[On Sunday, October 5, 2008, my article titled "The Nonsense of Harun Yahya and Evolution" faced a massive email backlash.

A very polite reader named Selim Can wrote, "Is there no one else in this world smarter than this Darwin guy? This Jewish pimp and his foolish believers—what can you say about them? Actually, this GODLESS MAN’S aim is to deny religions in a planned and organized manner. All his antics are nothing but that."

Most of the emails sent were of this nature. These people have been educated for 50 years by the Turkish Ministry of National Education! And it seems they will continue to be. The last part of the same article also drew reactions. In that part, I said:

"Putting science to the test of religion and religion to the test of science is absurd. It is also madness to scientize religion and to theologize scientific belief. It’s absurd, but zealots of every religion do such absurdities at every turn. Sensible religious scholars say that religion and science are two separate fields and should not be mixed, and they are right. If scientists were to examine the Torah, the Bible, and the Quran with scientific values, there would be no peace in society. Did you know that Muslim religious scholars claim that the Quran states the Earth is flat? 'God created the Earth flat and the heavens as a protected ceiling so that people can easily travel and journey on broad paths. God explains this in his book.' (Tabari, 'History of Nations and Kings,' Vol. 1, p. 3)"

The fanatical crowd also raged against this part. Why did I quote Tabari instead of the Quran when the Quran was available? To avoid offending anyone, I did not quote the Quran. The Quran does not say that the Earth is round or revolves around the Sun.

So, what does it say? It says:

"Then He spread the earth" (Surah An-Naziat, 27-33)

"Il a ensuite étendu la terre" (Sourate LXXIX, 30)

"And the earth, after that He spread it out" (The Pluckers, LXXIX, 30)

"It is He who made the earth a bed for you" (Surah Taha, 53)

"He who spread out the earth and placed therein firm mountains..." (Surah Ar-Rad, 3)

Turkish translations of the Quran often contain excessive interpretation. One translator says, "Then He spread out the earth and made it habitable." Another interprets, "After that, He spread the earth and made it round like an ostrich egg." A third writes, "Then He spread out the earth." There is even a more curious translation: "After that, He tilted the globe according to its axis, making it an ellipsoid and spreading it out."

Come on! Knowing this, I did not refer to the primary source to avoid upsetting anyone. The Arabic, French, and English versions of the Quran say "spread out the earth," implying spreading like a tablecloth. Scientizing religious books is very dangerous!] (Hürriyet, October 15, 2008)

When Ramadan approaches, almost all newspapers, led by Hürriyet (which pioneered this habit), cover Ramadan and religious topics. However, guest writers never delve into the essence of the matter: In all religions, it is initially the poor and oppressed who believe in the prophets. Why would they believe in someone who does not address them or protect them? Political and economic powers always initially oppose all prophets. Once the religion spreads, they accept it and take control.

The theological articles published in the special sections of newspapers during Ramadan only serve all forms of power (political, economic, etc.). They also bolster Islamists in Turkey. It is a service to the AKP!

This year's scholar and teacher in Hürriyet, Assistant Professor Dr. Emre Dorman, proves in the column "Quran and Science" that the Quran is a book of science:

"And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander" (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 47)