How to stop creationism gaining a hold in Islam

[Ahimsa]

Salman Hameed teaches astronomy and religious studies at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. He has lectured in Pakistan on reconciling evolution with Islam.

Hameed spoke with New Scientist about the rise of creationism in the Muslim world, what scientists can do to promote evolution there, and why he thinks Richard Dawkins and other atheists will push Muslims away from evolution.

How is evolution perceived in Muslim countries?
If you ask the question of whether you accept evolution or not, we find that a large portion of people, vast majorities, reject evolution. Compared to the US, where 40% are comfortable with evolution, in the Muslim countries that would go down to 10, 15, or 20%. In Turkey, one of the more secular Muslim countries, the level is between 22 and 25%.

Why the low acceptance rates?
Evolution has not been in the public discourse, so it depends on what people believe evolution is. Right now, there is a misperception that evolution equals atheism.

Are there any religious teachings in the Koran or elsewhere that conflict with evolution, as some creationists claim is the case with the Bible?
The Koran itself does not provide a single clear-cut verse that contradicts evolution.

 

[JDaniel]

Quote:
Salman Hameed teaches astronomy and religious studies at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. He has lectured in Pakistan on reconciling evolution with Islam.

Hameed spoke with New Scientist about the rise of creationism in the Muslim world, what scientists can do to promote evolution there, and why he thinks Richard Dawkins and other atheists will push Muslims away from evolution.

How is evolution perceived in Muslim countries?
If you ask the question of whether you accept evolution or not, we find that a large portion of people, vast majorities, reject evolution. Compared to the US, where 40% are comfortable with evolution, in the Muslim countries that would go down to 10, 15, or 20%. In Turkey, one of the more secular Muslim countries, the level is between 22 and 25%.

Why the low acceptance rates?
Evolution has not been in the public discourse, so it depends on what people believe evolution is. Right now, there is a misperception that evolution equals atheism.

Are there any religious teachings in the Koran or elsewhere that conflict with evolution, as some creationists claim is the case with the Bible?
The Koran itself does not provide a single clear-cut verse that contradicts evolution.

What do you, or Mr. Hameed, think will be the eventual outcome of creationism gaining a stronger foothold in Islamic populations?

I gather, from the importance placed upon the post by the posting of it, that such an occurance might possibly result in the targeting of atheists, and evolutionists (which includes Catholics!!), by some of the more radical elements of Islam? Or, perhaps, a much worse rift between the world’s two largest religions?

It has been my opinion for some time now, that “creationism” is a natural outcome of taking the entirety of scripture at face value, as historical fact.

JD

 

[Ahimsa]

What do you, or Mr. Hameed, think will be the eventual outcome of creationism gaining a stronger foothold in Islamic populations?

Well, it certainly won’t help things if significant portions of the Muslim community already suspicious of the West, begin to think that evolutionary theory is some sort of Western conspiracy against Islam.