I had an oped in yesterday's Providence Journal on what lessons can we learn from evolution struggles in the Muslim world. You can read Reject Zero-sum game on Darwin here.
I consider stumbling onto your blog complete serendipity- what a jewel.
You have really focused on topics that I have struggled with, come to terms with, accepted at various points in my life. My own religiosity undergoes a sin wave function, while my appreciation for science goes through that wave.
I firmly believe that evolution and Islam are completely compatible (i have found M. Asad translation of Quran to be completely supportive of evolution); a key concept in Islam (as found in Quran) is emergence (najm). Evolution is nothing else but the slow emergence of new species (barring bacteria and microbes which are demonstrable within weeks and months)- that appear non-evolving from our short lifespans - but in the long view (or out of time view? of a Creator) punctuated.
Irtiqa is Salman Hameed's blog. A few years ago (before Facebook killed many of the blogs), it used to track stories of science & religion, especially those related to Muslim societies. That is still one of its foci, but now it dovetails more of Salman's interests including film, astronomy, science fiction, and science outreach in both Pakistan and the US.
Irtiqa literally means evolution in Urdu. But it does not imply only biological evolution. Instead, it is an all encompassing word used for evolution of the universe, biological evolution, and also for biological/human development. While it has created confusion in debates over biological evolution in South Asia, it provides a nice integrative name for this blog. For further information, contact Salman Hameed.
The blog banner is designed by Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad. You can find all his creative endeavors at Orangie.
Salman Hameed
Salman is an astronomer and Associate Professor of Integrated Science & Humanities at Hampshire College, Massachusetts. Currently, he is working on understanding the rise of creationism in contemporary Islamic world and how Muslims view the relationship between science & religion. He is also working with historian Tracy Leavelle at Creighton University to analyze reconciliation efforts between astronomers and Native Hawaiians over telescopes on top of sacred Mauna Kea in Hawaii. He teaches “History and Philosophy of Science & Religion” with philosopher Laura Sizer, and “Science in the Islamic World”, both at Hampshire College. Salman and Laura Sizer are also responsible for the ongoing Hampshire College Lecture Series on Science & Religion, and you can find videos of all these lectures below. Contact information here.
1 comments:
I consider stumbling onto your blog complete serendipity- what a jewel.
You have really focused on topics that I have struggled with, come to terms with, accepted at various points in my life. My own religiosity undergoes a sin wave function, while my appreciation for science goes through that wave.
I firmly believe that evolution and Islam are completely compatible (i have found M. Asad translation of Quran to be completely supportive of evolution); a key concept in Islam (as found in Quran) is emergence (najm). Evolution is nothing else but the slow emergence of new species (barring bacteria and microbes which are demonstrable within weeks and months)- that appear non-evolving from our short lifespans - but in the long view (or out of time view? of a Creator) punctuated.
Imran Nasrullah
CBO
Mass Biotechnology Council
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