarding of his life; that people starved of knowledge, hungering for it, were a students he had ever had. I found this truly fascinating. He went on to give a remarkable lecture on the difference between Christendom and Christia are often seen to be of the one but are in fact disparate from one another. As he explaine is a culture, a society profoundly penetrated by the Christian faith, and Christianity is itself. He pointed to the building of the Karolinum as an example of the wonders that can a Christendom, but also remarked that there are dangers to it; that when Christianity beco rules, regulations and chains of command, it can become perhaps too rigid. He feels that m seems to be dissolving the Christendom but that this does not mean Christianity is dying; into a new, perhaps better form, as demonstrated by the forward-thinking manner of Pope Fr Next came the musical interlude. I was truly blown away by this portion of the ceremonial first performance was on the oboe accompanied by the piano, and it was beautiful. What fol more so, as a violinist and a singer entered, giving a soulrending performance together. N the violin performed a harmonic duet, and finally, all 3 came together, accompanied by the silence throughout was matched only by the thunderous applause that followed. After the musicians had left, Tomáš Halík was given the floor. The ovation given as he app podium went on for minutes before he could begin speaking, a symbol of the respect the aud man. As he began, I was immediately drawn in to his speech. The man’s booming voice comman even if I had to listen to a translation through headphones, I could see that this was a m stranger to speaking to crowds. The first thing he pointed out in his speech was that he w Czech Templeton Prize laureate, something I was not aware of; truly a momentous achievemen very interesting anecdote, he told the tale of the only other time he had ever stood in th the Karolinum, 42 years before, in 1972. He was to receive his doctorate that day, and to the speech, he commemorated Jan Palach, among with the many professors who had been fired for speaking out against the Communist regime. He was banned from ever teaching in Charles the spot, a ban that was not lifted for almost 20 years. He never dreamt that he would be again, an awardee of the prestigious Templeton Prize, so far in the future. After that bit history, he began his fascinating lecture on his endeavours not to allow our modern societ spirituality. He spoke on how the concepts of progress and religion had often been parallel concepts to never seeming to meet in the middle. He made the point that Christianity is not disappeari transforming into something better. That while the role of Christianity in telling people happening in the world had been mostly replaced by the media, the sociopolitical role was as ever. Most interesting for me, however, was the discussion of the concepts of faith and doubt. T which Professor Halík approached the apparent warring of these concepts was very unique, i the best quote of the evening: “Faith without doubt can lead to fanaticism; doubt without cynicism and pragmation.” He stated his ideas that Christianity should move away from the missions that have marked centuries, should stop attempting to rally troops to the cause, and should instead guide p spiritual journey, allowing them to come to rest wherever they felt comfortable. As he fin I was well aware of why this man had won the Templeton Prize. His thoughts on harmony and religions are so unique and multi-faceted that they have even influenced Pope Francis hims an honour to be in the same room as him. In conclusion, I would say that this event had a large impact on me. I have never been a r and probably never will be, and so when I entered first and saw the Rector and others garb medieval-like academic attire, I was worried that I had stepped into a Church service. But discussion began, spirituality was at the forefront. Freedom of religion and expression wa the evening. I was delighted to see that the leading Christian minds and philosophers of t are so open and unbiased, that even someone with no religion can walk in, listen to the ta enjoy the intellectual discussion aside from anything else. This was perhaps one of the be attended in my time here, and I would say congratulations to all involved.