Science and religion in the Islamic world

Professor Golshani is an Iranian theoretical physicist and philosopher and is renowned for his writings on the relationship of science and religion, particularly in relation to Islam.

“The secular worldview is short-sighted, in my view, and does not see beyond science – this has to change,” he said. “In the Islamic worldview, you admit there is a God, you have to search nature to find the handiwork of God – there is a purpose in life and there is a moral dimension to the world.”

During his talk he will speak about the effects of developments in modern science and the impact of Western thought and how this has created differences of opinion between Muslim scholars.

Professor Golshani will also discuss how historically Muslim scientists ‘did not see any separation between science and religion, rather they considered the pursuit of knowledge a kind of religious duty, even as worship.’

Mehdi Golshani is the founder and chairman of the Faculty of Philosophy and Science at Sharif University of Technology, he is also the director of the Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran.

The Faraday Institute of Science and Religion covers topics from stem-cells and cloning, to the Big Bang and the origins of the universe. The Institute also provides accurate and up-to-date information to help inform and improve public understanding of the interaction between science and religion. It also aims to make academic research accessible to the public through close links with a network of experts from diverse disciplines including astrophysics, geology neuroscience, genetics, evolutionary biology, theology and history and philosophy of science.

The seminar is free and open to the public; it will take place on March 3 at 1pm in The Garden Room, St Edmund’s College. Lunch is available from 12.30 up until the start of the seminar.