A modern age dialogue between orthodox theology and science

Abstract

The paper deals with the relationship of Orthodox theology and science throughout history and also considers contemporary dialogue of Orthodox theology and science. The foundational principle laid in the thought of Cappadocian Fathers emphasizes theosis as communion of man with God. The next segment deals with the paradox in the search of high knowledge: the highest thing we are looking for is beyond our knowledge, which is the exact reason why Basil of Caesarea has approved of human reasoning and development of human intellect. There is also an important theologian, Gregory Palamas, who has indicated that we cannot come to knowledge of God through secular science but through faith, contemplation and practices of asceticism, from which we are receiving true knowledge. His views are close to the axiom of Gregory the Theologian: Faith is what gives fullness to our reasoning. Then, a contemporary dialogue between Orthodox theology and science is also considered through the lenses of these theologians: Alexei Nesteruk, who represents the phenomenological approach to the relation of Orthodox theology and science; Stoyan Tanev, George Dion Dragas and Kyriacos Markides who represent reconsideration of the relationship between Orthodox theology and science through an anthropic principle; and Christopher Knight who pleads for theological naturalism. We conclude that phenomenological approach of Alexei Nesteruk - who has believed that interference between science and theology is possible by utilization of transcendence and asymmetry between theology and science for better understanding of existential condition of the human person - is close to the patristic view of theology and science.