On a Form of 'Freedom of Religion': Religious Community's Acts Onto the Contemporary 'Science-Religion Dialogue' Versus a ‘What is Truth?’ Inter/Trans-Disciplinary, Intercultural and Ecumenical Inquiry

‘What is Truth?’ Autumn School event, November 22-28, 2014, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

45 Pages Posted: 11 May 2015

See all articles by Nicolae Bulz

Nicolae Bulz

‘Interdisciplinary Entities Laboratory', 2000; Center for Studies and Research on Agrosilvical Biodiversity „Acad. David DAVIDESCU”(CSCBAS)

Date Written: November 28, 2014

Abstract

This study is an original contribution with an entire project dedicated to the challenge putted in act within the initiative from the St Mary’s College, School of Divinity, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK: “Scientists in Congregations Scotland” [Staff: Professor Ivor Davidson, Dr. Andrew Torrance, Rev. Amanda Quick] - based on a grant from John Templeton Foundation, 2014-2016. There were announced 19 winning projects over Scotland, UK. ‘What is Truth?’ is the Northern located winning project, and the single from a Cathedral. The study implicitly presents a form of “Freedom of Religion”: religious community’s acts onto the contemporary “Science-Religion Dialogue” versus a ‘What is Truth?’ inter/trans-disciplinary, intercultural and ecumenical inquiry. All the theological and scientific interlinked reality of this project (also, here, as a complete study) is indebted to the community from Saint Andrew Cathedral, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK – and to the Provost Very Reverend Richard Kilgour MA BD who was beard in mind the challenge to invite me [Professor Ph.D. Nicolae Bulz] to synergic compose and aggregate the potential parts, to interact with the community and to define the text of the application for this project ‘What is Truth?’ – and, then, to implement its steps toward the horizon of December 2014, when both the Provost and I were left Aberdeen, each due to particular events that occurred on the last stage. This study is a part of the original contributions within this project – and step by step was debated within the project community. Without all these requisites this study would not be possible to be drawn up. The thanks would be better presented if a continuity would be acted, implemented and distributed – as a piece of Knowledge Transfer, but not only versus the “transcendent realm” attempted to be referred as an act onto the contemporary “Science-Religion Dialogue”. More, this study is aligned to the ‘What is Truth?’ Autumn School event, November 22-28, 2014, within this project – so fulfilled toward this November event, and contains original contributions and a few back-up files regarding this event – all of these and more other contributions were presented to the community from Saint Andrew Cathedral, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, and were acted alongside the dynamic steps of the project implementation. The entire part to respond to the challenge to compose and aggregate the effective initial elements of this project is indebted, also, to Very Reverend and Professor David Atkinson who was active and high dedicated within this preparation part of the project – and had contributed with both his capacities: theologian and scientist. Also, a significant contribution was due to part of the community from Saint Andrew Cathedral, Aberdeen – due to their different specialisations: Microbiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Oil and Gas Mechatronics, Systems Theories and Praxis, Accounting, Medical Assistance, and of course Theology. The community, the co-authors of the project had the entire support from the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney, the Bishop and staff. The respective application was endorsed by the Bishop who said “The project has the potential to involve people from across a wide intellectual spectrum and throughout a broad field of applications…” So, it was possible to enrol on video, within the Diocese resources, a dialogue regarding “Love to God / Love to Science”, attempting the dimensions of this project. It is on line on http://vimeo.com/109827885 and http://aberdeen.anglican.org/resources/video/video-sermon-for-sunday-26-october-2014/20141026 The co-participants invite the e-readers to re-participate, according to their high technique, to transfer into a written text the audio contents of this dialogue. So, it would be a continuity and diversity of co-authorship for this study ‘What is Truth?’.

It is worth to remember, here, that our primary task as a group has been to explore the nature of the 'dialogue' between science and religion in its broadest sense. Scientists as well as people without scientific background have become engaged about this subtle type of dialogue together in facilitated sessions. We have links with both Aberdeen universities; lecturers and students, and people from the public who have come to join us. One of our aims is with science in an inclusive and inter-disciplinary mode to sympathetically extend the discussions, understanding and dialogue on a broader scale by facilitating inter-faith, international, inter-cultural, interdisciplinary, ecumenical approaches.

Our outlook from the beginning has been inter-disciplinary and open to faith/no faith. Science in many ways knows no boundaries of background, culture or identity. Yet we have rich heritage of science, knowledge and understanding rooted in our religious traditions, identity and cultures. The opportunity presents itself to explore these matters in discussion, reflection and dialogue in our local context. To this end our group is planning to organise a public open programme (an Autumn School) in Scottish Interfaith Week - the last week in November 2014 to stimulate larger than in our group discussion/reflection during that week. We are developing a trajectory for insight and learning by locating the value formations in pre-history, and the human settlement of our local area in the Bronze Age. The artefacts, excavation and data will be a positive contributor to an open interdisciplinary approach.

Note: question to Natalie-Cami 4/23/15

Keywords: belief, community, discoveries/inventions, early Christianity, Freedom of Religion, indifference, quality of life, Science-Religion Dialogue, urban community, XXI century, human being

JEL Classification: A19, A29, B311, C59, C99, D29, D59, D89, D99, I39, J29, Q49, Z00, Z10

Suggested Citation

Bulz, Nicolae, On a Form of 'Freedom of Religion': Religious Community's Acts Onto the Contemporary 'Science-Religion Dialogue' Versus a ‘What is Truth?’ Inter/Trans-Disciplinary, Intercultural and Ecumenical Inquiry (November 28, 2014). ‘What is Truth?’ Autumn School event, November 22-28, 2014, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2597367

Nicolae Bulz (Contact Author)

‘Interdisciplinary Entities Laboratory', 2000 ( email )

Sibiu
Romania

HOME PAGE: http://ssrn.com/author=832079

Center for Studies and Research on Agrosilvical Biodiversity „Acad. David DAVIDESCU”(CSCBAS) ( email )

National Economic Research Inst / Romanian Academy
Bucharest
Romania

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