According to an article in the British Daily Mail 28 November 2011, Muslim biology and medical students at University College London are boycotting lectures on Darwinian evolution because they claim evolution is incompatible with the Koran. Emeritus Professor Steve Jones, an evolutionary geneticist, told the Sunday Times: “I had one or two slightly frisky discussions years ago with kids who belonged to fundamentalist Christian churches, now it is Islamic overwhelmingly. They don’t come (to lectures) or they complain about it or they send notes or emails saying they shouldn’t have to learn this stuff. What they object to – and I don’t really understand it, I am not religious – they object to the idea that there is a random process out there which is not directed by God”. Richard Dawkins, a retired Oxford University Professor, has also expressed his concern at the number of Muslim students who leave, or do not attend, evolution lectures. Jones questioned why such students would want to study biology at all when it obviously conflicts with their beliefs.
Link: Daily Mail; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2066795/Muslim-students-walking-lectures-Darwinism-clashes-Koran.html
It is not biology that is the cause of the conflict. Belief that living things were created is quite compatible with the study of biology and medicine, as the more we study living things the more evidence for design we find, and the less data supports the concept of evolution by naturalistic chance random processes. Fundamentalist atheists like Jones and Dawkins need to face up to the fact that what is happening is a clash of world views, of faiths – in this instance of atheism vs Islam, and be prepared to engage in proper debate, rather than demand that those who disagree with them be silenced by governments and education authorities.
Christians who are studying biology at University should also stand up and be counted, not by missing lectures, but rather by
a) being informed about the religion of your lecturer,
b) understanding that evolution theory is just that; a theory.
c) studying and understanding the weaknesses of evolution theory, and how to expose those weaknesses, and by
d) studying and being informed about the Holy Scriptures and Traditions of the Church, as well as
e) always “being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15) to both atheists and Muslims.
