What good has this prize accomplished? Who decided where to give it?
And who has received it? See an award mentioned below...
At an address by Sir John M. Templeton, May 18, 1982, at Buckingham
Palace in London. “The main purpose of these awards is to help millions
of God’s children to study the life and work of the recipient. Souls will be
uplifted and inspired toward their own personal spiritual growth.
"These awards encourage progress by calling attention to new research
in world religions. Progress is a part of God’s creative process. The
Templeton Awards are given not for saintliness nor for mere good works
but rather for progress in religion.
“The Templeton Award is open to every person who worships God.
Every person is created by God and is a child of God. The Holy Spirit
dwells within each human being. No child of God has yet learned more
than a small amount of God’s infinity and therefore each other. The God
Spirit is cause and creator of all things visible. So all life on the surface
of this one little planet Earth is a reflection of this invisible creative
spirit.
“The recipient of the award has been selected by distinguished judges
from all major religions worldwide and who serve for a three-year
period:
Buddhist: The Buddhist judge is the Dalai Lama.
Hindu: Mr. Justice P. N. Bhagwati of the Supreme Court of India.
Jewish: The Honorable Philip N. Klutznick, former Secretary of
Commerce of the United States, and President of the World
Jewish Congress.
Mormon: Senator Orrin Grant Hatch, United States Senator,
a Mormon from Utah.
Roman Catholic: Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess Josephine
of Luxembourg, a Roman Catholic.
Christian:
The Most Reverend Stuart Blanch, Archbishop of York
Dr. Arthur Robert Peacocke, Dean of Clare College Cambridge
The Right Honorable Lynden O. Pindling, Prime Minister of the Bahamas
Charles Rickett Fillmore, Chairman of the Unity School of Christianity
Senator Mark O. Hatfield, United States Senator from Oregon.
“When these judges consider each nominee, they ask:
Firstly: what did this person do that was new and original.
Secondly: was this a new thing of spiritual nature rather than merely
humanitarian.
Lastly: did it result in a great increase in human’s love or understanding
of God.”
A $200,000 award was given to Billy Graham for his contributions to
evangelism. He was introduced by the Right Honorable Sir Geoffrey
Howe, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
His Royal Highness Prince Philip presented the Templeton Prize to the
Reverend Dr. Graham, founder of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
“Evangelism is a duty for every person who worships God in any form.
Dr. Graham has originated more new ideas in evangelism than any living
person. He has given the Church around the world a new hope and has
contributed vastly to the wider vision and meaning of evangelism. His
cooperation with all denominations to involve the statesmen of the world
in evangelism has left an indelible mark on Christian history.”
He donated the entire prize amount to causes such as hunger relief and
the training of evangelists.
Billy Graham’s boyhood home was across from 4600 Park Road
(near Abbey Place [road]) in Charlotte, NC. There is a granite monument,
GPS Location: 35.1681 -80.8505.
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