Theology
See also: Qur'an and scienceThe Qur'an does not contain a complete chronology of creation. It declares variously that it took "six ayums" to create the "seven heavens and earth". An 'ayum' is defined as a stage, or a relative quantity of time rather than a 24 hour period. This ambiguity leaves the possibility of an old earth and a young earth is wholly excluded.
Islamic views of the Bible vary. In recent years, a movement has begun to emerge in some Muslim countries promoting themes that have been characteristic of Christian creationists. This stance has received some criticism, due to claims that the Qur'an and Bible are incompatible. Khalid Anees, president of the Islamic Society of Britain, has discussed the relationship between Islam and evolution:
"Islam also has its own school of Evolutionary creationism/Theistic evolutionism, which holds that mainstream scientific analysis of the origin of the universe is supported by the Qur'an. Many Muslims believe in evolutionary creationism, especially among Sunni and Shia Muslims and the Liberal movements within Islam. Among scholars of Islam İbrahim Hakkı of Erzurum who lived in Erzurum then Ottoman Empire now Republic of Turkey in 18th century is famous of stating 'between plants and animals there is sponge, and, between animals and humans there is monkey'."
Certain verses in the Qur'an are claimed by Muslims to be compatible with the expansion of the universe, Big Bang and Big Crunch theories.
Read more about this topic: Islamic Views On Evolution
Famous quotes containing the word theology:
“A theology whose god is a metaphor is wasting its time.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“... the generation of the 20’s was truly secular in that it still knew its theology and its varieties of religious experience. We are post-secular, inventing new faiths, without any sense of organizing truths. The truths we accept are so multiple that honesty becomes little more than a strategy by which you manage your tendencies toward duplicity.”
—Ann Douglas (b. 1942)
“Only men of moral and mental force, of a patriotic regard for the relationship of the two races, can be of real service as ministers in the South. Less theology and more of human brotherhood, less declamation and more common sense and love for truth, must be the qualifications of the new ministry that shall yet save the race from the evils of false teaching.”
—Fannie Barrier Williams (1855–1944)