Translated material
Didn't take it for granted
Academics refuse to recognize theology as science
The missionary activity of the Russian Orthodox Church in the highest circles of power seems to have overflowed the patience of the oldest academicians. Ten full members of the Russian Academy of Sciences immediately addressed a letter to the head of state, thus expressing their concern about the clericalization of society. Scientists recalled that constitutionally the church is separated from the state, but its influence is felt in almost all spheres, including education and even science. The attempt to include theology in the list of scientific specialties in the Higher Attestation Commission, which approves the awarding of scientific degrees, was taken almost as a personal insult by academicians, including two Nobel Prize laureates - Zhores Alferov and Vitaly Ginzburg.“We do not perceive theology as a science,” Academician Ginzburg told Vremya Novostey, who considers the prospect of officially registered candidates or doctors of theology to appear in Russia as “complete nonsense.” The academicians’ address to the president especially emphasizes that “any science operates with facts, logic, evidence, but not with faith.” In fact, the desire of the Russian Orthodox Church to equate the “set of religious dogmas” with scientific teaching, as well as the more successful introduction into the minds of officials and ordinary Russians of the idea of the need to introduce the course “Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture” into the school curriculum, prompted atheists from the Russian Academy of Sciences to write a letter to Vladimir Putin. “We considered it necessary to respond to the fact that Orthodox lessons are already being introduced in schools, although not yet at the federal, but at the regional level,” explained Mr. Ginzburg. It is noteworthy that this appeal is, rather, an emotional outburst of scientists - Vitaly Ginzburg admits that he does not particularly count on the authorities’ response to the atheists from the Russian Academy of Sciences.