The Believer’s View on Scientific Progress

[Originally from: underthelionspaws.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/the-believers-view-on-scientific-progress/]

There has taken place a stupenduous scientific and technological progress in modern times. The new material advancement has taken hold of the modern mind. In the present age of material progress there is great paucity of love for learning, nor is the love of religion much in evidence. The instinct of hunger has completely dominated human existence. Everywhere people now talk of problems concerning the flesh.

What about the fingertips?

[Originally from: bloggingtheology.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/what-about-the-fingertips/]

by ibbelund

”Does man think We shall not put his bones back together?  In fact, we can reshape his very fingertips”[1]

Islam and Evolution: a Letter from Nuh Keller to Suleiman Ali

[Originally from: bondsofbrotherhood.wordpress.com/2013/06/02/islam-and-evolution-a-letter-from-nuh-keller-to-suleiman-ali/]

©Nuh Ha Mim Keller 1996

In the name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

14 July 1995

Dear Suleman ‘Ali:

Thank you for your fax of 27 June 1995 which said, in part:

The Theory of Biological Evolution and Islam

[Originally from: only1hope.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/the-theory-of-biological-evolution-and-islam1.pdf]

by Zameelur Rahman

Recently, there has been a lot of talk in the Muslim community about the theory of evolution. The topic is no doubt very sensitive, as it deals with the origin of diverse forms of life, including human beings, and since Islam does have something to say about certain aspects of these issues, it touches on some important theological questions. Unfortunately, the issue has been dealt with quite irresponsibly by a number of individuals who have spoken on evolutionary theory and the Islamic view on the matter. This is primarily due to a lack of knowledge of evolutionary theory, Islamic theology, or both.

About Muslims, science, evolution, and the scientific “miracles” of the Quran

[Originally from: facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=588685684495060&id=347684525261845 ]

The past few days I’ve had a surge of emails from Muslims asking about evolution, science, what the Quran says about Adam peace be upon him, and even had someone give me a lengthy email about the scientific “miracles” of the Quran and how I have to accept it. Of course he started citing the usual suspects: Dr. Keith Moore, Dr. Maurice Bucaille, Dr. Zakir Naik, and Hamza Tzortzis. I’m just glad he didn’t throw in the fraudster Harun Yahya in there.

As for Dr. Keith Moore and his embryology in the Quran, may be the publicity that aspect of his work received should also be granted to the fact that the man was funded by the Saudi government for that work, which screams conflict of interest and shoots down that credibility. When asked by the Wall Street Journal about it, he declined the interview citing that it’s been a decade since his involvement in that work (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1011738146332966760.html). At this point it seems hardly necessary to mention that he never became a Muslim, which begs the question why would he on the one hand admit based on his analysis that the Quran is of Divine origin, but then reject its message. But that’s another topic.

Islam versus Science or Scientism?

[Originally from: albalagh.net/food_for_thought/0097.shtml ]

By: Sohaib Baig

 Posted: 16 Rabi-u-Thani 1432, 21 March 2011

 Islam was built upon a foundation of learning and knowledge. Numerous verses in the Qur’an emphasized the importance of knowledge and critical thinking, as did the Prophetic traditions (1). The doctrine of Tawheed, of oneness and unity, symbolized the spirit of the universal Islamic scholar – seeking to further investigate the Divine Laws that encompassed the universe, and realizing that eventually everything in the universe pointed to God (2). Indeed, science blossomed in Islam, reaching unprecedented levels of activity, ingenuity, and interfaith (and inter-ethnic) academic cooperation never before witnessed in history. Throughout Islamic history, a peculiar brand of scholars emerged, known as hakeems, who embraced all the sciences with a complete sense of unity, realizing that all knowledge simply represented “branches” from the same “trunk,” and while Divine knowledge was inherently superior and absolute, scientific knowledge also formed a vital branch of this tree of knowledge – to place all focus and weight on one branch at the expense of the other would destroy the balance of the tree (3). Thus, when carefully followed, this tree would extend in all directions, and Muslims would produce achievements in all fields of knowledge. The equilibrium achieved by this hierarchy was carefully guarded throughout Islamic history, and tensions mainly occurred whenever one branch would begin upsetting the balance of the entire tree, as does the modern scientism of today.

Has Evolution Been Misunderstood? Revelation, Science and Certainty

[From: hamzatzortzis.com/essays-articles/philosophy-theology/has-evolution-been-misunderstood-revelation-science-and-certainty ]

Version 0.6 February 2013

Note: The aim of this article is not to reject the science related to evolution. Its aim is to evoke thinking about the scientific method and the philosophy of science. We look forward to criticism, feedback and requests for clarification. Please email research@iera.org.uk.

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”In questions of science the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.” Galileo Galilei

Over the past few decades there has been a growing discourse on science, evolution and its compatibility with Divine revelation. This discourse can be summarised in the following way: the theory of evolution has been established as a scientific fact therefore a believer in a particular revealed text, such as the Qur’an, must reconcile evolution with their holy book. If there is no hope for reconciliation there are three main outcomes: the religious text is discarded, evolution is renounced, or a hope for a better understanding of the religious text and evolution in the future. However, in this growing discussion there is a hidden premise. This premise is that science produces certainty, evolution is fact and science is the only way to establish or verify truth claims. This premise is assumed in the popular discussion amongst many religious people, popular scientists and even the media, and by not bringing this premise to the forefront of the debate many Muslims (and fellow theists) have been left confused and disheartened.

Do You Believe in Evolution: Yes & No!

[From: mohamedghilan.com/2013/01/08/do-you-believe-in-evolution-yes-no ]

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

There is nothing that anyone can say that will get under the skin of the science-worshipping militant new atheist movement and have them all riled up, like questioning the validity of evolutionary theory. So much anger and aggression by some, and dismissal and mockery by others. Yet they present themselves as the so-called “rational” ones. This type of reaction does nothing but raise more suspicion about the validity of this theory. May be more of these guys need to read some Alain de Botton for some spiritual inspiration so they can relax, and by spiritual I mean seizure activity in the temporal lobes within the hippocampal formation and increased neuronal activity resulting form dopamine and serotonin and possibly oxytocin released in different circuits. Until they experience that from Alain de Botton or whoever else that caters to religion-like systems for atheists, they might want to temporarily put the advice of Bishop Desmond Tutu’s father to him into action: “Don’t raise your voice. Improve your argument.”

Why does evolutionary theory draw up so much emotion from science-worshipping militant new atheists? Is it really about “science” as they say? Are they upset because “religion is backwards and what the Scriptures say is nothing but false descriptions of the World that were only so due to the technological limitations of the people who wrote them”? Is it true that “denial of evolution will result in halting our scientific progress”?