The Institute for Advanced Study in Science and Orthodoxy

I.A.S.S.O.

GOALS

The experience gained in the last years, the opening of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the ecumenical dialogue with other churches, the geographical position, the policy and its role in the stability in South-Eastern Europe, the ever greater interest in the approach between science and religion in Romania, as well as in the Orthodox World of the region and even world wide require an ampler program, both in dimensions and in participation.

The Institute firstly intends to continue what has been done positively so far, to approach new ways for the improvement of the programs just developed in Romania and to promote it on an area as far as possible, both in Romania and in the Orthodox world, especially in the neighboring countries.

In the first place, to our call for the accomplishment of a new program answered an impressive number of specialists, of all ages and various professions.

We have to mention the first pan-orthodox Congress “The Dialogue between Science and Religion in the Orthodox World” with the participations of ten countries, 7 of them with majority orthodox believers.

GRANTS offered by IASSO

1. Alina Tenescu

Transformation of sites, from sacred to profane. Theory of non-sites, theology of cyber-space and mass-media impact upon the anthropology of the post-modernity

2. Paula Bud

Rationality of creation vs. theory of the double truth

3. Fr. John Downie, Cristian Untea, Cezar Pavalascu

The Concept of rationality as a dialogue interface between science and theology in the vision of Father Dumitru Staniloae

4. Fr. Neofit Linte

Actual juridical anthropology as an interface in the dialogue between theology and science

5. Dan Andrei Vasilescu

Towards a psychology of awareness

6. Postelnicu Emil

The concept of death in regard of the new bio-technologies

7. Fr. Razvan Ionescu, Camelia Dascalu

Orthodoxy and Occident: coeval questions regarding the topics of theology and sciences in the work of Father Sofronie Zaharov (1896-1993)

8. Carmen Istodor, Fr. Aurel Mihai, Marius Marin, Fr. G. Istodor

The Anthropic principle - convergence and complementarities in the dialogue between science and theology

COORDINATION OF THE PROGRAM

The activities within the program are organized and supervised by a Central Board:

·        Principal investigator: Magda Stavinschi

·        Scientific Coordinator and Supervisor: Basarab Nicolescu