Religion and science Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn secular Europe the veracity of modern science is almost always taken for granted. Whether they think of the evolutionary proofs of Darwin or of spectacular investigation into the boundaries of physics conducted by CERN's Large Hadron Collider, most people assume that scientific enquiry goes to the heart of fundamental truths about the universe. Yet elsewhere, science is under siege. In the USA, Christian fundamentalists contest whether evolution should be taught in schools at all. And in Muslim countries like Tunisia, Egypt, Pakistan and Malaysia, a mere 15 per cent of those recently surveyed believed Darwin's theory to be 'true' or 'probably true'. This thoughtful and passionately argued book contends absolutely to the contrary: not only that evolutionary theory does not contradict core Muslim beliefs, but that many scholars, from Islam's golden age to the present, adopted a worldview that accepted evolution as a given. Guessoum suggests that the Islamic world, just like the Christian, needs to take scientific questions - 'quantum questions' - with the utmost seriousness if it is to recover its true heritage and integrity. In its application of a specifically Muslim perspective to important topics like cosmology, divine action and evolution, the book makes a vital contribution to debate in the disputed field of 'science and religion'.Trade Review'This book is essential reading for all those who wish to understand the relationship between Islam and science from both historical and contemporary perspectives. From Averroes to al-Ghazzali, and from Iqbal to Nasr, the author provides a well-informed survey and critique of the very different ways in which Islamic philosophers and scientists have contributed to the scientific enterprise. Muslims and non-Muslims alike will find that this fascinating overview fills a gap in the current literature on science and religion. Firmly committed to mainstream science, the author gives short shrift to those who attempt to find scientific truths hidden in different verses of the Qu'ran. Instead Prof. Guessoum sees the theistic framework as providing the basis for the intrinsic rationality and coherence of the universe, a framework within which the scientific enterprise can continue to flourish in a way that is consonant with religious belief.' - Denis Alexander, Director, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, St. Edmund's College, University of Cambridge; 'Islam's Quantum Question is a sensitive and nuanced account of Islam and science by an author who is intimately acquainted with both. Well written and thoroughly researched, it offers a lively and comprehensive introduction to both historical and contemporary issues. For those seeking guidance in a difficult and sometimes contentious field, Guessoum's stimulating book is to be highly recommended.' - Peter Harrison, Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, University of Oxford; 'Prophetic and brilliantly written.' - Philip Clayton, Professorof Religion and Philosophy, Claremont Graduate UniversitTable of ContentsPrologue: Averroes and I Introduction: Islam and Science Today PART I: Fundamentals (First things first): God, the Qur’an, and Science Chapter 1: Allah, the Creator and Sustainer Chapter 2: The Qur’an and its Philosophy of Knowledge/Science Chapter 3: Science and Its Critics Chapter 4: Can One Develop an “Islamic Science”? Chapter 5: I`jaz - Modern Science in the Qur’an? Summary and Conclusions of Part I PART II: Islam and Contemporary Science Issues Chapter 6: Islam and Cosmology Chapter 7: Islam and Design Chapter 8: Islam and the Anthropic Principle Chapter 9: Islam and Evolution (Human and Biological) PART III: Outlook Chapter 10: Islam and Science tomorrow Epilogue - A conversation with my students Appendix A: Towards an Open-Minded Science (Collective Article) Appendix B: The Flaws in 'A New Astronomical Quranic Method for The Determination Of The Greatest Speed C' by Dr. Mansour Hassab-Elnaby Appendix C: Survey of ‘Science and Religion’ Views at the American University of Sharjah, UAE Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book, Dr. Hoodbhoy, a nuclear physicist, eloquently and usefully draws attention to the plight of science and technology in the Muslim world and to the need to do something about it. The book also makes some other helpful insights here and there about why, after centuries of brilliant achievements, science suffered such a fate in the Muslim world. But the book also suffers from some very serious flaws in its view of Islam and analysis of Islamic history.Trade Review'A compelling and provocative analysis of the relationship between the scientific spirit and the orthodoxy of one of the great monotheistic religions. Any reader, Muslim or non-Muslim, is bound to be affected by Dr. Hoodbhoy's clear and persuasive arguments.'Edward Said'Perhaps the most important book written and published in Pakistan in recent years.'Irfan Husain, Dawn (Karachi)Table of Contents Foreword - Mohammed Abdus Salam Preface 1. Islam and Science: Are They Compatible? 2. Science: Its Nature and Origins 3. The War Between Science and Medieval Christianity 4. The State of Science in Islamic Countries Today 5. Three Muslim Responses to Underdevelopment 6. Bucaille, Nasr and Sardar: Three Exponents of Islamic Science 7. Can There Be An Islamic Science? 8. The Rise of Muslim Science 9. Religious Orthodoxy Confronts Muslim Science 10. Five Great 'Heretics' 11. Why Didn't the Scientific Revolution Happen in Islam? 12. Some Thoughts for the Future Appendix: They Call It Islamic Science Index Tables

Read more less