Scientists should unite against threat from religion »
Posted by: RickyDawkins 1 year ago199 Comments Report this Story
Perhaps there are occasions where public intellectuals must proclaim the teachings of Islam to be perfectly in harmony with scientific naturalism. But let us not do so, just yet, in the world's foremost scientific journal. The compatibility of science and Islam in 2007 is rather like the compatibility of science and Christianity in the year 1633.
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RickyDawkins1 year ago
It was genuinely alarming to encounter Ziauddin Sardar's whitewash of Islam in the pages of your journal. Here, as elsewhere, Nature's coverage of religion has been unfailingly tactful to the point of obscurantism.
In his Commentary, Sardar seems to accept, at face value, the claim that Islam constitutes an "intrinsically rational world view". Perhaps there are occasions where public intellectuals must proclaim the teachings of Islam to be perfectly in harmony with scientific naturalism. But let us not do so, just yet, in the world's foremost scientific journal. -Harris
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v448/n7156...
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RickyDawkins1 year ago
..cont
Under the basic teachings of Islam, the Koran cannot be challenged or contradicted, being the perfect word of the creator of the Universe.
To speak of the compatibility of science and Islam in 2007 is rather like speaking of the compatibility of science and Christianity in the year 1633, just as Galileo was being forced, under threat of death, to recant his understanding of the Earth's motion.
An Editorial announcing the publication of Francis Collins's book, "The Language of God" represents another instance of high-minded squeamishness in addressing the incompatibility of faith and reason. Nature praises Collins, a devout Christian, for engaging "with people of faith to explore how science - both in its mode of thought and its results - is consistent with their religious beliefs".
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v448/n7156...
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Daylight1 year ago
RickyDawkins
Under the basic teachings of Islam, the Koran cannot be challenged or contradicted, being the perfect word of the creator of the Universe.
This is another lie, Qur'an openly challenges the disbelievers to disprove those truth in the Qur'an. Do the unbelievers consider the Qur'an carefully? If this book is other then from Allah (God), they may find many discrepancies... You have all the liberty to challenge the verses of the Qur'an, we don't mind at all.
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weston1631 year ago
"To speak of the compatibility of science and Islam in 2007 is rather like speaking of the compatibility of science and Christianity in the year 1633, just as Galileo was being forced, under threat of death, to recant his understanding of the Earth's motion."
Errr UHH Galileo was a Christian.....hmmmm
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Daylight1 year ago
RickyDawkins
In his Commentary, Sardar seems to accept, at face value, the claim that Islam constitutes an "intrinsically rational world view". Perhaps there are occasions where public intellectuals must proclaim the teachings of Islam to be perfectly in harmony with scientific naturalism.
We have debated with all kinds of intellectuals covering topics like, Islam and Communism, Islam and Secularism, Islam and Christianity, Islam and Hinduism and hundreds of topics, there are literatures and books available for those critics if they are interested to read. So call scientists or Evolutionists want more debates, we can debate Islam and science on a public platform in any city or town. Why not approach the right people and right organizations in your home town or in your country. Islam welcomes people with different opinions, bring your intellectuals and prove it you are right, don't say you have overwhelming evidence, bring them on to the table, lets debate them.
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phleghem011 year ago
"Islam welcomes people with different opinions"
That is obvious from what the Qu'ran says:
9:29. Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
And certainly Islam's response to the Danish cartoons, along with their response to Pope Benedict's remarks about the Islamic concept of Holy War - only serve to further illustrate Islam's welcome of other's opinions.
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lvrofwolves1 year ago
Daylight says- 'Islam welcomes people with different opinions'
??????
why? so they can 'know thine enemy?'
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glaswolf1 year ago
Rational systems are not necessarily consistent with nature's god of causality nor her natural laws of physics. They are aggregates of logical systems and represent a cohesive superstructure sequencing particular co-adaptive processes defining a people's way. Languages develope in isolation as a result and metropolitan areas of the undisciplined result in muddled thinking and degradation of rationalism with tolerance of contradictions. Rational systems provide a predictability to one's analysis. However, two distinct rational systems will have primary contradictions and cannot be united. Wars are the only procedures for resolving ambiguity by eliminating the presence of contradiction, witness the separate tribal areas, beyond communication against casual choice. Privacy as it were is the option to war. War is necessary to prevent dysfunctional confusion. As a Comanche, I am indifferent to rational systems beyond nature's grasp. Ideosynchratic thought is tolerable if not imposed on me.
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RickyDawkins1 year ago
At a time when Muslim doctors and engineers stand accused of attempting atrocities in the expectation of supernatural reward, when the Catholic Church still preaches the sinfulness of condom use in villages devastated by AIDS, when the president of the United States repeatedly vetoes the most promising medical research for religious reasons, much depends on the scientific community presenting a united front against the forces of unreason.
There are bridges and there are gangplanks, and it is the business of journals such as Nature to know the difference.
-Sam Harris
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v448/n7156...
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Daylight1 year ago
RickyDawkins
At a time when Muslim doctors and engineers stand accused of attempting atrocities in the expectation of supernatural reward
This the most incredulous statements of all, Muslim Doctors and Engineers will never commit atrocities in the name of Islam. Holy prophet said perhaps there are medicine for every illness and Qur'an encourages people to seek knowledge. Islam never force people to accept anything by force. RickyDawkins you need to read more and more in order to acquire knowledge, your internet based knowledge is not sufficient, it is limited and manipulated by people with vested interest, in some cases the web sites are purposely distorting the truth. Islam will cure your mental illness.
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splitrch1 year ago
"This the most incredulous statements of all, Muslim Doctors and Engineers will never commit atrocities in the name of Islam."
What about those Doctor's in the UK earlier this Summer? They tried to blow up a nightclub in London and an airport terminal in Scotland. They are Doctors. I'm pretty sure their understanding of Islam lead them to these actions. If you want to argue that they misunderstand their own religion you may have a case, but with very few takers.
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lvrofwolves1 year ago
Daylight-I find suicide bombers and terrorist to be atrocities- I know I know, the Koran says that is sinfull, but the twist is, what we call suicide bombers and terrorists- Islam calls being a martyr, and isn't that the wish of Islam belief? to die a martyr? martyrdom in the name of Allah!
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Unashamed1 year ago
Question to RickyDawkins: Why do you cut and paste the article in these comment boxes? Merely repeating the article adds nothing. I find it annoying, after I've read the article, to have to re-read it in the comments. I understand copying a portion to comment on that portion, but when no comment is made, what is the purpose?
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smithichie1 year ago
Why aren't there muslim astronauts?
They are still working on the computer program that will tell them when to pray. Sound's like a joke but it's true.
Muslims are supposed to pray 5 times a day, but when orbiting the Earth 15-16 times every 24 hrs., praying 75-80 times every day leaves little time for astronaut duties.
There are also bugs to work out about the direction to pray, how to pray in 0 g's, washing, etc.
Maybe the Amish will beat them into space after all.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=...
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RickyDawkins1 year ago
I know plenty of Christians who would love to get ahold of that software to enhance the power of their own prayer. Not to mention the ramifications for zodiac freaks (astrology).
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1-2-Oscar1 year ago
A Muslim astronaut is currently in training, and may make his first space flight to the International Space Station later this year. He will be the first Malaysian austronaut.
It was never seriously contemplated that a Muslim astronaut might have to pray as many as 75-80 times daily. That, unfortunately, was a cruel joke circulated among non-Muslims. However, there was a serious question about the proper direction for prayer. An adequate solution has been worked out and approved by leading clerics in both Malaysia and Indonesia.
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RickyDawkins1 year ago
More than 150 delegates attended a seminar to consider how to pray in space given the difficulties of locating Mecca and holding the prayer position in zero gravity; as well as other questions such as halal food and washing.
"It's as important as sending the astronaut," said Mustafa Din bin Subari, deputy director of Angkasa, Malaysia's space agency.
-See Smithichie's post
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Daylight1 year ago
1-2-Oscar
It was never seriously contemplated that a Muslim astronaut might have to pray as many as 75-80 times daily. That, unfortunately, was a cruel joke circulated among non-Muslims. However, there was a serious question about the proper direction for prayer. An adequate solution has been worked out and approved by leading clerics in both Malaysia and Indonesia.
(as many as 75-80 times daily) This is misleading nobody prayers 75-80 times daily, this is how everything about Islam is distorted, five times a day wouldn't even take 30 minutes of praying time, also praying time could be combined and shortened if we are on a journey or visiting a different country, in situation where there is a problem in performing prayers, we could perform the prayers on a different time.
You are right, we already know what to do when we are on a long journey or flying on an aircraft for more than 24 hours. I don't think there is any problem, non-Muslims can always make jokes, who cares?
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lvrofwolves1 year ago
If you had all the knowledge, why talk about it at all? unless you just want to preach.
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smithichie1 year ago
Or what? Will you declare a fatwa on me?
This is a public forum, I will continue to speak as long as I wish, but thanks for the advice.
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muhairi81 year ago
Prince Sultan bin Salman, the first Muslim astronaut
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_bin_Salman_...
http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198601/a....
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smithichie1 year ago
Alright, Muslims beat the Amish into space, but if the Amish had royal families I bet they would have won!
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Juditt1 year ago
I named my son after the first Israeli astronaut from the fated Columbia flight in 2002. The astronaut consulted with his clergy to determine the best way to stay true to his faith basis while in space.
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Beeboppin711 year ago
I have no problem with the scientist's discovery of God or his writing about it. It very well may have been the most important discovery he'll ever make. It angers me a little when any faith tries to affect National Policies, so I can understand why the scientific community would be upset about the discovery of God being posted in one of their journals. But what I don't understand is this all out war that science is having with religions and vive versa.
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Radiofreeeuropa1 year ago
Hi Bee,
It seems to me that what you said is indeed the point.
Religion is not science, and science is not religion.
More than a handful of scientists do believe in some kind of vague ethereal protoplasmic transcendent poobah. Does that opinion belong in a science journal? No more than than the human genome belongs in the I Ching. However the fundies of all religions who outright oppose and deter science, should be deterred themselves. You know the what I mean?
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Daylight1 year ago
Radiofreeeuropa
No more than than the human genome belongs in the I Ching. However the fundies of all religions who outright oppose and deter science, should be deterred themselves. You know the what I mean?
Radio, you are wrong Islam never discouraged science, Qur'an commands people to search the universe. Actually science has become the desperate tools of the Evolutionists to justify their Atheistic belief which is based on fabricated lies. Why not explain what they found in China, Africa, Australia and other parts of the world in very simple terms, so that even ordinary people could understand and join atheism and then they can have their holy book and a temple for all the Evolutionists and Atheists where they can gather and plan like Lenin, other communists and materialists and start oppressing the ordinary people to follow their sick belief. In my personal opinion heart without God, is heart which is dead. If I am wrong please I stand corrected.
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