On 5 November, the II International Youth Forum “School of Young Theologian” opened in Dagestan. It was held at discussion venues of the republic throughout a week.
The event was organized by the Dagestan Humanities Institute with the support of the Foundation for the Support of Islamic Culture, Science and Education, the Scientific and Educational Theological Association and the Muftiyat of the Republic of Dagestan.
The seven-day scientific event in Dagestan brought together representatives of state authorities, scientific community, as well as religious and public figures of Moscow, St Petersburg, Saratov, Krasnodar, Kazan, Ufa, Omsk, Pyatigorsk, Syria, Yemen, Palestine, Lebanon, and over 90 students from different regions of the Russian Federation.
The scientific-practical event was opened with welcoming address and wishes of fruitful work by Akhmad Magomedov, Deputy Mufti of Dagestan; Hieromonk Silouan, Secretary of Makhachkala Diocese; Boris Khanukaev, Deputy Chairman of the Jewish Community; Galina Teplykh, Executive Director of the Scientific and Educational Theological Association (NOTA); Shamil Kashaf, Associate of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences.
According to representatives of the press service of the Dagestan Humanities Institute, students of Russian Orthodox and Muslim dogmatics and theology experts studied the cultural and historical heritage of Derbent, a city at the crossroads of several religions.
At the forum, participants went on an excursion around the unique city-museum with a rich historical past. They also visited the ancient Muslim cemetery of Kyrkhlyar and the Armenian Church of the Holy All-Savior, which are of great scientific and public interest. In addition to it, the conference discussed current issues facing religion, society and science.
On the second day of the forum, the School continued its work at discussion venues of Dagestan. Students met with Magomed Magomedov, Head of the Coordinating Centre for the Formation of Active Civic Stance among Young People at Dagestan State University. They also listened to a lecture on patriotism and love for the Motherland in the traditional confessions of the country, which was delivered by Vladimir Petrunin, Associate Professor of the Department of Theology, Religious Studies and Cultural Aspects of National Security at Oryol State University.
The actual topic “Resources of Theological Education in Formation of Traditional Russian Values in the Conditions of Modern Geopolitical Risks among Young People” was touched upon by Stanislav Osipov, Associate Professor of the Department of History and Social-Philosophical Disciplines, Oriental Studies and Theology at Pyatigorsk State University. The Associate Professor explained to the students that theological education was a shield against any challenges, preventing extremism and terrorism, which educated the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism and preservation of their history and culture.
Apart from it, Hizri Shahrour, Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee of Damascus and the Damascus Region of Syria, Sheikh Saif Ali Mohamed Al-Asri, Doctor of Shariah Sciences, Professor of Yemen, and Mahmoud Habbash, Advisor to the Palestinian President and Supreme Judge of Palestine, gave academic presentations to the students.
In between lectures, the participants took part in intellectual and sporting games.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Oscar11234/Creative Commons 4.0