COURSES
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Gelu
Calina |
| 1. Course program: Title: "An introduction to the Dialogue between Science and Theology. An Orthodox Perspective" Location: the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Craiova Tenure of the course: 15 February 2004 - 01 June 2005 Hours/week: 1,5 h/week To whom it is addressed: the target of this course will be the students from the third and fourth year from the Faculty of Theology, the students from the Master's degree courses, students from the faculties of Sociology, Physics, and the graduates from these faculties. Finalization of the course: exam within the summer session. A diploma stating the fact that this course was held within the Science and Religion program in Romania, financed by John Templeton Foundation, USA, will be given. Dissemination of the information from this program: - research activity finalized through published papers; - the creation of a Department of Science and Theology at the University of Craiova 2. Topics: "An introduction to the dialogue between Science and Theology. An Orthodox perspective" - The Separation of Science from Religion - Famous Conflicts between Science and Religion - Darwin versus Christianity - The Relationship between Science & Religion - The Relationship between Science & Theology - Typologies Relating Science and Religion - Faith and Reason: An Introduction - The Changing Relationships between Science and Theology - Theology and Science: Current Issues - Human Nature in Theology and Science - Incarnation and Anthropology - Immortality, Resurrection, and the Future of the Nature |
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Doru
Costache |
| Rev. Dr. Doru Costache with the participation of Dr. Basarab Nicolescu & Dr. Magda Stavinschi & Rev. George Istodor & Ass. Cristian BUCHIU The Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Ovidius University - Constanţa The second part of February - the first part of June 2005 Two hours weekly Additionally, a free research seminar will be organized Addressed to students of year III, all specialties (Pastoral Theology, Social Assistance, Theology and Communication, Theology and Philology) Verification: one writing test (at the end of June), one research paper (maximum 7 pages). The best students will be encouraged to further their work towards degree thesis. Awardees will receive a diploma, with the mention that Traditional Cosmology and Scientific Paradigms course was part of Science and Religion in Romania Program Traditional Cosmology and Scientific Paradigms An Eastern Christian Theological & Interdisciplinary Outlook - University Course - Focus The present course project intends to be a historical and interdisciplinary analytical inquiry, dealing with the relationship between traditional Eastern Christian worldview and philosophical & scientific cosmologies. The aim is to study the morphology of Eastern Christian experience within traditional and modern scientific frameworks, in order to both understand the evolution of its spirituality and to evaluate its today relevance. Furthermore the course will focus on asserting that the Orthodox tradition offers a unique insight into Christian theology & culture, providing a definite, practical spiritual experience able to withstand otherwise disconcerting shifts in the changing cosmologies. Output The primary goal is to undertake and complete such laborious and demanding scholarly enterprise and have its outcome published. The secondary one is to promote the interdisciplinary perspective and the science & theology/spirituality dialogue within Romanian academic circles. Taking into account the intellectual estrangement of the scientific and theological communities in Romania during the communist regime (the two communities, alien to one another even today, are characterized by mutual ignorance, lack of reciprocal interest and avoidance of interdisciplinary subjects), such work should be an important step towards regaining normality. Further wide-impact popularization is intended. Content The actual structure of the course derives from the originally long-term interdisciplinary course given by D. Costache at the University of Bucharest (2000-2004). The project should follow these guidelines: Introduction: Theology, Spiritual Life and the Scientific Understanding of Reality 1 Hermeneutical prolegomena and main aspects of the biblical perspective upon creation 2 Hellenism and patristic worldview (Clement of Alexandria and St Athanasius the Great) 3 Patristic commentaries to Genesis (Sts Basil the Great and John Chrysostom) 4 From classical commentaries to the mystical worldview (Sts Maximus Confessor and Symeon the New Theologian) 5 The cosmological dimension of liturgy and the ascetic experience 6 Some philosophical insights into modern ideas about universe 7 The fears of a generation: the infinite universe 8 Galilean mathematics and Newtonian gravity 9 Relativity theories and quantum physics: towards a new image of reality 10 Big Bang and inflationary universe 11 Teleological cosmology and the anthropic principle 12 Chaos theory, fractals, and complexity 13 The transdisciplinary perspective: a multi-level reality 14 Towards a reinterpretation of the patristic theory of the Logos Conclusion: The Spiritual Life within the New Cosmological Frame Conclusion: Geodesics in Chaos. Spiritual Experience within Contemporary Context |
|
Adrian Lemeni |
| Dr. Adrian Lemeni Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Bucharest 1. Introduction. The Presentation of the object of study. The coordinates of the dialogue between science and theology in contemporary society. 2. The typology of the relationship between science and theology. 3. The historical references in the rapport between theological and scientific knowledge. Myth and science in the Ancient Greece. 4. The religious dimension of the scientific knowledge in the Middle Age. 5. The epistemological implications of the modernity and their influence in the relationship between science and theology 6. From the scientism to the paradigm of the contemporary science 7. The religious knowledge-an expression of the spiritual and ecclesial experience 8. The reciprocity between cataphatism and apophatism in the patristic gnoseology 9. The iconic ontology of the patristic gnoseology 10. The methodological references of the Fathers of Church in their epistemological approach specify for the meeting between the Gospel and the Hellenistic culture. 11. The epistemological revolution of the quantum physics. The implications of the principle of uncertainty 12. The limits of the axiomatic thinking. Godel's theorem. 13. The philosophical epistemology as an interface between the scientific research and the theological thinking. 14. Conclusions. The risk of the understanding of the science as ideology. For the building of the dialogue between theology and science with the conservation of the distinctive competences. |
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Magda
Stavinschi |
| Dr. Magda Stavinschi Topics proposed: 1-2. What does contemporary cosmology mean. (a short review of the main knowledge which mankind has today about the universe) (2 lectures) 3-4. A short history of cosmology paradigms 5-6. The Romanian Church - a protector of science (the students will be encouraged to find themselves documents, which support this assertion) 7-8. Two exceptional predecessors of the dialogue between science and religion: Dionysius Exiguus, the creator of the universal calendar and Hrisant Notara ( a collaborator of Cassini, the first director of the Observatory in Paris, and the author of a prestigious scientific work published in Paris, who became a patriarch in Jerusalem). 9. Universe or multiverse? What does this mean to theology? 10. Time, in science and theology 11. If there is life beyond the Earth, how does it influence our faith? 12-13. What can we say today about the dialogue between cosmology and religion? 14. The generation of the 21st century and religion (commentaries with the help of the students) The course is firstly intended for the students, but it can be opened to any person interested in the subject approached. Rapprochement method: The presentations will be generally made under the form of lectures, power point, and as many students as possible are to be involved, either on the basis of a dialogue with them or through their involvement in the enrichment of the existing documentation. Finalization method of the course: The course will end with an exam, possibly with attendance diplomas for those who only want to attend. Main Bibliography: M. Stavinschi (collection coordinator) Noua reprezentare a lumii/ The New Representation of the World (the first three volumes) XXI: Eonul dogmatic Basarab Nicolescu, M. Stavinschi Stiinta si religie. Antagonism sau complementaritate?/ Science and Religion. Antagonism or Complementarity? XXI: Eonul dogmatic Publishing House, 2002 Jean-Pierre Lonchamp "Stiinta si credinta"/Science and Faith (Translation by M. Stavinschi) XXI Eonul Dogmatic Publishing House, 2003 John F. Haught Stiinta si religie, de la conflict la dialog/Science and Religion, from Conflict to Dialogue Translation by M. Stavinschi, D. Ionescu XXI: Eonul dogmatic, 2002, ISBN 973-85146-7-3 V. Mioc, D. Mioc Cronica observatiilor astronomice românesti/ The Chronicle of the Romanian Astronomical Observations Editura stiintifica si enciclopedica/The Scientific and Encyclopedic Publishing House,Bucharest, 1977 M. Stavinschi Timpul de-a lungul...timpului/Time... throughout Time Amcopress Publishing House, 2003, ISBN 973-98785-2-0 Trinh Xuan Thuan La mélodie secrète,...et l'homme créa l'univers in print, XXI: Eonul dogmatic Jean-Pierre Lonchamp "Afacerea Galilei" (Translation by M. si C. Stavinschi) XXI Eonul Dogmatic Publishing House, 2004 |
|
Gheorghe Stratan |
| Professor Dr. Gheorghe Stratan Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj 1. First week: The outline of the Course. The Origins of Science and Religion. Why we study the relations between Science and Religion? 2. Second week: Arabs, Hebrews and Christians and their role in Western Science. The problem of Christian origin of Science. Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodoxy and the Science. 3. Third week: The relation between Science and Religion in the 17th century. Revolution or Evolution in Science? But in Theology? 4. Fourth week: Special event. The meeting with the students and professors of the Faculties of Theology and Sciences: Opinions about Science and Religion. 5. Fifth week: Contemporary attitudes: Pope John Paul II and Galileo. From Physics to Biology. Petrucci and Antinori. 6. Sixth Week: How Science borrows from Religion. God and the Laws of Nature. 7. Seventh week: Science and Religion about the origin of Universe. Physical and Theological Difficulties. How old is the Universe? The Biblical answer, the Scientific answer. 8. Eighth week: Open Universe, closed Universe. Are the Universe and human (ordinary) life limited between Genesis and Apocalypse? What are the chances for perpetual life? 9. Ninth week: Science, Philosophy and Theology in the search for meaning. 10. Tenth week: Special event; public lecture: The Critical Realism in Science and Theology. 11. Eleventh week: Scientific facts and Religious values. The Scientist's attitude towards Creation? 12. Twelfth week: The place of man in Religion and in Science. The Anthropic Principle. 13. Thirteenth week: Scientific and Religious Anthropology: the object of study and relation between their methods and approaches. 14. Fourteenth week: The Orthodox view on Science and Religion. |