Belmont University receives grant to study how religion can reduce political polarization

A Belmont University professor will help lead a grant-funded research project on how religion can reduce political polarization.

In collaboration with the University of Washington, Belmont received a $575,655 grant from the John Templeton Foundation to support a three-year, cross-denominational survey.

Belmont Professor Adam Smiley and University of Washington Professor Cheryl Kaiser will lead a team that also includes two Belmont undergraduate researchers to look at how religion can promote neighborliness and compassion.

"This research is crucial for identifying approaches to increase tolerance and civility in our politically divided nation," Smiley said in a news release. "Ultimately, our goal is to understand if deeper engagement with one's faith can lead to more tolerant attitudes across political divides.”

The group’s research will include a two-part study into polarization among Jewish and Muslim participants before and after religious holidays, and a look at whether Bible studies cause Christian participants to experience more or less political prejudice. There will also be a two-week daily survey assessing fluctuations in attitudes among different religious groups toward political parties.

The latest John Templeton grant follows similar, but more sizable news in December when Belmont received $32 million from the Lilly Endowment for a new program on the intersection of religion and the arts.

Formerly Southern Baptist-affiliated, Belmont has sought other opportunities to maintain its Christian heritage while also promoting more religious pluralism. In May, the university decided to change its criteria for hiring faculty and staff “regardless of religious faith.”

Smiley sees this latest grant-funded research project as an extension of that ideal. “We hope to promote social cohesion and human flourishing through our findings,” Smiley said in the news release.

Other recent Belmont news: First look inside Belmont's new medical school: How Frist fits in with others in Tennessee

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on social media @liamsadams.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Belmont University receives grant to study how religion can reduce political polarization