Hamza Yusuf - Do Science & Religion Conflict?

What is it about science and theology that causes such conflict? Scientists who are believers speak of the harmony (if not the ‘proof’). Scientists who are non-believers speak of the ignorance and distortion. But should conflict be embraced not shunned? Conflict can help discern fact from fancy, highlight differences, force focus on critical issues.

Hamza Yusuf is an American Islamic neo-traditionalist, Islamic scholar, and co-founder of Zaytuna College. He is a proponent of classical learning in Islam and has promoted Islamic sciences and classical teaching methodologies throughout the world.

Closer To Truth, hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn and directed by Peter Getzels, presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[slfz]

Religion and science don't contradict. they are parallel to each other.

[ronhudson]

I hope the comments will reflect a respectful discussion. I also hope I’ll win the Lotto this week and buy that Bentley.

[Deniz-pj]

If there is Closer To Truth, there must be Accept The Truth.

[dongshengdi]

You cannot deny religion because Science and Religion are two sides of the same deep human impulse to understand the world, to know our place in it, and to marvel at the wonder of life and the infinite cosmos we are surrounded by. Let’s keep them that way, and not let one attempt to usurp the role of the other.

Religion teaches Morality and Spirituality, they are not fiction . They are called moral and religious truths . Belief in some higher power is not blind faith; it is based on Reason.
There are also many theologians (Religious Studies) who earn Phd's just like other sciences. Science and Religion-Spirituality are philosophies on both sides of the same COIN. (The old name of Science was the Philosophy of Nature, and when you get a PhD degree in Physics or whatever field of study, it means Doctor of Philosophy.)

[MirzabekBotirov-guqs]

Randomness is impossible according to Islam

[sanatkumarghosh]

Religion telling you, How to lead the life best?But religious sensabilities are not different from scientific sensabilities. Either of the vehemently asserts that nothing is natural in nature. Humanity is an acquired spirit which is altogether absence in nature.Either of themselves believe that human beings has got fewer choice and you can't expect 7:32
Conceptual clarity from them. Wny God is not within the reach of human beings?It is because, at the beginning it was labour but centuries of perfection dexterously transformed them into a work of art.Art has good 8:57 and beginning and scientists are searching what are the pre requisite

[razony]

How can anyone with religious values dispute any part of what science plays in every part of our human existence? If there is a God, that God created EVERYTHING that science is based on. If a religious individual doesn't believe science plays a part in everything, how can they believe in a God?

[gsr]

Yes.

One relies on objective repeated tests. The other relies on claims (not evidence).

You decide.

[LeDrummerDu]

2:10 in the previous video with Paul Davies, he perfectly explains that if a religion conflicts with a science proof (about time, evolution...) this religion is going to fall quickly.
Science can teach religion about precise events, not the opposite.

[MJ]

Next up:
Does science and Santa Claus conflict?

[Paine]

“Science flies you to the Moon;
religion flies you into buildings.”

[g.elijahdann]

Before Hamza Yusuf discusses whether Muslims accept evolution, he should understand what evolution is, at least as taught by biologists who study the science of the origin of life. Hint: It's not "lightning" hitting a swamp.

[matishakabdullah]

The fact is that I haven't met any Muslim who has dedicated, exhausted his intelligent and life, to fulfill Alquranic mission of the following AlQuranic verse Chapter Al-'Ankabut Q(29:20);

"Say, ‘Travel throughout the earth and see how He brings life into being: and He will bring the next life into being. God has power over all things." - English - Abdul Haleem.

So how does a  Muslim answer the question on evolution issues? Speculative? No.... I believe there is scientific somewhere!

[CesarClouds]

Science has never been overturned in favor of religion.

[TheTroofSayer]

All respect to Hamza Yusuf for his thoughtful outline. The problem with ALL Abrahamic religions, however, is that they've not taken the void seriously enough. The problem with physicalist science is that they don't take entropy seriously enough. The two are related. An anthropocentric god as creator, in defiance of the laws of entropy, is not how nature works.
Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism do take the void seriously, and it's no accident that they are monotheistic/pantheistic instead of the dualistic theism of the Abrahamic faiths. By taking the void seriously, a synthesis of Eastern monotheism/pantheism with science is entirely realizable. A perspective eloquently outlined by Fritjof Capra in the Tao of Physics.
In previous episodes, Robert agonizes over questions such as "What exists?" & "What's the ultimate stuff of reality?" These Eastern pantheisms are best equipped to answer Robert's questions, because they confront the relationship between the known and the unknown head-on, instead of side-stepping them with the magical "because God" make-believe.

[shawnewaltonify]

I am treading water through to figure out what the bridge is between the knowledge that comes from meditation about the ultimate truth about the structure of the universe, and the knowledge that comes from science, and it may not be what I was hoping for. It may be that we need to allow Eastern philosophy into the academic faculty of philosophy. I was hoping for scientists of psychology and neuro science to do the meditation and study meditation. If scientists studied meditation then they would begin with Eastern forms of meditation and then later move to forms meditation in every other religion. But I guess this works too.

[samsam-yll]

Some of the conflicts between islam and science;
Astronomy:
1-Geocentricism
2-Setting and rising place of the sun
3-Earth and heavens created in six days
4-Earth created before stars
5-Heaven made from smoke
6-Seven Earths and seven heavens
7-Meteors as stars fired at devils
8-Implied similar size and distance of the sun and moon
9-Moon split in two
10-Disregard of North and South Poles
….
Biology:
1-Evolution
2-First humans created from clay
3-Adam and Eve
4-Embryology
5-Semen originating between the backbone and ribs
6-Humans created from a clot of blood
7-Bones formed before flesh
8-All organisms created in pairs
9-Characteristics of Milk
10-Fetus in three layers of darkness
…

Geology and meteorology:
1-Flat Earth
2-Fasting and prayer requirements near the Poles
3-Permanent barrier between "the two seas" of fresh and salt water
4: Mountains as pegs which prevent the earth from shifting
5: Mountains cast upon Earth
6: Earthquakes as a punishment
7: Disregard of evaporation in water cycle
8: Mountains of hail in the sky
9: Allah smites with thunderbolts
10: Chests contract with altitude
…

Zoology:
1-Ants converse and recognize humans
2-Four types of cattle
3-Horses created as transportation
4-Bird flight as a miracle
5-All animals live in communities
….

History:
1-Massive wall of iron built to trap Gog and Magog until judgement day
2-Mary as part of the Trinity
3-Ezra as the son of God in Jewish doctrine
4-David invented coats of mail
5-Crucifixions in ancient Egypt
6-Nabatean rock tombs at al-Hijr as homes and palaces from before the time of Pharaoh
7-Samarians in ancient Egypt
8-Noah's worldwide flood
9-Noah's ark holding every species
10-Countable currency in ancient Egypt
….
The list is way big than this !

[LogicStandsBeforeGod]

Does science and human-blood needed and manslaughter needed 'god' concept is in conflict? I would say yes in conflict because a God being creator, needed something that HE created it makes HIM as needy, dependent and powerless without them.
Such a 'god' do not need our worship.

[joelharris]

Understand the logical consequences of what this American Islamic scholar is saying. For evolution to be regarded as true, it has to be congruous with Quranic teachings. This is not how science works because it does not care about someone's individual belief system or faith. The holy text being "inspired" from its very inception is taken as inherently infallible; thus, it can never be wrong. The Qur'an can only be misread or misinterpreted. The opposite holds true with Christianity (the exceptions being some evangelical sects, Catholicism) where the Holy Bible (depending on the particular edition) is replete with typos, copy errors, mistranslations, contradictions, etc. 

The other problem I picked up in the conversation is Yusuf's and by extension, the traditionalist Muslim misunderstanding of human evolution: that we evolved from another species, started off in a "cosmic swamp." This is totally wrong and a misrepresentation of the actual science. Evolution says that we (Homo sapiens) evolved from a common ancestor that lived six-seven million year ago and later branched off along different trajectories. If this is what passes for Islamic "scholarship, " I'm deeply concerned.

[sadiqbabagoromuazu]

Our kids are in an intellectual trouble. I mean however you look at it all Abrahamic religions and evolution do not see eye to eye. You can device any trick, arrange words spectacularly but when you read the scriptures and understand evolution the difference is clear. What are we gonna do about it in the classrooms?