Scientifically Religious

Adrien Chauvet was born and raised in France, in a small village of Soultz-les-Bains. He was educated in a society in which science prevailed over all other forms of knowledge. Accordingly, he began his intellectual journey studying the natural sciences at Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France. At the age of 21, he travelled to the United States to pursue his studies, convinced that science was the ultimate way of knowing the world. He obtained his Doctor in Philosophy in Physics from Purdue University. During his studies, Adrien had the opportunity to interact with American Muslims communities. The Islam he discovered not only resonated with his Christian upbringing, but also appeared to coincide with his scientific view of the world. Adrien embraced Islam at the age of 24. He then progressed in his scientific career, while seeking to refine the convergence of science and Islam. This book recounts Adrien’s journey of bringing together science and faith.

• Introduction 5I. The first steps in my spiritual quest 81. Looking beyond materiality. 82. Being aware of the circles of influence. 83. Realizing that trust is necessary. 94. Making rational choices. 105. Walking with harmony. 106. Chapter summary 10II. Re-evaluating faith in science 121. The fringes of our perception 12a) At the frontiers of the extreme 12b) Subjective interpretation of objective results 12c) Uncertainty principle 13d) Section summary 132. Advancing despite our restrictions 14a) Fluctuation and statistical averages 14b) Weather forecast 14c) The wavefunction 14d) Section summary 153. Believing in the unseen. 15a) The electron 15b) Electromagnetic waves 15c) Forces 16d) Section summary 164. Natural argument 16a) Complexification of life. 17b) Unique living conditions 18c) Photosynthesis at the origin of life 19d) Section summary 215. Chapter summary 21III. The Islamic theory 231. Establishment of a scientific theory 23a) Origin 23b) Relevance .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 24c) Utility .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24d) Section summary ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 252. Origin of the Islamic message ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 25a) A historical account ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 26b) An honest, selfless and persistent man. .................................................................................................................................................... 27c) Section summary ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 283. Material relevance of the Islamic texts .............................................................................................................................................................. 29a) Between natural phenomena and Divine will .................................................................................................................................. 29b) Nature, as described in the Qur'an .................................................................................................................................................................... 33c) Events that defy the scientific mind. ............................................................................................................................................................ 44d) A world view that is all encompassing ...................................................................................................................................................... 48e) Section summary ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 494. Internal logic of the Islamic theory. ........................................................................................................................................................................ 50a) Notions of free will and determinism. ........................................................................................................................................................ 50b) Notions of good and evil ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 55c) Notions of success and failure ................................................................................................................................................................................ 57d) Section summary ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 595. A useful religion .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 59a) Positivity ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 60b) Agentivity .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 60c) Efficiency .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 61d) Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 626. Chapter summary................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 63IV. Limits and dangers of a purely rational thought .................................................................................................................................. 641. Mathematics and programming as divine languages. .................................................................................................................. 642. At the edges of rationality: experiencing the Divine .................................................................................................................... 653. The use of imagination .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 664. Chapter summary................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 67Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 68Appendix: Evolution .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 69i. Supporting evidences for the theory of evolution ...................................................................................................................... 69ii. An incomplete, thus simplistic theory. ........................................................................................................................................................ 69iii. A theory that is evolving. ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 71iv. What the Qur’an says .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 72v. Concordance with the hadîths. .............................................................................................................................................................................. 78vi. Ending notes. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 81

The author impressively speaks from a vast scientific culture as well as a rigorous approach of the Islamic tradition. Accordingly, the author avoids falling prey to either scientific or religious dogma, precluding dialogue between two paradigms that are unfortunately seen as diametrically opposed to one another.This book, punctuated with summaries that help the reader follow the argument, takes the reader on a journey across various themes such as the weather, electrons, waves, photosynthesis and the origin of life. But beyond scientific themes, it also addresses metaphysical themes such as freewill, predestination, good and evil, success and failure, renunciation and engagement. The author courageously tackles the question of evolution.Hani RamadanDirector of the Islamic Centre of Geneva