DATE=3/14/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=TEMPLETON PRIZE (L-only)

NUMBER=2-287572

BYLINE=JENNY BADNER

DATELINE=NEW YORK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: An Anglican Priest and physicist has been named the winner of the 2002 Templeton Prize for his efforts reconciling science and religion. Jenny Badner in New York reports on winner John Polkinghorne.

TEXT: After 25-years as a particle and mathematical physicist, John Polkinghorne wanted to try something different. So in 1979 he left Britain's Cambridge University to become an Anglican priest.

Rather than leave the world of science behind, Reverend Polkinghorne combined the two forms of inquiry. He has written several books, which explore the relationship between his two fields.

/ / / POLKINGHORNE ACT / / /

You see, I want to take science and religion with great and equal seriousness. And I see them as complementary of each other, and not as rivals. The most important thing that they have in common is that both believe that there is a truth to be taught and to be found--a truth whose attainment comes through the pursuit of well-motivated belief.

/ / / END ACT / / /

Mr. Polkinghorne says he will use some of the prize money to fund work in the interaction of science and religion at Cambridge University, where he remains a Chaplain and a dean.

Past winners include humanitarians such as Mother Theresa, and scientists, including biochemist Arthur Peacocke, last year's winner who is also an Anglican Priest.

In 1972, international financier Sir John Templeton created the award, believed to be the largest monetary prize given to an individual. Sir John says he was inspired by the prestigious Nobel Prize.

/ / / TEMPLETON ACT / / /

We wanted people to think that discoveries of a spiritual nature can be made and should be made and will be made even more rapidly than they are made in the natural sciences. So we borrowed from the wisdom of Alfred Nobel, who has set up those very effective prizes to stimulate research.

/ / / END ACT / / /

Reverend Polkinghorne, who is 71-years old, says understanding that science and spirituality are not mutually exclusive may be his generation's contribution to religion. He calls for discussion of scientific discoveries as a possible meeting ground for dialogue among world religions. [SIGNED]

NEB/NYC/JB/BJS/PT

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