Islamic Scientific Creationism
Islamic Scientific Creationism: A New Challenge in Turkey
Originally published in RNCSE 19 (6): 18-20, 25-29. The version on the web might differ slightly from the print publication. At the time that “Creation Science: A Successful Export?” was published in RNCSE (Matsumura 1998), there was an notable debate among intellectuals, scientists, lay people and fundamentalist Islamists concerning Islamic scientific creationism in Turkey. Since the early 1990s, the Science Research Foundation (Bilim Arastirma Vakfi, or BAV) has undertaken a new mission of spreading an Islamic version of scientific creationism in Turkey, the ideology of which was mainly imported from the US. However, it was not until late 1998 that many scientists and academics, as well as Turkish science institutions, such as TUBITAK (the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council) and TUBA (the Turkish Academy of Sciences), protested the pseudoscience of BAV and published declarations against Islamic scientific creationists. To understand better the Islamic scientific creationism movement in Turkey, it is expedient to review the history of the Turkish Republic and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Turkey.
Islam and Creationism
The Qur’an, like the Bible, accepts the creation of the universe, the earth, and life on earth by Allah (the God of Muslims) in 6 days. According to Islamic sources and the Qur’an, Allah created the soil first, then the mountains, light, and the animals, and then Adam (Qur’an: Hjcr 26-29; Zumar 6; Ta Ha 116-119; Baqarah 31-34, 36-37; A’raf 19; also see Arsel 1996, 1997a, 1997b, 1999; Dursun 1992). Adam is created from the soil. However, scholars acknowledge that the Qur’an has been modified and rewritten through the centuries (Lebster 1999; Dursun 1992).
The Qur’an accepts the divine validity of the information presented in the sacred books of Jews and Christians; consequently the creation accounts in the other sacred books are also accepted by the Qur’an. In the Qur’an, the description of Adam and Eve’s adventures in Eden is not as detailed as it is in Genesis, but it is obvious that the creation story in the Qur’an was influenced by Genesis. However, the Qur’an provides no basis on which to estimate the age of the earth, in contrast to the scriptural accounts that form the basis of much of Christian “scientific creationism”.
who is Harun Yahya 
September 3, 2007 at 3:03 pm |
The Quran was NEVER modified and rewritten! It is still in its original Arabic form as revealed to Mohammed (peace be upon him), though the translation of the Quran does change with time – the Quran itself is still as pure as it was in the seventh century. I would like to challenge anyone who thinks that the Quran is NOT divinely revealed to read the Quran as it bears testament to the truth of its own revelation. PLEASE do see: Translation Of The Meanings Of The Glorious Quran: http://www.islambasics.com/view.php?bkID=120
September 22, 2011 at 11:51 am |
the Quran is a fake, made to test the faith of all Pastafarians. If you believe in it You’re going to hell. Repent and be touched by His Noodly appendage! The Flying Spaghetti monster is the One Only True God! Ramen!
September 3, 2007 at 3:33 pm |
Some links:
Frequently asked questions on Islam: http://www.irf.net/irf/faqonislam/index.htm
On the Quran by Shabir Ali: http://www3.sympatico.ca/shabir.ally/the_quran.htm
Who Wrote the Quran: http://www.islamhouse.com/p/1283
THE QUR’AN AND MODERN SCIENCE by Dr. Maurice Bucaille: http://www.sultan.org/articles/QScience.html
September 3, 2007 at 3:40 pm |
7 Reasons to Read the Glorious Quran
By: Shabir Ali
(1) Intimate:
It dares YOU to disprove it. How? It says that humans can not write a book like this even if they pooled all their resources together and got help also from the spirits. The Quran said this fourteen hundreds years ago and yet no one has been able to disprove it. Billions of books have been written – but not another one like the Quran.
(2) Incorruptible:
It is the only religious sacred writing which has been in circulation for such a long time and yet remains as pure as it was in the beginning. The Quran was kept intact. Nothing was added to it; nothing was changed in it; and nothing was taken away from it ever since it was completely revealed 1400 years ago.
(3) Unsurpassable:
The Quran is God’s final revelation to humankind. God revealed the Torah to Moses, the Psalms to David, the Gospel to Jesus, and finally the Quran to Muhammad. Peace be upon all of them. No other book will come from God to surpass his final revelation.
(4) Indisputable:
The Quran withstands the test of time and scrutiny. No one can dispute the truth of this book. It speaks about past history and turns out right. It speaks about the future in prophecies and it turns out right. It mentions details of physical phenomena which were not known to people at the time; yet later scientific discoveries confirm that the Quran was right all along. Every other book needs to be revised to accord with modern knowledge. The Quran alone is never contradicted by a modern discovery.
(5) Your Roadmap for Life and Afterlife:
The Quran is the best guidebook on how to structure your life. No other book presents such a comprehensive system involving all aspects of human life and endeavor. The Quran also points out the way to secure everlasting happiness in the afterlife. It is your roadmap showing how to get to paradise.
(6) God’s Gift of Guidance:
God has not left you alone. You were made for a reason. God tells you why he made you, what he demands from you, and what he has in store for you. If you operate a machine contrary to it’s manufacture specification you will ruin that machine. What about you? Do you have an owner’s manual for you? The Quran is from your function for success lest you fail to function. It is a healing mercy from God. It satisfies the soul, and cleans the heart. It removes doubts and brings peace.
(7) Your Calling Card to Communicate with God:
Humans are social creatures. We love to communicate with other intelligent life. The Quran tells us how to communicate with the source of all intelligence and the source of all life- the One God. The Quran tells us who God is, by what name we should address God, and the way in which to communicate with God. Are these not seven sufficient reasons for reading the Quran?
Read a translation of the Quran: http://www.quranexplorer.com/quran/
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/
August 12, 2008 at 4:48 pm |
From Harun Yahya website:
WE CHALLENGE DAWKINS TO A DISCUSSION BEFORE THE PUBLIC
Richard Dawkins, a most ardent supporter of Darwinism, has long accounted for the perfect creation of the universe in terms of the theory of evolution, which has lately suffered a global collapse. In his recent writings and interviews, however, Dawkins has started to express that “life cannot form by chance.” It is an absence of sense and reason to support evolution on one hand and to state that life cannot come about by chance on the other. That is due to the fact that according to the theory of evolution, which Dawkins supports, the existence of life is based on entirely random coincidences.
Dawkins has realized that he can get nowhere with the scenario of chance. But, he is now in the logical impasse as he basically claims that “evolution cannot be a result of coincidences, but has occurred by means of coincidences.” What he should realize is that demagogy no longer works.
If Dawkins sincerely believes in this theory, we’d like to invite him to Turkey, or else we could come to UK to have a discussion. Dawkins should clarify hundreds of questions, only a few of which are listed below, before the cameras. So we, as well as the public, will be able to hear what he has to say. Obviously, it’s no good to engage in unilateral programs. Moreover, with such an attitude Dawkins only deceives himself. Let us send the first 4 volumes of Atlas of Creation to Mr. Dawkins, and let him examine the photographs of the fossils therein which have not changed at all over the hundreds of millions of years. And let him account for them in evolutionary terms according to his much-publicized logic�quot;if he can!
Archeological researches unearthed over a hundred million fossils, proving that life forms were created out of nothing. Still, there is not a single transitional fossil supporting the theory of evolution. If Dawkins is sincere in his claim, he should bring a transitional fossil and announce it to the public as “a transitional form!”
The odds against a functional protein emerging randomly is 10950 to 1�quot;a practical impossibility. (In mathematics, probabilities smaller than 1 over 1050 are accepted as “zero probability.”) If Dawkins is honest, he should point at a mass of proteins that formed by chance or by means of the methods he espouses. Let Dawkins explain us how he can account for the origin of life in evolutionary terms, when even a single protein�quot;the building block of life�quot;cannot form by chance!
Let Dawkins explain us how all colorful, lively, three-dimensional and perfectly clear images, shortly life itself, can form in the pitch dark human brain and who sees this image in the brain!
Let Dawkins explain us in evolutionary terms how conversations, music and all other sounds form in the sound-isolated brain; who listens to and enjoys these sounds, who knows their meaning, who reflects on them consciously and who answers back these sounds!
Let Dawkins ask the same questions to us, and let us give our answers. Let us supply our evidence, and let him bring his�quot;if he has any. Then let the public decide who is right. We want the public to know on a larger scale how Darwinism is a false theory and how it is the greatest deception of the world’s history. We are confident that the days are soon to come when people will laugh, asking themselves “How could we ever believe this theory?” In near future, people will be wondering with amazement how they could ever have been taken in by it. In fact, this is already occurring, at an ever-increasing momentum. World-wide polls reveal statistical data proving this state of affairs.
Darwinism, tried to be kept alive by engaging in demagogy and propaganda, has been refuted in all spheres and it is now widely recognized that it’s no longer possible to defend Darwinism by demagogy. Dawkins’ recent statement along the logic that “evolution cannot be a result of coincidences, but has occurred by means of coincidences” is nothing but a laughable misery of reason.
HARUN YAHYA HAS REFUTED EVOLUTION AND IT IS TIME TO HUMILIATE IN PUBLIC THAT MUPPET DAWKINS WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIDING BEHIND THE SECULAR ESTABLISHMENT.
WE ARE WAITING…
June 17, 2009 at 1:30 am |
Its a pity that Turkey’s ‘Muslims’ seem to be wallowing in a level of confusing that can not be fathomed. They are so dug in in their atheistic nationalism that they seem to suspicious of anything that seems to help them out of this quagmire they are in.
You will find some accusing the socalled ‘creationists’ of being liars – bla bla – some even supporting idiotic ideas like evolution in the name of protecting their national principles. No wonder the EU could not admit these into their fold – at least the EU people define themselves clearly as secular – not Muslim… then Secular …
July 6, 2009 at 9:35 am |
I laugh at how someone as morally corrupt as Adnan Oktar can claim to interpret the Quran.
I laugh even more that someone as ignorant of evolutionary biology can even begin to question evolution.
On all counts Adnan Oktar is way out of his depth.
July 10, 2009 at 10:54 pm |
“HARUN YAHYA HAS REFUTED EVOLUTION AND IT IS TIME TO HUMILIATE IN PUBLIC THAT MUPPET DAWKINS WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIDING BEHIND THE SECULAR ESTABLISHMENT.
WE ARE WAITING…”
If this is Yahya’s evidence then the scientific world will be quaking in their labcoats. NOT!
http://purplekoolaid.typepad.com/my_weblog/the-skulls-that-make-harun-yahya-look-like-a-bonehead-and-fraud-huckster-hypocrite-etc.html
Yahya either mislabels modern skulls or gets his cultists to create very amateurish fakes.
Harun Yahya is a complete laughingstock!
July 12, 2009 at 11:44 am |
“The Quran was NEVER modified and rewritten! It is still in its original Arabic form as revealed to Mohammed (peace be upon him), though the translation of the Quran does change with time – the Quran itself is still as pure as it was in the seventh century. I would like to challenge anyone who thinks that the Quran is NOT divinely revealed to read the Quran as it bears testament to the truth of its own revelation. ”
If what you say is true then;
“Those who reject (Truth), among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, will be in Hell-Fire, to dwell therein (for aye). They are the worst of creatures. (98:6)
Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve, then they would not believe. (8:55)”
shows that Allah is a god with an inferiority complex. Anyone who tries to transfer to another religion is to be killed. Wouldn’t you say that Allah is a very insecure deity?
The other alternative is that the Quran was compiled by men, and shows the petty prejudices of lowly earthbound parochial men.
” Those who reject our Signs, We shall soon cast into the Fire: as often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise. (4:56)”
Very insecure for a deity that created the splendour of the universe. Or the ravings of insecure men, that didn’t want the competition of any other religion spoiling their power. Either way that divinity isn’t looking very godlike at all. Just petty, insecure and intolerant. Just like Adnan Oktar and his fellow creationists.
March 5, 2010 at 8:02 am |
Abu AFak,
Youre a fucking infidel liar.
July 5, 2010 at 10:17 am |
Solomon, how can quoting the Koran be lies?
You’re the deceitful one; peddling your pathetic cult of ignorance that worships Adnan Oktar’s blinkered view of a much more profound reality.
Get out of his cult. Get an education. Learn some science. Stop being the puppet of a criminal idiot.
March 17, 2010 at 9:33 pm |
Solomon, you’re a religious buckethead that is wallowing in ignorance.
March 28, 2010 at 3:17 pm |
HA HA HA! Joe Morreale is really irritated by this site. The poor lad is livid that his criminal cult leader is being humiliated.
Joe don’t you feel like a right sad little muppet now?
April 7, 2010 at 4:29 am |
Garry Scholey=lifetime lousy Liar
April 20, 2010 at 11:31 am |
Adnan Oktar=lifetime lousy Liar
Solomon=lifetime lousy Lackey of a con man
April 7, 2010 at 4:32 am |
Aina Aravaindakshan=possess a heart of a stone
April 20, 2010 at 11:33 am |
Yes, but at least she has more brains than you, Solomon the unwise.
April 21, 2010 at 8:29 am |
Garry Scholey=Atheists=Gay=retards biological norm=does not help in reproduction=agents of HIV=should be wiped off from this earth
May 4, 2010 at 8:07 am |
Solomon, your leader, Harun Yahya, is currently in a homosexual relationship with his cell mate in prison. So you should be more forgiving of homosexual relationships, especially since Yahya is going to want your anus when he finally gets out of prison. 😉
August 15, 2010 at 8:23 pm |
In the Book of Genesis, God is telling us two stories with the words of one. From the appearance of being the first two humans in creation Adam and Eve share a commonality with all of us. Adam and Eve are representatives for all of us. God has hidden a prophesy about the future in the story. The following is the interpretation of the story about Adam and Eve in the present. I start at Genesis 2:17
Trees don’t grow knowledge so I know God is talking in symbols. Knowledge comes from Books. Books are made from the pulp of trees. So the Tree is a Book. A Tree is a metaphor for a Book. This book has knowledge of good and bad. The Book is the Bible. The Bible contains the knowledge of good and bad. Besides I took this verse right out of the Bible. You can’t eat from a book and gain knowledge, but you can digest a book . As in Readers Digest. You are taking the words in, like food. God says, you will positively die. The Book has poison in it. The poison is the fruit on the tree.
What is the fruit on the tree that we must not eat? Or, What is the fruit in the New Testament? We know that a Cross is also a Tree and Jesus was nailed to the tree. The fruit from the Bible is Jesus. Clues are Adam and Eve are bare naked. Bare sounds like Bear.
The Tree of Knowledge is a Book, and the fruit on the tree is Jesus. This is what God is saying.
September 28, 2010 at 9:58 am |
If its knowledge you seek get an education that isn’t the mind mush of religious bullshittery.
August 15, 2010 at 8:37 pm |
In the next verse God tells us exactly who Satan is:
The snake talks. Again we know that snakes don’t talk so God is talking in symbols. God says the snake is a wild beast. That’s not true, snakes are reptiles. A beast is a mammal. So the Serpent is really a mammal that talks. Man is the only mammal that talks. The serpent is really a man. Then, how do snakes deceive us. We think the snake is a stick until we almost step on it. Then it moves. Now we know the Serpent is a Man with characteristics of a stick. The snake speaks from the stick. Does this sound familiar:
The Cross is a metaphor for a Stick. The serpent talks from the stick and the Church talks from the Cross. If it sounds the same it is the same. The Roman Catholic Pagan Church is Satan. The great deceiver, who would have ever known if it hadn’t been written by God himself right into the Bible. Satan is really the Christian Church.
Jews are right. The Messiah has not come yet.
September 28, 2010 at 10:03 am |
“Jews are right. The Messiah has not come yet.”
Well that is bad news for Adnan Oktar worshippers. They were so sure that he was the next messiah. Mind you messiahs are like buses, wait for a while and two come along at the same time!
Its a pity that non of these so called messiahs can demonstrate their divine backing by flying through the air unaided by technology or by being immune to a shotgun blast to the face. It should be obvious by anyone who isn’t a gullible fool that messiahs are merely religious con men.
October 15, 2010 at 1:10 am
Robert Carter, The Messiahs name is Yeshua. And he is here on earth now. And he doesn’t know his identity. Yeshua is a jumbled name. If you can unjumble Yeshua, you will know who he is. I will give you ONE clue. He’s in America. Good Luck!
September 22, 2011 at 11:56 am
Robert Carter, the Messiah has revealed YESHUA when unjumbled spells FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER! And our lord The FSM is in America, just as he is in Italy and Maltby, South Yorkshire (but not Doncaster)!
August 16, 2010 at 2:18 pm |
God is not picking on any one Church. The Quran is just as wrong as the New Testament is. Everyone is wrong except the Jews.
September 28, 2010 at 9:56 am |
” Everyone is wrong except the Jews.”
And they’re as wrong as every other sad monotheistic authoritarian.
September 22, 2011 at 11:57 am |
And the ONLY ones that are right are the Pastafarians! Touched by His Noodly Appendage RAMEN!
March 27, 2012 at 12:23 am
The spelling of Iddio comes close to the spelling of Idiot. I think you need to cut down on your spaghetti consumption, that pasta only puts on the pounds pal.
April 24, 2012 at 11:57 am
Mel is correct that Iddio comes close to the word “idiot”. But Mel, the latin word “Dio” is also close to it. And your God is an imaginary friend, which you haven’t grown out of.
March 15, 2013 at 8:23 pm |
Wow, the authors of this article are clueless. Not a single scholar says the Quran has been modified. What kind of a moron would say such a thing?