Christian Retailing

Sir John Templeton dies Print Email
Wednesday, 09 July 2008 08:00 PM America/New_York

Philanthropist Sir John Templeton, founder of the Templeton funds and the Templeton Prize, which honors research in religion and science, died of pneumonia Tuesday in a hospital in the Bahamas. He was 95.

One of the world's best-known figures, Templeton appeared on Wall $treet Week, drawing hundreds of investors to the Templeton Growth Fund's annual meetings, USA Today reported.

He was equally well-known for his charitable work, for which he was knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth in 1987. His most famous endowment was the Templeton Prize, with past recipients featuring Mother Teresa and evangelist Billy Graham.

A lifelong Presbyterian, Templeton felt that discoveries in science should increase interest in religion, not decrease it, USA Today reported.

In addition to the Templeton Prize, the John Templeton Foundation also awarded the Epiphany Prizes for Inspiring Movies & TV, which are given to the best movie and the best TV show that "resulted in a great increase in man's love or understanding of God." Amazing Grace-a Bristol Bay Productions movie on the life story of William Wilberforce, England's Christian abolitionist leader-won the $50,000 Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring Movie of 2007.