It is sure that creationism as it is now is very modern. i am not sure of what really happened (i was not here), but sure too that the real debate was elsewhere. Can you find Pichot’s ‘The Pure Society’ ? What he shows was that when Lamarck first provide an evolutionary theory, there was no reaction in Christianty, some even thought like you that it was compatible with their belief.

All the fuss happen with Darwin and his follower. Why ? Because Darwin's theory had a lot of big impact on the social debate. Wether it was Darwin intention or not remain unclear. But this struggle for life was applied to the social realm very fast. And his consequences were really bad.

It leads give the leader of the time the justification they need for staying in power. When aristocracy was justified by blue blood, the meritocracy (don't know the english term, sorry) soon became justified by this struggle, even with his offspring, leading to oligarchy again.

And it gave a justification for getting ride of the unfit. Because it was natural law. And social law (Sparte). So with this we were back with pagan practice, under a scientific justification.

So what i conclude is that all of the XIX until mid-XX occident was racist and eugenics (and antisemit against both arabs and jew, see E.W. Said). Hitler was not a sudden irruption of pagan barbarism. He was the natural offspring of his time. Nietzsche and maybe Heidegger too, put the philosophical basis on what laid his politic.

And another things that Pichot said, is that it didn't finish with WWII. Eugenic leaders still lead, like Julian Huxley who was head of the UNESCO.

I watched and listened to the Boston lecture twice. Good job. Mr.Mustafa Akyol, you are a great rep for the modern Turkey that I have come to admire. I hope your hiatus is productive.
Mike Barrett, Baltimore

"I am not a creationist, too, because I think that term implies an effort to manipulate science according to religious belief, something which I find wrong. I just think manipulating science according to materialist belief is wrong, too."

This statement is perfect example for a several fallacies (bravo for pulling multiple fallacies in one shot).

Middle Ground Fallacy: This fallacy draws its power from the fact that a moderate or middle position is often the correct one.

The Straw Man fallacy is committed when a person simply ignores a person's actual position and substitutes a distorted, exaggerated or misrepresented version of that position. Which scientists do their job according to their materialist beliefs? Come on!

Very weak argumentation. But great piece for those who listen to you to confirm their beliefs -this is what Gulen fellows usually do anyway.

I'm with Michael, the third commenter.

http://kulah.blogspot.com

"freelance Muslim", brilliant!

I watched and listened to the Boston lecture twice. Good job. Mr.Mustafa Akyol, you are a great rep for the modern Turkey that I have come to admire. I hope your hiatus is productive.

First of all, congratulations on a well-presented and informative lecture. You were certainly NOT boring and rather, have managed to impress academics with not just your intelligence but your open-mindedness.

What I respect about you--an attribute that was on full display at your lecture--is the fact that you are willing to see all points of view. You have strong convictions and beliefs--a seeker of truth-- and are not afraid to grow and change those convictions. The same cannot be said for some journalists.

As previous comments noted, you are a fair representation of the Modern Turkish Republic. I look forward to moving to Istanbul and reading more of your articles!