Sacred Knowing, Scientific Insight

Science and spirituality are often viewed as separate domains — one focused on the observable, the other on the transcendent. Yet at the Fetzer Institute, we believe these two ways of knowing are not only complementary but essential to one another. The Science Coalition brings together scientists, scholars, and spiritual leaders who are advancing a new paradigm — one that honors empirical rigor while embracing the depth of spiritual insight.

We believe that true flourishing — of individuals, communities, and the planet — requires more than facts or faith alone. It takes the clarity of science to help us understand how the world works, and the depth of spirituality to remind us why it matters. This coalition embraces both. As Taylor Swift sings, “You’re on your own, kid… but you always have been,” — a line that captures the longing for meaning and belonging in a world that can feel both wondrous and overwhelming. Science can chart the stars and map our DNA, but it’s spirituality that helps us make sense of heartbreak, hope, and the human experience.

Think of Carl Sagan, who once said, “Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.” That spirit lives in this coalition. We are creating a space where awe is welcome in the lab and logic is not left out of the temple — a place where curiosity, reverence, and collaboration come together to illuminate a more connected, compassionate future.

Together, we’re advancing a shared worldview that pushes beyond reductionism and reclaims wonder, mystery, and interconnectedness as vital to the human journey. Through collaborative research, provocative dialogue, and field-defining work, our members explore consciousness, ethics, wellbeing, ecology, and human potential with courage and curiosity.

This isn’t about erasing differences. It’s about widening the lens. It’s about co-creating a vision of knowledge that finds truth in both the measurable and the meaningful — in both the lab and the sacred.