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  johnpi 10:50 am on December 4, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: King Abdullah University, Muslim science (3), religion and science (3), science (70), science and religion (5), secularism (38), war on science (2), Western science

  Al Qaeda on Arabian Peninsula’s mufti tees off on new King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. (More on the opening of the university here)

  In early November, [Ibrahim Suleiman al] Rubaish questioned Saudi King Abdullah’s decision to allow men and women to jointly attend the new King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. According to a translation of Rubaish’s statement prepared by the SITE Intelligence group, Rubaish blasted the decision as a violation of sharia law and said that King Abdullah was moving his country towards “secularism.”

  “If [King Abdullah] is not able to distinguish between good and evil and what is good and harmful, then how can he be put as the ruler over millions of people?,” Rubaish asked. “I call upon every Muslim to (distance themselves) from this agent apostate government, that has clearly demonstrated that it prefers infidelity to faith, and that all it wants from Islam is the parts that do not affect its secularist method.”

  I suspect the original motivation for creating the university had something to do with feelings of frustration and humiliation about this:

  …despite the efforts of scientists and researchers throughout the region, the Arab world makes up only 1.1% of global scientific publishing and the low level of investment into research has led to relatively low levels of innovation throughout the Arab world.

  I doubt a scientific research institution under an extremist regime would be able to do much to address the problem.

   

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  johnpi 8:58 am on September 25, 2009 | 1 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: creationism (25), creationists (3), evolution (28), Muslim science (3), religion and science (3), science (70), science and religion (5), Western science

  Aziz Huq at altMuslim recently wrote, “…many American Muslims share the Republican party’s social views.” Some conservatives in the Muslim community share a perception with Republicans that indicts science for ‘imposing’ secular teachings on religious peoples.

  Here’s one expression of those views, that’s been crafted into a law in Oklahoma:

  The Oklahoma House of Representatives Education Committee has just approved House Bill 2211.

  The bill requires public schools to guarantee students the right to express their religious viewpoints in a public forum, in class, in homework and in other ways without being penalized. If a student’s religious beliefs were in conflict with scientific theory, and the student chose to express those beliefs rather than explain the theory in response to an exam question, the student’s incorrect response would be deemed satisfactory, according to this bill.

  The school would be required to reward the student with a good grade, or be considered in violation of the law. Even simple, factual information such as the age of the earth (4.65 billion years) would be subject to the student’s belief, and if the student answered 6,000 years based on his or her religious belief, the school would have to credit it as correct. Science education becomes absurd under such a situation.

  We don’t need your stinkin’ science anyway.

  And consider this from a kid’s perspective: Why bother studying for the test when you can just feign religion and get a good grade anyway?

   
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  johnpi 5:32 am on August 1, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: education (70), Muslim education (7), Muslim science (3), science (70), Western education (2), Western science

  Nigerian Catholic church releases statement on Islamist sect, condemns “any religious movement that would subvert the progress that has been made in education and technology in Nigeria.”

  “We, therefore, call on the leaders of the Boko Haram movement (translated as Western education is sin), currently causing hardship for innocent ordinary citizens in the northern parts of the country, to adopt a creative approach to their religious practice in order to give honour and glory to Almighty God.”

  The church said that the underlying pillars of any religion include the principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.

  “Modern education and modern civilizations do not preclude ardent religious devotion. In fact, it should be underlined that Islam, as a religious practice, from places like Al-Azhar, carried the light of learning through so many centuries and paved the way for Europe’s renaissance and enlightenment.”

  Muslim communities have contributed to the development of the order of algebra, magnetic compass and tools for navigation, the mastery of pens and printing, mastery of the knowledge of diseases and healing technologies, timeless poetry and cherished music, and calligraphy, the church stated.

  “We therefore condemn any religious movement that would subvert the progress that has been made in education and technology in Nigeria and at the same time thwart law and order. We condemn a descent to religious fanaticism that would destroy our national peace and stability.”