Scientists demand to close the Department of Theology at MEPhI

More than 90 scientists signed an open letter demanding the closure of the theology department at the National Research Nuclear University (formerly the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute - MEPhI).

All signatories are academicians or corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAN).

According to the authors of the appeal, the appearance of such a structure in a modern polytechnic university is contrary to world practice and is absurd; higher education students must be taught an accurate scientific approach.

In addition to scientists, about 1,300 more people have signed the letter so far.

After more than one hundred thousand signatures are collected, the document is expected to be sent to the official authorities, the press service of the Russian Academy of Sciences told Interfax . They clarified that the letter was published in the Troitsky Variant newspaper (a publication of the scientific community) back in November last year.

The Department of Theology opened at MEPhI in October 2012 with the goal of “cooperation between Orthodox theology and modern science.” It is headed by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk.