Modern theological education in Rrussia European experience and development prospects

Abstract

© 2018, Ecozone, OAIMDD. All rights reserved. The aim of the present study is to consider the problems of modern theological education in Russia from the standpoint of the feasibility of using the Eastern European experiences and prospects for national development of theological education. The issue of theological education has existed since the first half of the XIIIth century, therefore it is considered in a huge number of literature sources. It cannot go unnoticed that in the recent years more and more publications are devoted to theological education, both in Russia and throughout the post-Soviet space. With every increasing frequency the information emerges about the establishing of new schools offering formal theological education. The article describes the post-secular situation in the Russian society, which today has led consistently to the actualization of the issue of legitimization of Theology in the Russian secular higher education. The article analyses the viewpoints expressed in the panel discussion on Theology in higher education, which was attended by experts on concerned problem. The results of the panel discussion have shown that in a post-secular situation, as well as in the presence of Theology in some secular universities, it is necessary to find certain post-secular „middle ways‟, where morality, religious values, and secular freedoms, as well as scientifically grounded virtues will complement each other through Theology.