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The article analyzes the principles of the dialogue between science and religion, which are formulated in his famous work “Six Days of Creation: The Bible and the Science of Creation and the Origin of the World” by the famous philosopher of the Russian diaspora Vladimir Nikolaevich Ilyin. These principles concern the very possibility of a dialogue between religion and science, the different attitudes to religion from the humanities and natural sciences, as well as the need to consider the historicity of both science and religion. It is shown that the very meaningful comparison of biblical and scientific knowledge in V.N. Ilyin's book does not always correspond to the principles proclaimed by him. Based on the achievements and shortcomings of his concept, the author of the article formulates a number of additional principles that, in his opinion, allow for a productive and rational dialogue between science and religion. They concern the need for the foundation of a dialogue between science and religion, both by modern religious studies and by epistemological studies; the obligatory “mediation” of the philosophical tradition, in which the main strategies for the implementation of this dialogue have already been developed; as well as the consistent implementation of a dynamic installation, which includes not only the cultural-historical, but also the existential dimension, where from the level of personal development of the interpreter himself will depend on the results of his research. Finally, the heuristic application of the well-known Christian formula of “inseparability and non-unity” is emphasized in relation to the relationship between science and religion, where no matter how successful their dialogue and tendencies towards rapprochement, nevertheless, they are destined to remain autonomous spheres of the spiritual and cognitive experience of mankind in the near historical perspective.

Key words: V.N. Ilyin, science, religion, philosophy, principles of dialogue, synthetic strategy of dialogue, “inseparability and non-interference” of science and religion

DOI: 110.22250/20728662_2023_1_92

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About the author

Andrey V. Ivanov – Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Director of the Centre of Humanitarian Sciences, Altai State Agricultural University; 98 Krasnoarmeisky ave., Barnaul, 656 048, Russia; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.