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Natural Sciences and Theology
- Lemma
- Prirodne naue i teologija
- Serbian
- Lecture by Bishop Maksim Vasiljevic (en)
- Stevanovic, Aleksandra
- Modes of interaction - Orthodox theological tradition and practice > Status of theology - Key thinkers - Concepts of knowledge and modes of reasoning
- 09-07-2018
- TV Hram [TelevisionProducer]. Bishop Maksim on Natural Sciences and Theology
- YouTube
- Galilei, Galileo (1564-1642) - Jaeger, Wernern
- 09/07/2018
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The lecture by His Grace Bishop Dr. Maksim (Vasiljević) on “Natural Sciences and Theology” was delivered on May 18th at the Museum of Science and Technology in Belgrade. The Bishop focused on the points of contact between natural sciences (biology, physics, medical therapy…) and theology that would enable their meaningful dialogue.
His Grace Bishop Dr. Maksim (Vasiljević) implied that life in Orthodox Christian experience is not understood merely as “moral” or “spiritual” (contrary to somatic, physiological), but as a complex fact and reality of God-given life in all dimensions. The Bishop, speaking on the science–religion permeating, talked about the necessity of a complementary and multidisciplinary approach. Such approach arises from the fact that human reality is determined by the “fallen” state of nature (understood anthropologically and cosmologically), which, due to the inevitable entropy tends to chaos, and transcendental impulse towards genuine existence which does not want to know about death and corruptibility. The Bishop stressed the significance of science and scientific truth. Religious beliefs of scientists have always been accentuated; however, the Bishop warned that that is limited to individual, personal belief. A true encounter of science and religion does not have an essential reflection onto the civilization today. The fact that a scientist is a believer, practicing religion, does not have any impact upon science and civilization.
In that sense, the encounter should be in the search of the truth, one same truth, one same aim in the civilization. Before the time of Socrates, searching for truth presented theology, as Werner Jaeger pointed out. Science originated from two basic principles: one that the world is gifted with specific logoses, that is laws, and the other that the world is different from God. Hence, many claim that science is the child of theology. However, the Bishop pointed at the fact that the child grew up and turned against its mother. The reasons for that are to be found in the crisis of the Medieval Church, on the West, and the relationship between Galileo and Roman Catholic Church back then. Although it was believed that the problem was Copernicus, the problem was that science tended to be autonomous and self-sufficient. However, similar tendency existed in theology – (scholastics) tended to individuality.
Now it is clear that the world spheres are mutually dependent. You cannot examine one thing without examining the other too (for instance flowers and bees, botany and zoology). Hence, this individual methodology has been surpassed. Holistic approach is needed and there, science and religion coincide. The meeting of science and religion may be achieved only on the account of the question “Who is man?”, which is one of the oldest civilizational questions.
By considering the question of freedom and self, Bishop Maksim explored where science and religion permeate each other and invited all to the dialog of love and metamorphosis for a true dialog is possible once we recognize mutual benefices, given by God.
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