It was said that Charles Darwin did not become a non-believer because of evolution, but that his abandonment of religion helped him to discover evolution.
A century and a half later, it is still hard for many religious people to be receptive to the idea of evolution.
This is a demonstration of how faith can hinder scientific inquiry.
Heliocentrism –the theory that the Earth and planets revolve around the Sun and that the Sun is stationary and at the center of the universe–was also blocked for hundreds of years because of religion.
What other discoveries are currently blocked because of this kind of obstruction?
What can people of religion do to insure that this doesn't happen again?
Religion never obstructed science in the past, did it?
It is true that a great number of major scientists in history did not have issues reconciling science and religion.
But evolution and Heliocentrism are not minor discoveries; they are major ideas that greatly revolutionized our world views.
As more complex disciplines continue to advance, particularly those related to the nature of the mind and consciousness, abiogenesis (study of how life on Earth could have arisen from inanimate matter), and the Fermi paradox, the more we are likely to see religion once again play an obstructive role.
What can Muslims in particular, who pride themselves as heirs of the scientific method, do to demonstrate that Islam does not contradict with science or reason?
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
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Islam does not and has not obstructed scientific progress, in fact it supports it!
Islam encourages and urges its followers to learn, read, write and do research. Here are some proofs of the attitude of the religion of Islam towards education, learning and scientific thinking:
1. The first verses revealed in the Holy Quran say (what means): "Read in the name of the Lord, who created man from congealed blood." This means that the first revealed word was "read". This reflects the importance of reading and learning according to Islam.
2. The Holy Quran repeatedly orders Muslims to contemplate the universe, creatures, animals, seas, stars, the human body and plants.
3. The Holy Quran is scientific in its approach and thus it gives Muslims an example of scientific objectivity and the scientific approach. The Holy Quran often gives proofs to its statements.
4. The scientific approach of the Holy Quran is also clear when the Holy Quran requires proofs from the disbelievers for whatever claims they make.
5. The Holy Quran gives another example of scientific objectivity by repeatedly blaming disbelievers for their blind imitation of their forefathers. This is certainly an invitation from the Holy Quran to the believers and people to think independently and critically. Independent thinking is an essential condition for creativity, which is the first condition to scientific innovations and technological progress.
6. Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, , urged his Companions to use their own judgment if they faced problems to which there was no specific solution in the Holy Quran or the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This encouragement of free judgment is a green signal that stimulates people to think, but without going against the principles of Islam.
7. Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered people to record knowledge in books.
Faith does not hinder scientific enquiry. Referring to Charles Darwin theory of evolution, the reason why it is rejected is because it simply does not make sense! It has nothing to do with religious people not becoming receptive to it!
See link:
http://www.evolutiondocumentary.com
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