Today we talk about Science and Religion: The Illusion of a Conflict, a book by Said Abdallah AL-MAMARI published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Said Abdallah AL-MAMARI to get to know him better, what brought him to the writing of his essay Science and Religion: The Illusion of a Conflict, as well as the crucial themes of his work.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- What prompted to the writing of your essay?
The idea for this essay was prompted by the increasingly evident observation that religiosity has been in clear decline in the West for several centuries—a decline that has accelerated over the last two hundred years, fueled by major scientific discoveries that, at first glance, appeared to undermine the holy scriptures. Notable examples include the heliocentrism of Copernicus—later confirmed by Galileo—and Darwin’s theory of evolution. This reflects a broader skepticism toward religion in general, rather than mere distrust of Christianity; consequently, it has led more toward agnosticism or even atheism than toward conversion to other faiths, such as Islam or Buddhism. A striking illustration of this is the abandonment of houses of worship across Europe, most notably in the United Kingdom, where thousands of churches have been repurposed into private homes, apartments, offices, bars, or cafés, while only about forty have been purchased by Muslims and converted into mosques. It has therefore become both necessary and urgent to address the fundamental challenge facing all religions, rather than continuing to focus on interfaith debates. It is essential to demonstrate that science—which has shaken the faith of millions—is not inherently incompatible with religion. Science has never succeeded in explaining everything to the point of liberating humanity from all mystical or religious belief; on the contrary, as scientific progress advances, researchers find themselves increasingly awestruck and dizzy—as in the case of quantum physics—leading them to once again confront the question of an infinitely powerful Creator.
- What are the crucial themes of your work?
– Without ignoring the differences between religions, this encyclopedic-size book demonstrates that the urgent debate lies elsewhere. Regardless of our religious affiliations, we all face the same danger, the same threat to faith: the rise of materialism and atheism.
– It highlights that the tool on which materialists and atheists focus in their attempt to dismantle religion—namely, science—is not inherently incompatible with faith in God. To demonstrate this, the book draws upon human history, which is marked by impressive technological and scientific achievements from civilizations guided by religion (such as Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, Persia, ancient India, etc.). It also pays tribute to great philosophers and scientists of exceptional intellect who harmoniously integrated their knowledge with their faith.
– It shows that the North-South or East-West cleavage regarding science, technology, or religion is a recent phenomenon in the context of human history, and that every people on Earth possesses a culture worthy of respect.
– However, since historical examples are not always enough to convince the most skeptical, it was equally important to address key concepts that often serve as the focal points of conflict—or *casus belli*—between science and faith: the Big Bang, the infinitely large and the infinitely small, the evolution of species, the enigma of consciousness, the fine-tuning of the universe, and so on. Here, too, the book seeks to demonstrate that this perceived incompatibility is merely superficial; in reality, there are far more factors that bring these realms together than there are areas of conflict. – This book also seeks to challenge criticisms regarding the dangerous nature of religion—criticisms that accuse it of being the source of numerous calamities (wars, persecutions, massacres, the hindering of scientific progress, etc.). It argues that the horrors attributed to religion do not stem from its very essence, but rather from the ignorance or intolerance of those who held power over it—much as catastrophes linked to technology cannot be blamed on science itself, but rather on the wickedness and commercial greed of those who wield power over it. Furthermore, the book demonstrates that atheism is in no position to lecture religion on morality, given the atrocities the world has witnessed over the past century (world wars, nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, genocides, etc.). It also sounds an alarm regarding the dangers posed by ongoing technological advancements—most notably artificial intelligence—which could soon spiral beyond humanity’s control, with unpredictable consequences.
– The book offers a line of reasoning intended to help individual readers reconcile the apparent conflict between science and religion, without making any claim to definitively resolve the issue on a global scale.
– Throughout this essay, I have strived to remain as objective as possible by citing authoritative research on the topics discussed, leaving little room for my own personal opinions, emotions, or feelings.
- What would you like to hear from your readers?
First and foremost, I would be pleased if my readers took the time to read this book in its entirety and truly grasp its contents, because a hasty or partial reading could easily lead to a mistaken or biased understanding of the message I intend to convey. If readers find themselves in agreement with me, I would appreciate knowing it, as that would both validate my ideas and encourage me to explore them further through subsequent research on the same subject. Conversely, should readers disagree with all or part of the book, I would welcome their input; that is how we make progress—all the more so given that the topic at hand demands the utmost humility. While I feel I have done everything in my power to ensure this book resonates with as many readers as possible, I cannot be certain of anything, and therefore, all feedback is welcome.
- How would you describe your Writing style?
My writing style is very formal. As English is not my native language, I felt a responsibility to write using the simplest and most academic language possible—relying on universally recognized vocabulary—while avoiding any slang I might not fully master. From time to time, to add variety to the text and engage the reader, I have also incorporated a few poetic turns of phrase. Specifically, in chapter 21, I composed an original ten-stanza poem with carefully crafted rhymes and rhythm—a hymn to the Earth, our common homeland. I would be proud and honored if organizations dedicated to environmental conservation were to use it to help raise awareness.
- Are you working on a new writing project you can tell us about?
I already have some ideas for other books on similar themes (religion, science, and philosophy), but the next steps will depend on how the public receives this book. If the reception is positive—which I hope it will be—I’ll feel truly inspired to keep the momentum going.
Europe Books thanks the author Said Abdallah AL-MAMARI once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book Science and Religion: The Illusion of a Conflict. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my readers, may this book capture your curiosity and provide you with food for thought you could take inspiration from in your everyday life.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your Editor!