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Collaboration sounds inspiring—until you’re living it. More people. More perspectives. More meetings. More chances for miscommunication. And yet, when scientists and spiritual practitioners truly build something together, the result can be deeper insight, more faithful context, and outcomes that actually land in the real world.
That’s why Blueprint 1543 created “When Spiritual Practitioners and Scientists Collaborate for Greater Impact: A Re-SoRSE Guide on Collaboration.” This resource distills the lived experience of 17 scientist–practitioner teams funded through the Templeton World Charity Foundation’s Science of Religious and Spiritual Exercises (SoRSE) initiative—teams studying practices like fasting, prayer, group singing, meditation stances, confession, lament, Shabbat dinners, and more, across multiple religious traditions.
Rather than offering idealized theory, the guide shares the behind-the-scenes realities: what collaboration actually looks like, what makes it work, and what commonly causes it to stall. It opens with a vivid story of an unusually effective partnership (full of candor and laughter), then pulls out repeatable principles you can apply in your own context—whether you’re a researcher, clergy member, nonprofit leader, or community partner.
What you’ll find inside
- Principles for collaboration that lasts (from choosing the right people to designing the work well)
- Common obstacles when studying the sacred—and how strong partnerships help teams navigate them
- Practical questions to ask at the start, along the way, and at the conclusion of a project
- Encouragement and wisdom from colleagues who’ve learned through experience (and mistakes)
If you’re building research that involves real communities—or you’re a practitioner curious about partnering with scholars—this guide is meant to save you time, reduce friction, and help you build collaborations that are not only productive, but genuinely life-giving.
