'What Is Truth?' An Inter/Trans-Disciplinary, Intercultural and Ecumenical Attempt within the Contemporary 'Science-Religion Dialogue'

Abstract

This study is a back-up memory versus an entire project dedicated to the challenge putted in act within the initiative from the School of Divinity, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK: “Scientists in Congregations Scotland” - 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.

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 - where the co-authors [Provost Very Reverend Richard Kilgour MA BD and Professor Ph.D. Nicolae Bulz] were beard in mind the challenge to compose and aggregate the 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 the co-authors were left Aberdeen, each due to particular events that occurred on the last stage.

So, this study is aligned to the ‘What is Truth?’ Autumn School event, November 22-28, 2014, within this project, and contains original contributions from each co-author, their common contributions and back-up files regarding this event – all of these 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 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 specializations: Microbiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Oil and Gas Mechatronics, Systems Theories and Praxis, Accounting, Medical Assistance, and of course Theology [see pages 75 – 76]]. The co-authors had the entire support from the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney, the Bishop and staff. The 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 enroll 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-authors invite the e-readers to 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?’.

“Science-Religion Dialogue” as another variable of the inquiry: ‘How do religion and belief inform how we do politics, policy and practice?’

The co-authors represent a group/community based at St. Andrew's Episcopal Cathedral, Aberdeen dedicated to Science-Religion Dialogue with a project entitled ‘What is Truth?’ we participate in the larger project 'Scientists in Congregations Scotland' - see links : http://arts.st-andrews.ac.uk/scientistsincongregationsscotland/saint-andrews-cathedral-aberdeen/ In our search for dialogue as community we are challenged by the statement that “a secular society wants to use religion and belief to its advantage, without addressing the underlying values and practices by which it operates”.

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 organize 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 artifacts, excavation and data will be a positive contributor to an open interdisciplinary approach.

Keywords: Belief, Ecumenism, Faith, Fuzziness, Geomodernity, Interculture, Inter/trans-disciplinarity, Religion, Science-Religion Dialogue, Science, Scotland, Structural-Phenomenology, Theology, To Have or To Be, Transdisciplinarity, Truth

JEL Classification: A19, A29, B311, C59, C89, C99, D29, D59, D57, D79, D81, D83, D89, D99, I19, I29, I39, J2, J29, L39