Cross-cultural dialogue in the ethno-confessional space through the prism of the theory of intelligent networks by Randall Collins

Abstract

The article summarizes experience of conducting a series of theological scientific conferences devoted to interfaith dialogue and social contribution of faith-based organizations. These educative activities took place at N.A. Dobrolyubov State Linguistic University of Nizhny Novgorod in close collaboration with Nizhny Novgorod State Agricultural Academy and Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod. The organization of such conferences itself constitutes a form of communication among believers and non-believers, believers of different religious denominations, scholars and representatives of religious organizations, religious organizations and government bodies, etc. The experience of the conferences is considered by the author through the prism of theory of intelligent networks developed by the American macrosociologist Randall Collins. In compliance with the scientist’s theoretical constructs, intelligent networks (a collaboration of scientists in such an intelligent network results in creation of scientific schools), which are steadily evolving in the course of such intellectual rituals, including above-mentioned conferences, play a part of a backbone of spiritual life of mankind. They, avoiding violence and coercion, by means of dialogue and cooperation secure its long-term development. Intellectual networks and crystallized intellectual groups, as well as those formed during the analyzed conferences, make an influence on practice of people's lives because of their stable and successive nature. Hence, they are crucial for society. The publication of collections of conference materials and collective monographs is considered to be a substantiated result of the conferences. The conferences constituted a platform for social service experience exchange between religious organizations of different dogmatic traditions. What is more, these conferences contributed to reinforcement of interfaith peace and intensification of ethno-confessional cross-cultural dialogue in the region.

Keywords

• dialogue
• religion
• scientists
• religious organizations
• tolerance
• the theory of intelligent networks
• conferences
• intellectual rituals