Problems of compatibility of science and religion in a secular education system

1. Entity type Lemma
2. Original titleПроблемы совместимости науки и религии в светской системе образования
3. Language term Russian
4. lemma author Asliturk, Miriam
5. lemma category Modes of interaction > Conflict - Scientific theories and disciplines > Biology:evolution - Scientific theories and disciplines > Religious studies - Various approaches to the problem of correlation between science and theology - Education, Science and Orthodoxy
6. Publication date 19-01-2017
7. lemma work Борисов, Всеволод Васильевич [Author]. Проблемы совместимости науки и религии в светской системе образования
8. lemma manifestations Наука. Инновации. Образование.
9. Keywords Evolution - Russian education system - Higher education - Newton, Isaac (1643-1727) - Darwin, Charles (1858) - Galilei, Galileo (1564-1642) - Russian Orthodox Church - History of Science
10. Url Click Here
11. Citations
    1. <div class="tab active"> <p>БОРИСОВ, ВСЕВОЛОД ВАСИЛЬЕВИЧ (2013). Проблемы совместимости науки и религии в светской системе образования. <em>Наука. Инновации. Образование. </em>Retrieved from: <a href="http://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/problemy-sovmestimosti-nauki-i-religii-v-svetskoy-sisteme-obrazovaniya">http://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/problemy-sovmestimosti-nauki-i-religii-v-svetskoy-sisteme-obrazovaniya</a> </p> </div>
12. Lemma body

    1. The author poses two main questions in the text: is it legitimate to teach religious subjects at schools and should secular universities have theology chairs? Historically, religion and science used the same method of idealistic imagination when describing reality. It was only in 15th century Europe that the empirical, experimental method in science appeared, whereas religion had dominated scientific thought for twelve centuries. Moreover, even following the 15th century, scientists largely remained faithful Christians and had conflicts with the Church only because of the Church’s dogmatic nature. For example, Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was a faithful Catholic but criticized the Church when it tried to control scientific thought. Isaac Newton’s (1643-1727) works on the solar system and in mathematics became basic for future scientific research, while Newton was a loyal Christian. The major conflict between religion and the scientific community came about in reaction to the publication of Charles Darwin’s (1809-1882) theory of evolution. 

       The author believes that religion is the reflection of the irrationality of human nature and that humanity is not able to realize the nature of the human subjective experience. Tastes differ. Likewise multiple human experiences are a ground for religious beliefs because they do not use rational logic as a method of research. Humans are social animals. This is why they create a division between good and bad to regulate society. Although society needs reflection on ethics and morals, the Church cannot be a sole authority in this respect due to its support of wars and other violent acts. This is why in most countries the Church is separated from the state.

       The author thinks that teaching of the “Basis of Orthodox Christian Culture” at schools contradicts the Russian constitution. However, he believes that there is hope that Russia will have real modernization soon and will not need religion at schools. The legitimate place of religion at school, according to the author, is within the framework of literature classes because literature does not have to prove if the events in the books are real or not. Theology has its place at universities but it should not be seen as an independent subject. Students who study mathematics can study theology but only as an auxiliary subject to satisfy their curiosity. This, concludes the author, is why the opening of a theological chair at the Russian National Atom Research Centre met with so much criticism in the Russian scientific community. This measure was seen as an unjustified use of public funds for irrelevant projects.