The Relationship between Christian Organizations and the Scientific Community in Modern Russia: the Experience of Sociological Research

Introduction. The article presents the results of a sociological research devoted to the study of the relationship between Christian denominations and the scientific community in modern Russia. The relevance of the topic is due to the contradiction between the expansion of the discussion about the dialogue of religion and science among theologians and the rejection of this idea among ordinary Christians. At the same time, empirical studies of the attitude of Russian Christians to the scientific community are practically absent. Methodology and sources. The methodological model of the study was an approach to studying the relationship between science and religion from the point of view of the ethos of the scientific and religious community. The methodology was also based on a typology that identifies such types of interrelationships between religion and science as confrontation and conflict, independence, dialogue, rapprochement and synthesis. The participants in the study, conducted in 2023–2024, were clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church and major Protestant denominations such as Baptists, Pentecostals, Seventh-day Adventists, etc. The sample included both ordinary parishioners, church rectors, pastors, and clergymen who are teachers of Christian educational institutions. The research used methods such as standardized interviews and surveys. Results and discussion. An analysis of the results showed that the majority of respondents believe that there is a dialogue between Christianity and science today. However, only a small number of Christian clergy and pastors who, in addition to theological, have a natural science education, have a clear understanding of what Christianity and science can discuss in this dialogue. Ordinary priests and parishioners of Christian churches continue to evaluate the relationship between Christianity and science as a confrontation or independence and treat science as a kind of knowledge that is fundamentally opposed and alien to Christianity. Conclusion. Thus, the study showed that the features of the value system characteristic of the majority of the Christian community actually hinder their real interaction with scientists.

Authors: Tatiana N. Klementyeva

Direction: Sociology

Keywords: religion, science, Christianity, conflict, independence, rapprochement, synthesis

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