Google “scientific miracles in the Quran” and you will get millions of results, including web pag... more Google “scientific miracles in the Quran” and you will get millions of results, including web pages, videos, and images. It is not surprising that, as Muslims, we would be keen to have our holy book validated by the dominant epistemic channel of the day, i.e., science. For the vast majority of the world’s population, regardless of race, ethnicity, or creed, science is synonymous with truth, and, if a religious book is truly from God, then it ought to be compatible with science. By this reasoning, what clearer evidence could there be of the divine origin of the Quran than the fact that it miraculously contains foreknowledge of scientific matters that could not have been known 1400 years ago? While this sounds appealing and sensible, we should step back and clear up some confusions.
Below are twenty-one points that not only critique Wood's essay and ISIS's ideology but also take... more Below are twenty-one points that not only critique Wood's essay and ISIS's ideology but also take stock of the larger discourse surrounding Muslims, the War on Terror, and the intersection of government policy and the study of Islam in Western academia.
Popular scientists, like Richard Dawkins, often employ claims of human-chimp genetic similarity t... more Popular scientists, like Richard Dawkins, often employ claims of human-chimp genetic similarity to further arguments about common descent and to oppose the notion of human exceptionalism. What is often left unpresented to the non-specialist public are the details and distinctive nature of this “striking” genetic similarity so often touted by public intellectuals and scientific reporting alike. Taking a closer look at the scientific literature provides further information that puts these similarity claims into proper context. What is apparent is that the conclusion of 99% similarity is an oversimplification, and the scientific conclusions drawn are much more cautious and much less definitive of common descent than is often assumed in the public discourse.
In light of the recent US Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, we have seen a number of Muslim s... more In light of the recent US Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, we have seen a number of Muslim scholars reiterate the position of Islamic law on same-sex acts. What we have not seen much of, however, is reasoning explaining why Islamic law prohibits same-sex acts. Clearly many people today including Muslims do not understand why Islam or any religion would forbid homoeroticism. As it is often put, if two people love each other and want to consummate their love, what difference does it make if they happen to be of the same sex? What could be wrong about this?
To understand what is wrong requires addressing several large assumptions about sexuality and morality. These assumptions make it virtually impossible for people today to understand the moral reasoning and intuitions inherent to Islam's stance on homosexuality. But once those assumptions are addressed, then Islam's position starts to look more and more compelling. At the very least, Islam's position stops looking like sheer hate, bigotry, prudery, etc.
The way that I have framed my thoughts on this issue is in the form of a “debate” with myself. Over the years, we have all heard the typical arguments and one-liners in support of homosexuality, so much so that these arguments have become embedded into the way most of us think about the topic. I give voice to this position in the form of questions and charges that a typical pro-gay advocate would raise against Islam's stance on homosexuality. I then respond to these in turn, defending the Islamic view.
Google “scientific miracles in the Quran” and you will get millions of results, including web pag... more Google “scientific miracles in the Quran” and you will get millions of results, including web pages, videos, and images. It is not surprising that, as Muslims, we would be keen to have our holy book validated by the dominant epistemic channel of the day, i.e., science. For the vast majority of the world’s population, regardless of race, ethnicity, or creed, science is synonymous with truth, and, if a religious book is truly from God, then it ought to be compatible with science. By this reasoning, what clearer evidence could there be of the divine origin of the Quran than the fact that it miraculously contains foreknowledge of scientific matters that could not have been known 1400 years ago? While this sounds appealing and sensible, we should step back and clear up some confusions.
Below are twenty-one points that not only critique Wood's essay and ISIS's ideology but also take... more Below are twenty-one points that not only critique Wood's essay and ISIS's ideology but also take stock of the larger discourse surrounding Muslims, the War on Terror, and the intersection of government policy and the study of Islam in Western academia.
Popular scientists, like Richard Dawkins, often employ claims of human-chimp genetic similarity t... more Popular scientists, like Richard Dawkins, often employ claims of human-chimp genetic similarity to further arguments about common descent and to oppose the notion of human exceptionalism. What is often left unpresented to the non-specialist public are the details and distinctive nature of this “striking” genetic similarity so often touted by public intellectuals and scientific reporting alike. Taking a closer look at the scientific literature provides further information that puts these similarity claims into proper context. What is apparent is that the conclusion of 99% similarity is an oversimplification, and the scientific conclusions drawn are much more cautious and much less definitive of common descent than is often assumed in the public discourse.
In light of the recent US Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, we have seen a number of Muslim s... more In light of the recent US Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, we have seen a number of Muslim scholars reiterate the position of Islamic law on same-sex acts. What we have not seen much of, however, is reasoning explaining why Islamic law prohibits same-sex acts. Clearly many people today including Muslims do not understand why Islam or any religion would forbid homoeroticism. As it is often put, if two people love each other and want to consummate their love, what difference does it make if they happen to be of the same sex? What could be wrong about this?
To understand what is wrong requires addressing several large assumptions about sexuality and morality. These assumptions make it virtually impossible for people today to understand the moral reasoning and intuitions inherent to Islam's stance on homosexuality. But once those assumptions are addressed, then Islam's position starts to look more and more compelling. At the very least, Islam's position stops looking like sheer hate, bigotry, prudery, etc.
The way that I have framed my thoughts on this issue is in the form of a “debate” with myself. Over the years, we have all heard the typical arguments and one-liners in support of homosexuality, so much so that these arguments have become embedded into the way most of us think about the topic. I give voice to this position in the form of questions and charges that a typical pro-gay advocate would raise against Islam's stance on homosexuality. I then respond to these in turn, defending the Islamic view.
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What is often left unpresented to the non-specialist public are the details and distinctive nature of this “striking” genetic similarity so often touted by public intellectuals and scientific reporting alike.
Taking a closer look at the scientific literature provides further information that puts these similarity claims into proper context. What is apparent is that the conclusion of 99% similarity is an oversimplification, and the scientific conclusions drawn are much more cautious and much less definitive of common descent than is often assumed in the public discourse.
To understand what is wrong requires addressing several large assumptions about sexuality and morality. These assumptions make it virtually impossible for people today to understand the moral reasoning and intuitions inherent to Islam's stance on homosexuality. But once those assumptions are addressed, then Islam's position starts to look more and more compelling. At the very least, Islam's position stops looking like sheer hate, bigotry, prudery, etc.
The way that I have framed my thoughts on this issue is in the form of a “debate” with myself. Over the years, we have all heard the typical arguments and one-liners in support of homosexuality, so much so that these arguments have become embedded into the way most of us think about the topic. I give voice to this position in the form of questions and charges that a typical pro-gay advocate would raise against Islam's stance on homosexuality. I then respond to these in turn, defending the Islamic view.
What is often left unpresented to the non-specialist public are the details and distinctive nature of this “striking” genetic similarity so often touted by public intellectuals and scientific reporting alike.
Taking a closer look at the scientific literature provides further information that puts these similarity claims into proper context. What is apparent is that the conclusion of 99% similarity is an oversimplification, and the scientific conclusions drawn are much more cautious and much less definitive of common descent than is often assumed in the public discourse.
To understand what is wrong requires addressing several large assumptions about sexuality and morality. These assumptions make it virtually impossible for people today to understand the moral reasoning and intuitions inherent to Islam's stance on homosexuality. But once those assumptions are addressed, then Islam's position starts to look more and more compelling. At the very least, Islam's position stops looking like sheer hate, bigotry, prudery, etc.
The way that I have framed my thoughts on this issue is in the form of a “debate” with myself. Over the years, we have all heard the typical arguments and one-liners in support of homosexuality, so much so that these arguments have become embedded into the way most of us think about the topic. I give voice to this position in the form of questions and charges that a typical pro-gay advocate would raise against Islam's stance on homosexuality. I then respond to these in turn, defending the Islamic view.