1. Between Nasr and Ateş: What understanding of evolution do science educators want? Taner Edis Department of Physics, Truman State University Taner Edis Department of Physics, Truman State University

2. 20092 A successful creationism Muslim populations are reluctant to accept evolution (Hameed etc). Uneven presence of evolution in education. State-sponsored creationism (Turkey >80s). Globalized, postmodern, media creationism. (Harun Yahya)

3. 20093 US creationism less successful Large public support. (Gallup since 1980: 45% YEC, 45% guided evolution, 10% naturalistic evolution.) Creationism and ID unacceptable in intellectual high culture. Little penetration into public education (informal, private).

4. 20094 Consensus compatibilism Alliance between scientific community and liberal religion. “Separate spheres” for science and religion widely accepted. Fundamentalists and some nonreligious scientists (Dawkins) disagree. Politically useful. Religion Science

5. 20095 Guided evolution Appealing compromise, outside science. Academic theology: metaphysical gloss. Liberal churches: usefully vague. Common descent OK, naturalistic mechanisms less so. (~ID)

6. 20096 Portable to Islam? Scientists seek allies among religious liberals; avoid confrontation (Turkish defenses of evolution). Independent of US example. Some Pakistani biology textbooks lead with Quranic quotation. (Preemption?)

7. 20097 Nonhuman guided evolution Many religious scholars accept guided evolution. They often exclude humans from evolution. 24:45 “And God created all animals from water...” Similar to Quran-in- science apologetics.

8. 20098 Does this help science? Interpreting polls: many Muslims who affirm “evolution” have a guided, non- Darwinian process in mind. (~ID) Guided evolution does not overtly challenge science education. But it is not an accurate reflection of modern science. Is it a politically useful compromise?

9. 20099 Süleyman Ateş Turkish theologian. Modernist, moderate. Defends evolution. Headed Directorate of Religious Affairs. Prominent public figure, spokesman for Turkish official Islam.

10. 200910 Ateş and pseudobiology Guided evolution ~ ID. Ancient Greek “biology” defending “weakness” of women, gender roles. Ambivalence about human evolution. Typical of modernist Turkish theologians.

11. 200911 Could be worse Not as bad as Harun Yahya or the creationism of Islamists in Turkey. Hardly an affirmation of evolution as biologists understand it. Embedded in non- scientific view of nature.

12. 200912 Seyyed Hossein Nasr Well known thinker about Islam and science, influential in West and among Muslim intellectuals. Opposes crude puritan Islam and special creationism.

13. 200913 Nasr and pseudoscience Mostly accepts common descent, strongly opposes naturalistic evolution. No natural creativity; revive God-centered, medieval view of science.

14. 200914 Could it be worse? To Nasr, secular, Darwinian science is the worst threat. He has favorably cited ICR works. Opposes efforts to reconcile evolution with the Quran. Top-down picture of nature demanded by religion. (~ID)

15. 200915 Guided evolution in Islam Not the same thing as with US Christians. Somewhat accommodating toward evolution, but more like generic ID. It does not represent full acceptance of modern science.

16. 200916 Science education What should science education try to achieve in a Muslim context? Even in US, it’s unclear whether liberal compatibilism is a success. Creationism is still strong.

17. 200917 Just the science, ma’am? Alternative: just teach the science, don’t worry about cultural considerations? (Coyne) What works in an Islamic environment, where natural science is institutionally weak?