ESSAY TOPICS

The following topics are examples of what may fall into the range of the contest as far as essay topics are concerned. Overall, they represent an underlying concern with a more accurate and complete understanding of reality and our existence. Any similar topic in the same lines is acceptable.


Social Sciences    (Back to the top)

Articles in the field of social sciences like sociology, psychology, history, anthropology, and economics may deal with one of the topics below or any topic that is similar in essence. They include, but are not limited to:

  • What do we value most in this life and what constitutes true wealth?
  • The economic value of love, trust, and truth
  • Would it matter how much we owned or had access to – if we lived in a world where no one practiced compassion or generosity?
  • The social benefits of loving
  • Whether true altruism and unconditional love is possible for human beings
  • Commonalities and particularities of religious experiences across cultures
  • The benefits of religious values, virtues and articles of faith to society
  • The goals and limits of social studies on religion.

Arts and Culture    (Back to the top)

The Fountain encourages writing that uses insights into arts and culture to provide a different perspective on existence. They include, but are not limited to:

  • Uses of fiction (literature, poetry, etc) for spiritual or religious purposes.
  • The ways religion can contribute to or foster aesthetic approaches
  • The healing impact of music on our bodies and our minds
  • The sounds of the natural world, and sacred music that resonates deeply within us
  • The impact of a ceaseless sound on our bodies and our minds

Religion and Philosophy   (Back to the top)

Given its emphasis on the spiritual, The Fountain particularly encourages articles on religion and theology that relate to fundamental questions of life. The sample topics may include, but are not limited to

  • The concept of earthly love versus divine or spiritual love
  • Theological discussions on the design argument
  • The design argument and anthropic principle
  • Ways and examples to define and measure spirituality
  • Is the spirit separate and distinct from the body?
  • Ways and examples to measure and approximate the power of prayer or the power of meditation
  • The effects of prayer and spiritual practices on our body and our mind
  • Why bad things happen to good people
  • The sources of radical changes in our perception and behavior
  • Reflecting on spiritual and religious values that inspire us to develop a new relationship with the earth
  • The relationship between spiritual and religious beliefs and our treatment of the environment and eco-system
  • Whether and how humankind is part of the earth or separate
  • The spiritual and moral responsibility of humankind to the earth
  • Dreams as a source of knowledge
  • The ways modernity has changed the concept of “Loving your neighbor.
  • Whether and how humankind is part of the earth or separate
  • The spiritual and moral responsibility of humankind to the earth
  • Dreams as a source of knowledge
  • The ways modernity has changed the concept of Loving your neighbor