To Science Day!
Sergei Yolkin
2010
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One of the most-recognised Russian technical schools, Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (National Research Nuclear University) (NIYaU MIFI), is introducing a new department that departs from traditional physics and delves into metaphysics, a Theology Department. Its head is Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev of Volokolamsk, who, upon his appointment, immediately travelled overseas in an official capacity. Izvestia talked with Archpriest Vladimir Shmaly, vice-rector of Church Postgraduate Studies, who explained that the university came up with the idea. In fact, it was born back in 2010 after a visit by Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev. Previously, MIFI hosted advanced training courses for professors of Orthodox seminaries, which included lectures on astronomy, physics, and chemistry. Now, religious scholars will pay MIFI back by teaching history of the Church, religious dogma, Orthodox culture, and Orthodox worship to students on a strictly optional and voluntary basis.
At first, students won’t be able to major in Theology, only take electives as part of humanities courses. Izvestia stated that the MP’s preparing a document entitled The Balance of Faith and Science, discussing the complicated relationship of the two in the modern era. Contrary to clichés like “faith versus knowledge” and “faith denounces evolution and nuclear physics”, the real state of things isn’t so black-and-white, and the Theology Department will help students realise that. Besides, the department wouldn’t prohibit critical thinking, and students don’t have to share the beliefs of the teaching staff in order to take the courses.
18 October 2012
Pyotr Lekarev
Voice of Russia World Service
http://english.ruvr.ru/radio_broadcast/25950828/91734051.html
Editor’s Note:
This is a sign that the Blunder’s losing ground at the Centre. What he needs is to be named a ruling bishop… instead, he gets this consolation prize. He’s on the way down, but he may not be on the way out… the oligarchs protect him, after all. Look at the bright side of this… it means that the Blunder’s being shunted into a backwoods siding, and that he’s not going to get anything meaty. It also means that the oligarchs are losing their grip on Russian society. Now, the question is, “Is Tikhon Shevkunov going to get a similar sidelining?” Perspirin’ minds wanna know…
Ya gotta admire HH… when he demotes somebody or takes them to the woodshed, he does it in such a way that the “prize recipient” has to smile and say, “Thank you, sir, may I please have another”. He did it to the Blunder in March 2009, when he took away two-thirds of the DECR, and he’s doing it again, with this “promotion”, which tells the whole world that the Blunder’s on HH’s shit list. The Blunder had to take a large economy-size bite out of the shit sandwich that HH proffered him, and he had to say, “That was good, I’ll have some more, please”. HH is one of the cleverest men to ever wear the funny white hat… I’m glad that he’s on our side.
BMD
Voices from Russia 
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