A reminder, if anyone needed one, that radical creationism does not always look like what you might think. This week Turkish arch-creationist Adnan Oktar is heading off to trial. For Americans who think creationists all look like Christian televangelists, the story is worth a look.
Unlike the American stereotype, Adnan Oktar’s brand of firebrand creationism is Islamic, not Christian. And unlike most of America’s radical-creationist leaders–except maybe Jerry Falwell Jr.–Oktar surrounded himself with roomsful of belly-dancing “kittens.”
Adnan Oktar–who wrote under the name Harun Yahya–was arrested last year on a list of charges ranging from sexual abuse of children to blackmail. If the name sounds familiar and you can’t quite remember why, it is probably because of Harun Yahya’s big creationist splash back in 2007.
Proof of creation! Also, bellydancing.
Back then, Harun Yahya sent unsolicited copies of his radical-creationist book Atlas of Creation to scientists and journalists worldwide. Religion and science agreed, according to Harun Yahya. Both had clearly “refuted the theory of evolution. . . . We never underwent evolution; we were created.”
What’s our takeaway? I have no idea if Adnan Oktar is guilty or innocent. I DO know that his expensive distribution of Islamic creationism didn’t seem to pay off. Most of all, this story serves as a reminder that radical creationism is not limited to northern Kentucky or the Texas state school board.
I Love You but You're Going to Hell 
Neil Rickert
/ September 22, 2019I try to follow the creation/evolution debate, at least casually. So I’m aware of Harun Yahya. But he is a very minor figure.
The thing to remember, is that the scientific evidence all support evolution. The only support of creationism comes from religion. And, in the USA, most creationists avoid anything Islamic.
The creationist arguments that I see mostly originate with Ken Ham’s AIG, with ICR, and with the Discovery Institute (or “discotute”).
Adam Laats
/ September 22, 2019Love “Discotute.” And as you know, there HAVE been high-level contacts and interchanges between Christian and Muslim creationists. As I noted a while back: