In 600 years time will Islam have matured like a fine Christianity?

[Mecky]

Which was bugger all to do with Islam, or Islamic society, and the technology for using it was all created by other societies.

 

It's rather telling that you had to opt for a joke answer.

 

Although it is odd how muslims are at their most volatile in countries with large oil resources

[Chris_Sleeps]

If memory serves correctly wasn't Mohammed murdered by poisoning by his own followers???

Never read that before.

 

My original reply was "Wasn't Jesus betrayed by his?", which I enjoy.

[mapleboy]

I've started another thread on this but "mature", what exactly do you mean by that word?

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/10/us-iraq-emo-killings-idUSBRE8290CY20120310

 

Methinks they have some way to go.

[Baz1]

your mixing up the roman catholic church , Islam has never punished science,

a little history will and can teach u that

 

 

 

 

Islam hasn't really had to repress science very much because for the past 800 years or so no Islamic societies have produced any scientists worth repressing.

 

I think you misunderstood the post from immortal-tec.

 

Unless I am mistaken, the point being made by the person was that Islam never stopped or hindered science- if it did then most of what the Western world knows today would not have reached us.

 

No one can deny the contribution made by Muslim scientists when Europe was lagging in the Dark Ages. One of my favourite quotes is that from the philosopher Bertrand Russell (from The Impact of Science on Society)

 

The supremacy of the East was not only military. Science, philosophy, poetry, and the arts, all flourished… in the Muhammadan world at a time when Europe was sunk in barbarism. Europeans, with unpardonable insularity, call this period ‘The Dark Ages’: but it was only in Europe that it was dark—indeed only in Christian Europe, for Spain, which was Mohammedan, had a brilliant culture.”

 

However to suggest that no contribution has been made to the field of science by Muslim scientists today is not accurate- yes, granted you don't have the level of impact once made- but one would need to ask WHY?

 

What was different when the Golden Era was in full swing? Easy answer- they had access to knowledge via the best infrastructure available then.

 

Islam has always encouraged pursuit of knowledge- it still does. A lot can be attributed to the decline then (Crusades, Mongols) which destroyed all the areas from where knowledge was gained.

 

In many Muslim countries today you have dictatorships -many hand picked by the West who only fill their own pockets and their Swiss bank accounts (like Mubarak/Ben Ali).

 

You also have lack of investment in to education that sees many come to the West to advance their education. When we look at the reasons behind this under development, it becomes clear the economic and social problems facing these countries have impeded their development alongside factors such as war, famine and poverty have compounded the situation greatly (just look at Afghanistan for example or Baghdad- once so rich in history where knowledge excelled).

 

However there are still notable names that have contributed an abundance to the field of science- be it even going back to 800 years- a simple Google search will confirm that (Muslim Scientists). You also have Nobel prize winners like Abdus Salam (for Physics in 1979) and the Egyptian born Ahmed Zewail (1999).

[Balpin]

Although it is odd how muslims are at their most volatile in countries with large oil resources

 

Wherever capitalism is at most cruel and exploiting, you will always find organisors.

The in the old days, these were communist organisors.

This was generally accepable to the workers, who embraced socialism.

Obviously, this had to be stopped, so by the conivance of western captalism and the Arab Nations, the USSR was destoyed.

 

We now have a Frankenstien Monster, created during that conflict, totally out of control, in the form of muslim fundamentalism, which has completely lost its way, and is trying to destroy its base religion.

Because, mark my words, the USA will not be destroyed, or overcome.

It will destroy all before it before then.

[Balpin]

Never read that before.

 

My original reply was "Wasn't Jesus betrayed by his?", which I enjoy.

 

There are many conflicting tales, did he actually exist?

Or was he a representative type of Warlord?

He was supposed to have died in wounds in battle, but it is the same old nonsense.

This took place 1500 years ago, how does anyone know today?

[taxman]

Unless I am mistaken, the point being made by the person was that Islam never stopped or hindered science- if it did then most of what the Western world knows today would not have reached us.

 

 

That was in the past though, when numeracy and science and a great deal of other things were invented and developed by people in Middle Eastern countries.

 

But then they seemed to just abandon it all in order to pursue their belief in sky pixies. When Russia and the USA were exploring the solar system the Taliban were more concerned about beard law and the Saudis don't let women drive cars.......

[six45ive]

That was in the past though, when numeracy and science and a great deal of other things were invented and developed by people in Middle Eastern countries.

 

But then they seemed to just abandon it all in order to pursue their belief in sky pixies. When Russia and the USA were exploring the solar system the Taliban were more concerned about beard law and the Saudis don't let women drive cars.......

 

Like in the west, in xtian countries like Britain, the early muslim scholars/scientists used science to prove their version of god to be correct. It was only when this new knowledge started to take people away from islam by providing evidence against god or showing that the idea of god wasn't necessary, was seen as competing with islam as a way of attaining truth and was probably seen as a new religion in itself that the clamp down began leading to the scientific desert that are islamic countries today.

[flamingjimmy]

I think you misunderstood the post from immortal-tec.

 

Unless I am mistaken, the point being made by the person was that Islam never stopped or hindered science

That's exactly what I took from it, I didn't misunderstand it at all. I made the point that no Islamic society has produced any scientists who challenged the status quo enough to be repressed by your outdated religion. They simply aren't worth the trouble.

No one can deny the contribution made by Muslim scientists when Europe was lagging in the Dark Ages.

No-one has denied that, you're arguing against a strawman.

 

However to suggest that no contribution has been made to the field of science by Muslim scientists today is not accurate

That's not what I suggested though.

 

granted you don't have the level of impact once made- but one would need to ask WHY?

 

What was different when the Golden Era was in full swing? Easy answer- they had access to knowledge via the best infrastructure available then.

I have neither implied nor state that noe contribution has been made by muslim scientist, in fact I would agree with you As you say, access to previous knowledge and a good infrastructure are the primary reasons for the Islamic golden age, ie. nothing to do with Islam.

 

Islam has always encouraged pursuit of knowledge- it still does.

Clearly not to very great effect.

[Baz1]

I have neither implied nor state that noe contribution has been made by muslim scientist, in fact I would agree with you As you say, access to previous knowledge and a good infrastructure are the primary reasons for the Islamic golden age, ie. nothing to do with Islam.

 

Not exactly true- it was the pursuit of knowledge prompted by the Quran that you had so many Muslim scientists develop ideas- especially in astronomy/cosmology and even study of embryology.

 

Obviously technology advanced as one would expect as times changed, but the early Muslims were very inventive.

 

Clearly not to very great effect.

 

Today you may not have the investment in some Islamic countries- which I touched upon in my last post, that was available back then. The libraries and vast collection of books that brought in Muslim/Non Muslim scientists under one roof to pursuit knowledge.

 

The encouragement to seek knowledge about the Universe, ones own self is still apparent today- many of my Muslim friends did just that when I was learning myself in 1990s- they combined their study of Islam via the Quran that led them to follow specific areas that would help them gain the understanding of the world that much better. One of my colleagues was Usama Hasan- who I studied Arabic from and who remains a close friend.