Why Does the Muslim World Lag in Science? [How hot is hell and what are jinns made of?]

Middle East Forum ^ | June 1996 | Aaron Segal

[muir_redwoods]

"Why Does the Muslim World Lag in Science?"

Because they refuse to accept any finding that is not in strict accord with their scripture. That approach always leads to backward thinking when it comes to science beyond the 17th century.

[Zionist Conspirator]

Teaching science to moslems (or American Indians or Australian aborigines or Eskimos or Papuans or Samoyeds) is an act of genocide against a pure "revolutionary" culture that cannot be critiqued by anyone on the outside. Only rednecks are obligated to change their traditonal beliefs or else be mocked as savages and ignoramuses. Meanwhile, militant ignorance among other groups is lauded as resistance to "The Man."

How do I get in on this?

Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species, published in 1859, was translated in Arabic journals by 1876, though not in book form until 1918. Throughout this period, Muslim intellectuals presented minimal resistance to the diffusion of Western scientific ideas. For example, the major opposition to Darwinian ideas of evolution came not from Muslim scholars but from Eastern-rite Christians.

Shhh. Don't tell the "Eastern-rite Chr*stians." They think they invented Darwinism and that creationism is a modern innovation invented by Fundamentalist Protestants. All you have to do is ask an Orthodox chr*stian FReeper to learn this!

[SauronOfMordor]

They also do not take into account Bi'dah. there can be no additions to the Koran or the perfect way the world works under islam. meaning no hope for a reformation without the reformers being killed for being apostates.

Islam cannot be "reformed" -- it can only be destroyed

[hinckley buzzard]

Islam is not, however, the key problem facing scientific achievement in the Muslim world.

Yeah, right. And I'm Queen Elizabeth of England.

Point goes to 'er 'ighness.

This article is a clumsy contrivance for the defense of Islam. The fact is astonishingly plain and has as much to do with the ideas behind science as the lack of ideas behind Islam.

Science and the development of technology spring from the innate desire to master the external world, to understand it and control it, and make it do what we want it to. No more nor less.

Islam is dedicated to the acceptance of the world as it is--submission, remember? After all it was made this way by Allah himself, for a reason, and it is not for any poor dumb moslem bastard to go messing with Allah's handiwork.

Do you think you can improve on the work of Allah? Do you want to die young with your head in your lap?

If this author were intellectually honest he wouldn't have wasted so much time on irrelevant historical drivel and would have just outed the naked emporer. But then I guess he wouldn't have had a column to sell.

[DariusBane]

Ping for later

[ApplegateRanch]

A lake of molten brimstone [sulfur] means that its temperature must be at or below the boiling point,

You fail to take into consideration the increased pressure due to several miles (total distance unknow) of earth's crust, between sea level and the surface of the Lake of Fire. That additional pressure would raise the boiling point significantly.

OTOH, wouldn't the temperature given for Heaven point to "earth's twin", Venus, as the location of Heaven? Have any Venus probes sent back images of "CAUTION: Construction Zone" warning signs?

OTOOH, there may also be an error in equating "light" with "radiation".

[ApplegateRanch]

If this author were intellectually honest he wouldn't have wasted so much time on irrelevant historical drivel and would have just outed the naked emporer. But then I guess he wouldn't have had a column to sell.

closer to the truth, had he done so, he would have wasted precious, productive time writing a non-publishable honest article.

[Dark Skies]

The truth about islam (can we handle it) is that it is about hate and self/sex and power.

But Judeo/Christianity is about love.

Now there's the difference. The question is whether or not we can choose correctly. Love or hate...Gosh, what to do?

Your choice...make it wisely. Eternally!

[2rightsleftcoast]

Yea, I'll second that.

[Cvengr]

On the other hand, there are no asbestos suits in hell.

[Resolute]

Ditto, regarding the importance of linear thinking. A few years ago I was assigned to "train" some Arabic persons in a specific topic. The absolute biggest impediment was that they habitually reverted to nonlinear and/or cyclic thought processes.

[ottersnot]

What do you expect from this group when 90% of them crap in a whole in the sand and use a rock for toilet paper.

Most of them just crap in their front yards. If they are really feeling conscientious they may walk out the gate first. Maybe the really conscientious ones dig a hole.

To be fair, some do have latrines.

Some of you probably think I'm just being mean...

[devolve]

I'm still waiting for someone to post that many Muslims marry their cousins.....

In some are a high majority marry first their cousins.....

Inbreeding:

- The truth holy path to genius and mental health!

[FreedomCalls]

I think the answer goes something like this: "If a scientific question is addressed in the Koran, then the answer is settled by what is written; if it is not addressed in the Koran, then it is not worthy of investigation."

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Uncle Vlad]

Lucky for us, and as long as they have their current attitudes, I hope they choose to remain ignorant and superstitious.

[dixiechick2000]

Folks in the South learned not to do that a looooong time ago. ;o)

[sheik yerbouty]

Bbbbut they have contributed to the arts. Have you not heard of the musical group "Jinn and Deen"?

[kalee]

bttt

[yankeedame]

Very insightful observations and some excellent points to consider; however, if I may be so bold, I would add one vital -- if, in fact, not THE most vital -- factor that allowed science to sink deep roots and flourish in the West as it did no where else in the world, and that is

The Sanctity of Private Property.

If I build a better mouse-trap and yet the state senator of my district gets all the credit and, in turn,I get little, if anything. Why in the world would I spent countless hours busting my buttons developing this mouse- trap? Esp. if it turns out the better mouse-trap turns out of be a flop -- who do you think is going to get blamed? The state senator? Of course not! I will, and not only for making a flop of a mouse-trap but for making the senator a laughing stock. In short, if this mouse-trap is a hit he gets everything. If this mouse-trap is a flop I get everything....dumped on me, like a ton of raw sewage.

In the West, I strive to build a better mouse-trap b/c I know that if it is a hit I will win fame, glory, and $$$. B/c this new, improved mousetrap is mine.In the non-Western world, I strive to build a better mouse-trap b/c I...I...ferggaboutit...a few mouse droppings never hurt anybody.