Back Transdisciplinarity and the Unity of Knowledge: Beyond the Science and Religion Dialogue


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Dimitry Kiryanov
Cosmology and Creation: An Orthodox Perspective.


Abstract

A question about compatibility theology and scientific worldview is extremely important for modern men. Could we be a religious and at the same time accept that science discovered? Does progress of science completely demolish this possibility and we are stayed with necessity of choice one of two incompatible possibilities? The task of modern theology is to show ways and perspectives of dialogue modern science and theology and separate scientific conceptions from all of ideas which pretend to be a part of scientific knowledge and to show insufficiency of atheistic consideration of the universe.

Cosmology by its definition is the science which has world view character because it asks about origin and evolution of the universe. Central problem of cosmology is a question about beginning of the universe. But real problem emerges when cosmologists assign their theories philosophical or ontological meaning. Nothing must understand as absence some previous substance. Scientific nothing or physical vacuum is not “nothing” in philosophical or theological meaning. The most fundamental aspect of this problem consists of the question: Can science talk about “absolute nothing” at all? If absolute nothing doesn’t merely exist by no means then it cannot be measured or observed by our devices, and, consequently, it doesn’t belong domain of scientific questions.

Obviously, this problem must consider philosophical and theological cosmology. Philosophic cosmology is founded on two facts. First, universe exists; second, it exists specifically. We live in especially type of the universe. Cosmologists tell that our universe is unique in sense that if some of its fundamental parameters were other that they have, universe will not only be void and lifeless, but it can’t have galaxies and stars. But why the universe have this specific form?

This question binds philosophical cosmology with theological view of the universe. Orthodox theology has a positive attitude towards the natural world as a good creation of a good God. But nature was never considered an end in itself; its meaning and purpose can only be revealed in the perspective of Christ who, through the incarnation, recapitulated nature. The Fathers saw nature in the perspective of the hierarchy of the orders of creation, which proceeds from the natural law established by God. Accenting on ontological duality between God and world orthodox theologian V.N. Lossky wrote that creation from “nothing” means act, which produced something beyond the God. There is creation of absolutely new topic, which cannot be founded by divine nature or any material being. St. Fathers of Church such as St. Gregory Nyssa and St. Basil of Cesaria accented that the «Universe is whole, well-proportioned and harmonic». Wholeness and harmony of the Universe are foundation of its cognoscibility for human mind and source all of scientific knowledge. The Greek Fathers asserted that scientific knowledge is incomplete in itself and must be supported by wider views of reality, which are accessible through faith. Knowledge and the sciences thus have their foundation in faith. There is a perception among leading modern Orthodox theologians that science cannot be excluded from the theological vision of God and creation.

There are three different types of cosmology – scientific, philosophic and theological. All of these tell us about our universe by different languages and methods. Each of these has its own way of understanding of the universe which correspond to its own hierarchical level of being, and at the same time all of these are essential for our whole understanding of the universe.

Biography

Rev. Dimitry Kiryanov is candidate of theology (Russian degree as a doctor) of Moscow Orthodox Theological Academy (Theses: Fundamental Principles of Neo-Thomist’s Teaching as main System of Catholic Theology (2005)), PhD in philosophy (Theses: «Methaphysics of Being and Knowledge in Philosophy of Modern Thomism» (2009)). He was graduated physical faculty of Tuymen State University (1994), Tobolsk Orthodox Theological Seminary (1999), Moscow Orthodox Theological Academy (2002) and postgraduate study at Niznevartovsk State Humanities University (2008). His research includes the catholic philosophy, metaphysics and all themes which bond with dialogue between science and religion. Prof. Kiryanov teaches courses in ‘Fundamental theology’, ‘Comparative Theology’, ‘Apologetics’, ‘History of Philosophy’, ‘Conceptions of Modern Science’ and ‘Science and Religion’. He is the author of more than 20 publications. Fr. Dimitry Kiryanov is the member of the European Society for Studying Science and Theology (ESSSAT). In 2006 he was awarded first prize at St. Andrews Biblical Theological Institute on conference “Cosmology and Eschatology: Scientific and Theological Understanding of Ultimate Questions” for the article: «Cosmology and Orthodox Theology».

 



 

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