Self -defense of science

A group of scientists sent an appeal to the Ministry of Education and Science to the first decision in Russia to assign a scientific degree on theology, the New Gazeta reports . The defense took place on June 1.

The application was signed by the head of the Institute of Problems of Information of the RAS Information Yuri Panchin, a leading researcher at the Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology of Moscow State University Vladimir Aleshin, leading researchers of the Paleontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Kuznetsov and Dmitry Shcherbakov. In their opinion, we are not talking about science, but about the spread of the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church using an administrative resource.

The authors of the appeal indicate a number of violations committed during protection. The statement notes that the order of the Ministry of Education and Science, which allows to award the degree of "theologian," entered into force after protection. Thus, the united dissertation council on theology, in which the defense was held, could award the degree only in historical or philosophical sciences.

In addition, the conclusion of the dissociator and the list of its members were published not within the due ten -day period, but only on June 21. Scientists considered another violation to defend those who wanted to take part in the discussion, and journalists

In March last year, Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy, Russian Academy of National Economy and Civil Service of the President Vladimir Mau and the Orthodox Holy Tikhonovsky University, Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov, as well as the rector of general church graduate school and doctoral studies, Metropolitan Ilarion (Alfeev) signed an agreement on the creation on the creation on the basis of their establishments of the United Dissertation Council in the specialty "Theology" .

This is the first dissertation council on theology in modern Russia. His education became possible after the decision of the Presidium of the Higher Certificate Commission, which on October 12, 2015 recognized the theology as a scientific specialty.

June 1 in general church graduate school and doctoral studies named after Cyril and Methodius Dean of the Theological Faculty of the Orthodox Holy Tikhonovsky University, Doctor of Theology, Archpriest Pavel Khondzinsky, presented the dissertation on the topic "Resolution of the problems of Russian theology of the XVIII century in the synthesis of St. Filaret, Metropolitan of Moscow."

The defense lasted about four hours. The hall of general church graduate school could not accommodate everyone. The discussion of opponents has unfolded around whether the personal experience of faith and the life of the theologian can be used in writing a scientific work. Among the critics there were many representatives of natural sciences. The disable made a decision to award the Chondin scientific degree.