RELATIONSHIPS RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS AND THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IN MODERN RUSSIA

Abstract

Background. In modern philosophical literature, three positions of the relationship between science and religion in the modern world are highlighted – conflict, complementarity and dialogue, synthesis and integration. To determine the attitude of the participants of this interaction themselves, believers and scientists, a sociological study was conducted. Purpose. The purpose of the study was to research the attitude of representatives of religious denominations of modern Russia to science and the scientific community. Achieving this goal involved studying the attitude of representatives of religious denominations to the scientific community, to science as a way of knowing reality, to the conflict between science and religion, as well as to the possibility of scientific proof of religious beliefs. Materials and methods. The main research method was an expert survey, which was conducted in the form of an in-depth interview and a questionnaire survey. A total of 23 experts were interviewed, who were divided into two groups representing biblical and Eastern religions. Results. Based on the analysis of the results obtained, it was concluded that of the three points of view on the relationship between religion and science, the position of conflict is the least popular. However, there are more supporters of the idea of a conflict between religion and science among representatives of biblical religions than among representatives of Eastern religions. The point of view that asserts the possibility of a synthesis of religion and science is also not widespread, and is typical mainly for representatives of Eastern religions who have deep knowledge in the field of natural sciences. The most common point of view is the position of complementarity of science and religion, expressed in the possibility of using scientific data to confirm the main provisions of the religious worldview.

Keywords

• science
• religion
• conflict
• complementarity
• dialogue
• synthesis
• scientific community
• religious denominations