Religion and science

Religion, however, is based on certainty as science relies on doubt.

So their methodologies are different.

Theory in religion is true eternally but in science it is true until proven false by another theory.

What is "right" is found and affirmed by heart in religion. But in science, right is "right" until proven wrong.

For instance, the sentence "There is no neighborhood pressure in the AKP period" is right for some people since it is impossible for a Muslim to pressure others.

Yet according to others, the thesis "There is no neighborhood pressure in the AKP period" is wrong if there exists single evidence.

Why did I write these?

The research conducted by Professor Binnaz Toprak on laic circles proved once again that the Turkish media is not equipped with science at all!

Columnists, who are insulting science just to look good to the governing Justice and Development Party, or AKP, have no clue about methodology. But they were quick to fiercely criticize methodology of the in-depth interview. In the end, they had to make a U-turn about "There is no neighborhood pressure in the AKP period" and changed their discourse to "There is nothing wrong with it. Ignorant and intolerant people always apply neighborhood pressure!"

Interpretation of scientific methodology by applying allegiance methodology is not only a form of thought for writers with religious education. It is also applied by professors with degrees abroad or writers graduated from Boğaziçi University who are buttering up the government.

The reason is that once you have surrendered to the AKP government, you should never make a mistake against the administration mentality that never takes a shred of criticism. Otherwise you will be labeled as the "traitor". It is not important at all if you become an object of derision in scientific circles or if your articles are about to wipe off your prestige!

On the other hand, being a toady opens the doors that you are after anyway!

Education’s objective is to teach learning. And the only way of learning is to have doubts on what you know. For this reason, Islamic scholars in the Golden Era of Islam organized debates and asked the question "If someone asks us to prove that Allah does not exist, how will we answer?"

Being skeptical, however, runs the risk of hearing "Hang him!" at times.

Apparently, not everyone can take such a risk!

We have learned two things from Professor Toprak’s study: 1) Neighborhood pressure is definitely there and is fueled by the AKP. 2) Some columnists write their pieces by applying allegiance methodology even if they are not religious!

*I wish you all a Happy New Year.