The Devil of the West—Islam and Science (A Review)*

June 20, 2007 | Filed Under Education, Gregory Stewart, Islam, Media Bias, Publius Contributor, Religion, Uncategorized, War on Terror |

-By Gregory Stewart

In a recent article, in the July’s issue of Discover Magazine, by Todd Pitock, titled Science and Islam: Special Report–The Ultimate Conflict Between Science And Religion, begins with the usual insinuation of “Islamic” suspicion of embracing science. He infers that Islamists fundamentalist place blame squarely on the West for its role in hindering Arab countries development—like Egypt for instance. He speaks of Zaghloul El-Naggar, who views the West as evil incarnate—and sees the spiritual nature of his contemporaries—as waning and corrupt. In the sense that, the moral consciousness of the West’s scientists are “…’bringing the man far below the level of animals…’” In other words, like fundamentalist Christians, some of the Islamists feel and see science as subverting the word of God since it was has been by Him.

Admittedly, although Islam to some degree is willing to “acknowledge” the scientific method in the context that “its” scripture reveals, it is bounded; however, to the belief their prophets have provided the empirical knowledge. Pitock gives the examples of Islamic scientists using each other as sources to validate their work (p. 39). Thus, as he puts it, “creating the illusion” that proper research has been done.

This is the beginning of his article, in essence; Pitock, tries to illustrate that fundamentalism of Islam can be just as literalistic as Christian fundamentalism believing the tsunami of 2005 was the “wrath of God” because of the sins of the West (p. 39). This position is juxtaposed from the Christian fundamentalist perspective. But I digress, this article in its final form is a revelation of how “modern” and moderate Muslims view modernity. He tries to relay this through his travels of Cairo, Egypt, Tunis, Tunisia, Amman, Jordan with back stories of Iran and of self-censorship within Islamic of scientific community regarding applications, ideas, and ideals.

By implication Pitock is inferring that once there is stability within the infrastructure and there is a separation of powers mosque and state, in this case, science in Islam becomes reforming. However, since Islam can become easily radicalized, Islamic scientists are less likely to be as vocal as their western counterparts. Suddenly, it becomes apparent that as one reads the article that, one of the best ways to win this “war on terror” is to support modernization of moderate Arab states: aiding in stabilizing the infrastructure, aiding the cultivation of literacy, and the support of toleration of education for both boys and girls. This is in turn may lead to the subversion of the radical Islamists, and return Islam for a more tolerance. And, in the end begin the journey of reformation that is needed to complete its journey into modernity. This article provided a glimmer of hope for that to happen. Todd Pitock shows that there is a beacon of opportunity that should be exploited to our advantage.

*Apparently, the article is not online yet. So, you will have to pick it up at your local newsstand.
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Gregory Stewart may be contacted by email using this link:Greg K.Stewart

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