about RCDST

Established in 2013, the Research Center on the Dialogue between Science & Theology (RCDST) promotes collaboration between theologians and scientists pertaining to various research fields and a dialogue based on scientific, organizational and human competence. In order to achieve this goal the representatives of partner institutions in the Interdisciplinary Research Program – named CONTEMPORARY DIALOGUE BETWEEN SCIENCE AND THEOLOGY and in progress as of 2012 to 2014 – have agreed upon the fact that one project alone cannot encompass this dialogue between science and theology; as a result, they have decided to establish this center. Our Center is currently upheld by 5 universities in Romania having representatives from 11 faculties covering 9 fields of activity. In addition to the 21 founding members other contributors from research centers in Romania or abroad have joined our team, willing to bolster this approach to merging the vision upon creation from both rational (through science) and theological (through religion) points of view. Thus several members of our center carry out an early mission of the Christian – Orthodox theologians (for instance, Constantin Galeriu – priest and Professor): finding the middle ground for scientists – not only Christian theologians – to experience the Confession of Faith and discover the divine Logos through Science Confessor (Bucharest: Christiana Publishing House, 2009).

Research within RCSDT revolves around this central theme: "identifying the main theories, hypotheses and discoveries in modern research studies targeting at (a) the origin, existence and evolution of the Universe, (b) life on Earth and other life forms in the Universe, and (c) the interaction between Man’s spiritual and physical sides considered from every angle".

Our purpose : Almost every researcher of any gestalts has, in his perspective, the eager to submit a final theory, but that is not a priority for us, because all we wanted, in the first place, is that all new theories should be known, analyzed and put together with our belief in God Almighty on whose plan are based all that happens in the universe, whether we understand them or not yet. It is notorious that, for a long time, science was misled to make belief in God obsolete, coming up with many theories which highlight that universe has no purpose at all, or that human nature is merely a link into the chain of evolution, one that will be outdated by the following species. We can still see that impression over most of scientists and, even worse, over many theologians that come with different theories that places science in opposition. With that research that we`ve started, along with scientists from several domains, we wish to open minds and show that you can speak science even if you believe in God. Our goal is to bring glory to God, the Creator of all, and also to bring reason/science out of the shadow of the post-Galilean era.

Christian Mission and Serving in Contemporary Times
Our research studies mainly focus on how to express Christian faith within contemporary culture. Our research highlights approaches to the theological analysis which originates in the empirical research methodology. Empirical methods are thus used as a means to develop critical and constructive approaches to the Mission and serving the Contemporary Orthodox Church. This approach to the relationship between the empirical activity and theology is constantly developed within our Center through a whole array of theological disciplines such as: Compared Dogmatic Theology, Missionary Theology or Fundamental Theology.

Interdisciplinary Research and Religious Education
RCDST’s mission is to stimulate interdisciplinary scientific research in the above-mentioned domains as well as in compared and apologetic theology by tapping the competence and expertise of specialists from the University of Constanta, with real contributions to the training of young researchers (PhD candidates, MD candidates, students). Part of this mission is also to stimulate the dialogue between researchers from various scientific areas and theologies of the main monotheist religions and to promote the traditions of Christian - Orthodox spirituality, bearing the conviction that science and religion are compatible.

The domains our Center showcases its specialists are as follows: theology, physics, chemistry, anatomy, genetics, neurology, microbiology, psychology and pedagogy, philosophy, and mathematics. At the same time, each RCDST member will attempt to come to terms with and contribute to solving the mystery shrouding the Big Questions of life that are still tormenting the world of science; in this respect, the page of each member will display a question that will lie at the core of their research work, above the personal motivation for the dialogue between science and theology (AQ).

The dialogue between science and religion has always been there, whether it led to agreements or controversies. Nowadays science has opened up to mystery; it acknowledges its origins and destiny: to keep searching for the mystery, the ineffable despite all discoveries and solid evidence it comes across – material evidence is strung along the Path to mystery. The question that rises nowadays is whether a dialogue can be accurately carried out in a civil manner and fulfilling all the necessary criteria, such as relaxed social environment (free from offenses or prejudices) and sustained by professionals of the two paradigms and based on solid knowledge rooted in an area where traditions and research have been experienced for centuries. The answer lies with our Research Center whose mission is to showcase the richness of such a dialogue carried out among academia: enthusiastic scholars and faithful theologians with expertise in interconfessional patristic and ecclesiastical tradition.
We will join our efforts in finding out whether a substantive dialogue between the two paradigms – both scientific and theological – will spark off.
In order to get a real dialogue started and give relevance to both parties involved in these relationships it is essential that scientists and theologians agree on this fundamental issue: the meaning given to the birth of "modern science" in the late years of the Western Middle Ages, as well as to the precise nature of the "scientific spirit" in its current acception.
We will attempt to create a syncretic and composite language in order to establish a new and effective communication practically leading to a common language to be shared by all the parties involved and, therefore avoiding identity crisis.
We would definitely not like our endeavor to be taken as an opportunity for merging or scientist attempts of any kind, which seems to be an appealing idea, but also a dangerous and utopic one.
RCDST’s mission is to stimulate interdisciplinary scientific research in the above-mentioned domains as well as in compared and apologetic theology by tapping the competence and expertise of specialists from the University of Constanta along with all its academical partners, with real contributions to the training of young researchers (PhD candidates, MD candidates, students). Research is supposed to bring forth solutions to the major issues in our contemporary society that are in line with Christian-Orthodox religion and faith. More »