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In Turkey, fertile ground for creationism
The Washington Post ^ | Sunday, November 8, 2009 | Marc Kaufman, Washington Post Staff Writer

Posted on 11/08/2009 5:47:34 PM PST by Gondring


Adnan Oktar, who as Harun Yahya is
Turkey's best-known and most assertive
critic of evolution, says he is
"following the path of Allah."
(Marc Kaufman/the Washington Post)

ISTANBUL -- Sema Ergezen teaches biology to Turkish students interested in teaching science themselves, and she has long struggled with her students' ignorance of, and sometimes hostility to, the notion of evolution.

But she was taken aback when several of her Marmara University students recently accused her of being an atheist, or worse, for teaching anything but the doctrine that God created the Earth and everything on it.

"They said I was a liar if I called myself a Muslim because I also accepted evolution," she said.

What especially disturbed -- and amused -- the veteran professor was that the arguments for creationism presented by some of the students came directly from the country where she was educated in the biological sciences years before -- the United States. Translated and adapted for a Muslim society, the purported proofs that Darwinism and evolution were wrong came directly from American proponents of Christian creationism and its less overtly religious offshoot, intelligent design.

[...]

To many Turkish scientists and educators, this is a worrisome development. The founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, was an advocate of science, education and, some say, even evolution. Turkish science has been especially strong in the Muslim world. If Turks close their minds to evolutionary thinking, advocates say, it won't be long before religion and politics shut off other scientific pursuits.

[...]

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: creationism; id; islam; koran; turkey
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Interesting world... American Christians helping to promote the rise of Islam against science in Turkey.

I suppose to be fair, we need to teach Islamic Creationism in schools now, too..right?

1 posted on 11/08/2009 5:47:35 PM PST by Gondring
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To: Gondring

How perfect. Ignorant 7th century superstition on the rise in Turkey, and Creationists applaud...


2 posted on 11/08/2009 5:49:30 PM PST by Kozak (USA 7/4/1776 to 1/20/2009 Reqiescat in Pace)
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To: Gondring

I am sorry, but I am picturing the Crevo wars here in islam — heads would literally roll!

LOL!!


3 posted on 11/08/2009 5:49:35 PM PST by freedumb2003 (Communism comes to America: 1/20/2009. Keep your powder dry, folks. Sic semper tyrannis)
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To: Gondring; GodGunsGuts

Soul mates ping


4 posted on 11/08/2009 5:52:53 PM PST by null and void (We are now in day 291 of our national holiday from reality. - 0bama really isn't one of US.)
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To: Gondring

Just because the Christians and Islamists are for it, I guess I have to be against it.


5 posted on 11/08/2009 5:54:38 PM PST by donmeaker (Invicto)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: Gondring
This may be a little off topic, but I'm still wondering why the government in Turkey will not allow expeditions to the site where Noah's Ark is suppose to be?
7 posted on 11/08/2009 5:57:59 PM PST by NurdlyPeon (Sarah Palin: Americas last, best hope for survival.)
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To: Gondring

“Darwin is the worst Fascist there has ever been, and the worst racist history has ever witnessed,”

A tad extreme, but not far off the mark according to Darwin’s own words and supposed findings.

“American Christians helping to promote the rise of Islam against science in Turkey.”

So... prove to me Evolution by Science and I’ll agree with your comment.


8 posted on 11/08/2009 5:58:57 PM PST by Gordon Greene (www.fracturedrepublic.com - Evo's place much faith in something for which there is no proof. Crazy!)
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To: Gondring

There is absolutely no real conflict between evolution and Christianity.....just a made up one......not sure about Islam.


9 posted on 11/08/2009 6:04:50 PM PST by Arkinsaw
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To: Gondring

We’ve been talking about Mr. Oktar quite a bit in our church lately, because he thinks he can bridge the gaps between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. My pastor thinks he may be the Antichrist, due to the recent writings of theologians like Joel Richardson.


10 posted on 11/08/2009 6:07:05 PM PST by Berosus (Come blast off with me! http://ppl.blastoffnetwork.com/charlesskimball04)
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To: Gondring
To be fair, why don't you go over to the Middle East and teach the Good News that there is no Allah?

Cheers!

11 posted on 11/08/2009 6:08:53 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: grey_whiskers

Well, no need to go there. God is bringing the brightest and sharpest young Turks to our doorsteps, as students a our universities. They show up as wide-eyed tourists, eager to get to know America, American culture, and Americans. Show an interest in them, their language, and their culture, and you’ll easily make a friend for life. And, by the time they’ve spent a few years hanging around with an American Christian family, they will think differently about us.


12 posted on 11/08/2009 6:23:59 PM PST by RJR_fan (The opening 15 minutes of Blazing Saddles were prophecy.)
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To: RJR_fan
I fervently hope so.

Check out this page and read the section on Qtub.

And no, I *won't* give you a new keyboard.

Cheers!

13 posted on 11/08/2009 6:47:03 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: NurdlyPeon
This may be a little off topic, but I'm still wondering why the government in Turkey will not allow expeditions to the site where Noah's Ark is suppose to be?

Look at a map. It's where terrorists come into Turkey.

They have allowed several expeditions in the past and it seems that if there was anything there, it would have been either found or ground up by the glacier.

14 posted on 11/08/2009 6:56:31 PM PST by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: grey_whiskers
To be fair, why don't you go over to the Middle East and teach the Good News that there is no Allah?

Because I have far better things to do with my time. And you?

15 posted on 11/08/2009 6:58:49 PM PST by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: grey_whiskers

Qutb (not Qtub) was hanged in 1966, not 1996.


16 posted on 11/08/2009 7:00:44 PM PST by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: Gondring
Not my article. I just grabbed one from Google which had the basic information about Greeley, CO.

Cheers!

17 posted on 11/08/2009 7:05:02 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Gondring
Because I have far better things to do with my time.

You mean like trolling FR with atheist talking points, while ignoring literal theocracies run by Muslims over there?

Cheers!

18 posted on 11/08/2009 7:08:27 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: grey_whiskers

Excellent article.

The Turks I’ve met came to this country believing, on the basis of what Hollywood had to say, that Americans have no room in their lives for family or faith. Being made welcome in a Christian home, and treated with respect by the entire family, including the children, opened their eyes to the part of American life that Hollywood ignores.


19 posted on 11/08/2009 9:01:31 PM PST by RJR_fan (The opening 15 minutes of Blazing Saddles were prophecy.)
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To: Gondring
Maybe what is needed is for someone to explain to the Turks how the teaching of evolution produced such things as the automobile, airplane, food harvesting equipment, penicillin, vaccines, architecture, math, literature, the printing press, all the electronic devices that compute and communicate, sanitary plumbing, and on and on. In short the most important benefits of civilization.

What's that you say? Teaching evolution had nothing to do with any of these things? No. But if that “someone” is to be sent, then perhaps Dawkins, is the man.
He's bright, respected, well versed in evolutionary theory, the Turks will love him.

20 posted on 11/09/2009 8:17:36 AM PST by count-your-change (You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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