Yes, the times they are a-changin'. The original purpose of this blog was simply to post some science & religion news stories for some friends who were interested in the topic. But the blog has now been going for a little over two years and more people have joined in for conversations. Thus, this is a good time to make some changes - starting with the name. It is my sad duty to tell you that this blog (Science & Religion News) will now be out of the competition for the most mundane blog-name ever. Instead, the blog name is changing to Irtiqa : A Science & Religion Blog. The web address though is still going to be the old one - so no need to make any changes to your readers/feeders etc.
Why Irtiqa?
Irtiqa literally means evolution in Urdu. But it does not only imply biological evolution. Instead, it is an all encompassing word for evolution of the universe, biological evolution, and it is also used for biological/human development (example, from an embryo). On the one hand, it has caused confusion in debates over biological evolution in South Asia, on the other hand, it provides a nice integrative name for a blog that addresses issues of science & religion interaction. Of course, it also meshes well with my work in astronomy (star formation and evolution of spiral galaxies) and on understanding how Muslims are dealing with biological evolution and on the rise of Islamic creationism.
I don't know what lesson to draw from it, but I find it interesting that while the Wikipedia entry on Irtiqa acknowledges its literal meaning of evolution in Urdu, its main focus is on the title of an album by a Pakistani rock band, Entity Paradigm (EP). That is ok - I have that album too. But I think Irtiqa has a meaning broader than simply being the name of an album (not that there is any thing wrong with that). For example, here is an earlier post about Javed Ahmad Ghamidi's views on Islam & evolution - and his use of the word Irtiqa. (so wiki-lords: Please, add more to your entry on Irtiqa)
Are there going to be more changes to the blog? Yes, the template will probably change - but I will still avoid too much clutter and keep it reader-friendly.
But at the end, thanks for to you all for visiting and reading the blog.
-Salman
What is Irtiqa?
Irtiqa is Salman Hameed's blog. A few years ago (before Facebook killed many of the blogs), it used to track stories of science & religion, especially those related to Muslim societies. That is still one of its foci, but now it dovetails more of Salman's interests including film, astronomy, science fiction, and science outreach in both Pakistan and the US.
Irtiqa literally means evolution in Urdu. But it does not imply only biological evolution. Instead, it is an all encompassing word used for evolution of the universe, biological evolution, and also for biological/human development. While it has created confusion in debates over biological evolution in South Asia, it provides a nice integrative name for this blog. For further information, contact Salman Hameed.
The blog banner is designed by Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad. You can find all his creative endeavors at Orangie.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_atbFs0GoO_Y/S158lPXhAwI/AAAAAAAABkA/U7v7qMRhXu4/S220/salman.jpg)
Salman Hameed
Salman is an astronomer and Associate Professor of Integrated Science & Humanities at Hampshire College, Massachusetts. Currently, he is working on understanding the rise of creationism in contemporary Islamic world and how Muslims view the relationship between science & religion. He is also working with historian Tracy Leavelle at Creighton University to analyze reconciliation efforts between astronomers and Native Hawaiians over telescopes on top of sacred Mauna Kea in Hawaii. He teaches “History and Philosophy of Science & Religion” with philosopher Laura Sizer, and “Science in the Islamic World”, both at Hampshire College. Salman and Laura Sizer are also responsible for the ongoing Hampshire College Lecture Series on Science & Religion, and you can find videos of all these lectures below. Contact information here.
LABELS
- Arab Spring
- art
- Astronomy
- Astronomy Pictures from Pakistan
- atheism
- beliefs of scientists
- Catholic Church and science
- creationism
- education
- education in muslim world
- ethics morality and science
- evolution
- faith and medicine
- film theater and television
- Friday Journal Club
- general
- history
- humor
- intelligent design
- Irtiqa Conversations
- Islam and Modernity
- islam and science
- Islamic Calendar
- islamic creationism
- Judaism and science
- media
- Muslims in Europe
- off topic
- Pakistan
- politics of science and religion
- posts by Nidhal Guessoum
- primates
- pseudoscience
- religion and environmentalism
- Religion and Health
- Religion and Technology
- Saturday Video
- science and Native religions
- science and religion books
- science fiction
- science in muslim world
- science of belief
- science of morality
- science religion and terrorism
- UFO religions
Blog Archive
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2009
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April
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- Pray that Marianne Williamson never gets published...
- Skeletal remains and the issue of cultural affilia...
- A friendlier atheism
- Swine flu: Is it Halal?
- Turkish Gulen schools under scrutiny in Central Asia
- Off-Topic: No point in talking to the Taliban in Swat
- Poetic take down of superstition from 2000 years ago
- Pushing the limits of our knowledge about origins
- On Madrasas in Singapore
- Should we drop the term "Muslim World"?
- This blog going "Irtiqa"
- Modernity and Religion
- Queen Esther had two tails...
- Video: Philip Kitcher - Religion after Darwin?
- Export and Import of Christianity
- NYU: Darwin and the boundaries of science conference
- God, global warming, and a congressman from Illinois
- New Scientist on the Turkish censorship of Darwin
- Off-Topic: The situation in northern Pakistan
- Oped on Iran's nuclear program
- Commandments and Communication
- Multiverse theory: Leave it to science
- The First Cause?
- Science & Religion in "Knowing"
- International Year of Astronomy in Pakistan
- Flow charting medieval Muslim philosophy
- Off-topic: Pakistan in the hands of Zardari
- BBC documentary: Did Darwin Kill God?
- Webcast of McGill Islam & Evolution Symposium
- Ethics, morality, and legality of robotic wars
- Galileo and Medici exhibit at the Franklin Institute
- Biology textbooks and religion in Pakistan and the US
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April
(32)
3 comments:
Woo! Now I know, uh... *two* words in Urdu. I like the layers of meaning of the new name. Also, I wonder sometimes how much of a role semantics has in how people respond to ideas like evolution.
And there is also a good chance that many Pakistanis may not be aware of the Urdu word for evolution (they may only use the english word) - so you may be able to impress them further :)
I agree about your point about the role of semantics. It creates confusion. And if there is already some hostility to the idea, then one makes little effort to clear up the confusion. I think a similar confusion exists (or existed) over the German word for evolution - which can also be used for development.
Keep up the good work :)
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