between nasr and ateş: what understanding of evolution do science educators want? taner edis...
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Between Nasr and Ateş: What understanding of evolution do science
educators want?
Taner Edis
Department of Physics,
Truman State University
22009
A successful creationism
• Muslim populations are reluctant to accept evolution (Hameed etc).
• Uneven presence of evolution in education. State-sponsored creationism (Turkey >80s).
• Globalized, postmodern, media creationism. (Harun Yahya)
32009
US creationism less successful
• Large public support. (Gallup since 1980: 45% YEC, 45% guided evolution, 10% naturalistic evolution.)
• Creationism and ID unacceptable in intellectual high culture.
• Little penetration into public education (informal, private).
42009
Consensus compatibilism
• Alliance between scientific community and liberal religion.
• “Separate spheres” for science and religion widely accepted. Fundamentalists and some nonreligious scientists (Dawkins) disagree.
• Politically useful.
Religion
Science
52009
Guided evolution
• Appealing compromise, outside science.
• Academic theology: metaphysical gloss.
• Liberal churches: usefully vague.
• Common descent OK, naturalistic mechanisms less so. (~ID)
62009
Portable to Islam?
• Scientists seek allies among religious liberals; avoid confrontation (Turkish defenses of evolution). Independent of US example.
• Some Pakistani biology textbooks lead with Quranic quotation. (Preemption?)
72009
Nonhuman guided evolution
• Many religious scholars accept guided evolution.
• They often exclude humans from evolution.
• 24:45 “And God created all animals from water. . .”
• Similar to Quran-in-science apologetics.
82009
Does this help science?
• Interpreting polls: many Muslims who affirm “evolution” have a guided, non-Darwinian process in mind. (~ID)
• Guided evolution does not overtly challenge science education. But it is not an accurate reflection of modern science.
• Is it a politically useful compromise?
92009
Süleyman Ateş
• Turkish theologian. • Modernist, moderate.
Defends evolution.• Headed Directorate of
Religious Affairs.• Prominent public figure,
spokesman for Turkish official Islam.
102009
Ateş and pseudobiology
• Guided evolution ~ ID.• Ancient Greek “biology”
defending “weakness” of women, gender roles.
• Ambivalence about human evolution.
• Typical of modernist Turkish theologians.
112009
Could be worse
• Not as bad as Harun Yahya or the creationism of Islamists in Turkey.
• Hardly an affirmation of evolution as biologists understand it.
• Embedded in non- scientific view of nature.
122009
Seyyed Hossein Nasr
• Well known thinker about Islam and science, influential in West and among Muslim intellectuals.
• Opposes crude puritan Islam and special creationism.
132009
Nasr and pseudoscience
• Mostly accepts common descent, strongly opposes naturalistic evolution.
• No natural creativity; revive God-centered, medieval view of science.
142009
Could it be worse?
• To Nasr, secular, Darwinian science is the worst threat.
• He has favorably cited ICR works.
• Opposes efforts to reconcile evolution with the Quran.
• Top-down picture of nature demanded by religion. (~ID)
152009
Guided evolution in Islam
• Not the same thing as with US Christians.
• Somewhat accommodating toward evolution, but more like generic ID.
• It does not represent full acceptance of modern science.
162009
Science education
• What should science education try to achieve in a Muslim context?
• Even in US, it’s unclear whether liberal compatibilism is a success. Creationism is still strong.
172009
Just the science, ma’am?
• Alternative: just teach the science, don’t worry about cultural considerations? (Coyne)
• What works in an Islamic environment, where natural science is institutionally weak?