Here’s an interesting piece from the Science section of The New York Times. It notes that rejection of the theory of Evolution is growing in the Islamic world, though with clear differences exhibited in different countries.
Creationism, Minus a Young Earth, Emerges in the Islamic World
KENNETH CHANGAMHERST, Mass. — Creationism is growing in the Muslim world, from Turkey to Pakistan to Indonesia, international academics said last month as they gathered here to discuss the topic.
But, they said, young-Earth creationists, who believe God created the universe, Earth and life just a few thousand years ago, are rare, if not nonexistent.
One reason is that although the Koran, the holy text of Islam, says the universe was created in six days, the next line adds that a day, in this instance, is metaphorical: “a thousand years of your reckoning.”
By contrast, some Christian creationists find in the Bible a strict chronology that requires a 6,000-year-old Earth and thus object not only to evolution but also to much of modern geology and cosmology, which say the Earth and the universe are billions of years old.
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November:04:2009 - 14:18
So the Earth was created after the invention of the wheel…hmmmm, there a good learning bechmark in the science curriculum.
I found that the more scientic approach is taught in the Middle East, well as far as the evolution of man is concerned. I have not really observed creationism or evalution topical in the ME. As mentioned above, the Quran mentions the metaphporical sense of creationism where the bible seems to be open to interpretation, and unfortunately literal interpetation.
I am not sure which Muslim countries support or oppose, but I have been around the Gulf and Asia Minor and I clearly do not see it as an issue.
November:04:2009 - 14:52
My experience is that they are all over the place on this. Evolution is a fact. We can see some things evolve in our time frames. Many educated Muslims will accept every aspect of evolution except that man is descended from apes. (or from anything)
On the other end of the spectrum, at the height of the Pokemon craze (at least in our household) about 10+ years ago- all things Poke were banned in KSA because they promoted the false teachings of “evolution” (the charactars can “evolve” into stronger charaters), some cards had the Star of David on them (it was an 8 pointed astriks) and some other equally valid reason that I’ve forgotten.
Try explaining that nonsense to your kids!
November:04:2009 - 15:34
It’s become a big thing in Turkey, sadly.
November:04:2009 - 15:36
Excellent article, thanks! I am glad they are doing research on Muslim Drs as the ones I have met have been scientifically brilliant, and also devout (probably as a function of ME countries’ scholarship process. I have never discussed evolutionary human biology with them but they are right on top of the rest.
The finding that Canadian Muslims in Islamic schools are both more Islamically rejecting of evolution and more American in their rejection seems to me easy to explain, but of course should be researched further. The area they are talking about the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) or “905 region” (905 telephone area code) has excellent public schools full of Muslim students from a variety of places, particularly South Asia, Asia, and Africa. The schools accomodate prayer times, Ramadan, Eids, and all degrees of covering. The policy is officially multicultural and diverse. No Christian teaching is given or required, eg no Lord’s Prayer in the morning, no Nativity scenes or plays, etc. In other words, parents concerned about their children maintaining their culture and religion have no worries about sending them to these schools which are ranked high academically and free. Those parents who are more conservative are the ones paying for the private Islamic schools described, which are proudly more conservative in their Islamic teachings. American creationist teaching materials in English are obviously easily available by online order, or even a day trip over the border to Greater Downtown Buffalo, NY (side bonus, the Zoo!).
Sandy–the things they don’t prepare you for in mothering school! LOL
November:04:2009 - 17:10
Chiara…
Why would the schools be considered multicultural and diverse when clearly your description of them is not multicultural at all and seems to be primarily if not solely Islamic? Also, how if it is public school are they able to embrace one religion, culture etc, while excluding others?
In the USA it is not allowed (but I am quite sure it probably happens) and in fact there is a tendency to remove ANY holiday from the public school system to be politically correct. My daughter went to a public school that did exactly that. Many parents wanted the school to touch upon each of the major faiths represented by the school. Islam was almost nonexistant at the school with the exception of a few students, but most parents wanted them to touch upon the major faiths including Islam as a way of opening up a dialogue about other faiths…the school declined and removed any reference to holidays not only from the curriculum but from the library as well…I know because I used to volunteer there.
My daughter now goes to a school that will talk about different faiths…in fact in 7th grade she will have to do projects on and study all the major faiths. I like this approach better…Being exclusionary unless it is a school specifically for that religion I think is a bad way to go.
November:04:2009 - 21:17
I went to Catholic schools when I was a kid, taught by nuns and, for religion classes, by a priest. We certainly discussed other religions–there were a number of non-Catholic students in the school–and not as demons or misguided souls. Well, perhaps they weren’t hearing ‘the full and true message of Christ,’ but they were hearing at least part of God’s message, in the nuns’ opinion.
Now, this was over 50 years ago. Things weren’t exactly enlightened. The nuns, for instance, frowned seriously on a Catholic student’s going to a Protestant church on Sunday. But they didn’t demonize, they didn’t slight other religions, even the ‘pagans’.
November:05:2009 - 06:42
Where has this guy been for the past 100 years? Muslims have always rejected Evolution.
November:05:2009 - 07:12
I’ve just remembered something…
I was a very smart little kid, reading (and comprehending) materials far beyond my school years. In third grade, I was completely taken up with the book, The Science of Life, 1934 book by H.G. Wells, Julian Huxley, et al., explaining Darwin’s theories. I used to bring the book to school to read during recess or after I’d finished class assignments before the others. I got in trouble for the book, not for its text, but because of the illustrations, if they were telling the truth. The nun’s thought them too graphic for elementary school and asked my parents to have me keep it at home. I did and I still have the book!
This might have been an example of religious intolerance to the theory of evolution, but I don’t think so. The Catholic Church had already come out in, if not full support (which it does now), than in at least leaving the idea open for discussion, not anathemetizing it as it had Galileo’s theories centuries earlier.
November:05:2009 - 07:19
Well, the article says that’s not exactly so. In the case of Turkey, for example, he noted that the theory had been well-accepted in the past, but was now being deprecated by a new wave of depreciation, by those including Harun Yahya.
November:05:2009 - 12:41
Perhaps it is just me but it feels very disheartening that in the face of science and all the proof we have for evolution that people just outright ignore the facts. It isn’t only Islam. I find a lot of very literal Christians are the same way. I went to Catholic school too and I would wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the Catholic school experience,John. I find it astounding that we are able to prove through science the fact of Evolution but because it doesn’t agree with what people want it to be it get denigrated..and what’s even more astounding to me is that people who previously engaged their intellect and rational thought and accepted it are backpedaling because it no longer fits a narrow interpretation of their religion(whatever that might be.) Talk about voluntarily going back to the dark ages!
November:05:2009 - 17:58
The really sad, shocking, and disturbing thing is that it’s not just a few who question evolution in the West… it’s 40% and more in some countries. Bible literalists are certainly one of the main groups and they’ve done a good job of confusing many others. Their tactic of redefining terms as they go seems to be a very effective one.
November:05:2009 - 22:11
Oby–sorry for the late reply, I had just finished a comprehensive one when whomever’s gods became displeased and cut the electricity to the whole house for hours. I resume with some trepidation, but preferring science to superstition have decided it was a coincidence.
I am sorry if I was unclear. The public school system I was referring to is respectful of all religions while imposing none. Teachers may teach the cultural significance of different holidays or about different religions but are not required to. There is no overt mention of theology of any sort; no Nativity scene at Christmas, no Passion of Christ at Easter, no morning Lord’s Prayer. All religions are accommodated so that prayer times and space are provided on request. During Ramadan a separate room from the cafeteria is provided and parent volunteers lead prayers during the “lunch hour”. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not required to listen to or sing the National Anthem, they may spend that time in the hall, and then return to class when it is finished. All forms of cover are accepted. Sikhs are allowed to carry a kirpan. This religious diversity and cultural has been provincial policy for decades.
When I said the schools are “full of Muslims” I meant only that there were substantial numbers, not just 1 or 2, more like 30% of a class, and the others include Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, etc
The schools described in the article are ISNA schools, private ones, that are Islamic by definition, require cover, prayer etc.
John–I agree that the Roman Catholic schools have been more liberal often than many assume. They also teach evolution. It does seem to be the Protestant American literalists who are leading the way on this. Rather a new form of onward Christian soldiering.
Okay, I shall submit this and pray for Divine protection of the electrical system. Amen.