At the Crossroads of Theology and Biology: Genotype, Phenotype and Latency and Emergence (Kumûn-Ẓuhûr) Theory

Veysel Eliş; Seyithan Can

Article Details

At the Crossroads of Theology and Biology: Genotype, Phenotype and Latency and Emergence (Kumûn-Ẓuhûr) Theory

Authors:

Veysel Eliş | Seyithan Can

Publisher:

Van Yuzuncu Yıl University

Main Topics:

Kelam

Journal:

Van İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.13 Issue 22, pp.41-54

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001350255

pISSN:

2667-615X

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Since the second half of the nineteenth century, the development of scientific methods and groundbreaking discoveries in the natural sciences have created an unprecedented tension between religion and science in the West, leading to the widespread view that scientific data may contradict religious beliefs. In particular, groundbreaking discoveries in the field of biology have led to a strong scientific consensus that human nature is shaped by the biological process of evolution. This perspective asserted that human behaviour and traits are the result of the interaction of genetic and environmental factors and that this interaction is based on the principle of necessary causality. This scientific approach has been seen in direct conflict with the creation narratives of religious belief systems, especially Christianity. This view, also called scientific materialism, was perceived as a challenge to religious beliefs and led to protracted debates between religion and science. Especially institutions such as the Catholic Church could not reconcile scientific findings such as the theory of evolution with religious doctrines and tended to reject these findings. However, this scientific-religious conflict has not affected all religions in the same way. In religions that allow for a wider diversity of interpretations, such as Muslim thought, more flexible approaches to reconciling scientific findings with religious beliefs have been adopted. It has been argued that Islamic thought is open to different interpretations and that modern scientific theories do not necessarily contradict religious beliefs. This shows that the relationship between religion and science is not one-dimensional and can be interpreted in different ways within different religious traditions. In this study, in order to better understand the complex relationship between religion and science, the field of biology, which forms the basis of human nature, was analysed. In particular, the concepts of modern biology such as genotype, which refers to the genetic structure, and phenotype, which refers to the observable characteristics that emerge as a result of the interaction of this structure with the environment, are compared with the theory of latency and emergence kumūn-ẓuhûr theory in Islamic thought. The theory of latency and emergence kumūn-ẓuhûr theory is a concept developed by Muslim theologians on the purpose of creation and the existential position of human beings. In this study, the question of how the concepts of genotype and phenotype can contribute to the understanding of human potentials in Islamic thought and how these potentials are realised under the influence of environmental factors is at the centre of the study. In this context, an attempt has been made to establish a link between genotype and phenotype, which are accepted as basic concepts in modern biology, and the theory of latency and emergence kumūn-ẓuhûr theory in Islamic theology. In particular, it is argued that the concepts of genotype and phenotype can be compatible with the explanations in Islamic theology on how human potential characteristics emerge. Furthermore, it has been tried to show that scientific research on human nature does not contradict the theological views that God plays an active role in the universe. In this respect, it is argued that the so-called scientific determinism, the view that human behaviour can be explained entirely by biological factors, can be reconciled with the divine act of creation. In this way, it has been claimed that scientific findings do not necessarily contradict religious beliefs; on the contrary, they can complement each other.

 Since the second half of the nineteenth century, the development of scientific methods and groundbreaking discoveries in the natural sciences have created an unprecedented tension between religion and science in the West, leading to the widespread view that scientific data may contradict religious beliefs. In particular, groundbreaking discoveries in the field of biology have led to a strong scientific consensus that human nature is shaped by the biological process of evolution. This perspective asserted that human behaviour and traits are the result of the interaction of genetic and environmental factors and that this interaction is based on the principle of necessary causality. This scientific approach has been seen in direct conflict with the creation narratives of religious belief systems, especially Christianity. This view, also called scientific materialism, was perceived as a challenge to religious beliefs and led to protracted debates between religion and science. Especially institutions such as the Catholic Church could not reconcile scientific findings such as the theory of evolution with religious doctrines and tended to reject these findings. However, this scientific-religious conflict has not affected all religions in the same way. In religions that allow for a wider diversity of interpretations, such as Muslim thought, more flexible approaches to reconciling scientific findings with religious beliefs have been adopted. It has been argued that Islamic thought is open to different interpretations and that modern scientific theories do not necessarily contradict religious beliefs. This shows that the relationship between religion and science is not one-dimensional and can be interpreted in different ways within different religious traditions. In this study, in order to better understand the complex relationship between religion and science, the field of biology, which forms the basis of human nature, was analysed. In particular, the concepts of modern biology such as genotype, which refers to the genetic structure, and phenotype, which refers to the observable characteristics that emerge as a result of the interaction of this structure with the environment, are compared with the theory of latency and emergence kumūn-ẓuhûr theory in Islamic thought. The theory of latency and emergence kumūn-ẓuhûr theory is a concept developed by Muslim theologians on the purpose of creation and the existential position of human beings. In this study, the question of how the concepts of genotype and phenotype can contribute to the understanding of human potentials in Islamic thought and how these potentials are realised under the influence of environmental factors is at the centre of the study. In this context, an attempt has been made to establish a link between genotype and phenotype, which are accepted as basic concepts in modern biology, and the theory of latency and emergence kumūn-ẓuhûr theory in Islamic theology. In particular, it is argued that the concepts of genotype and phenotype can be compatible with the explanations in Islamic theology on how human potential characteristics emerge. Furthermore, it has been tried to show that scientific research on human nature does not contradict the theological views that God plays an active role in the universe. In this respect, it is argued that the so-called scientific determinism, the view that human behaviour can be explained entirely by biological factors, can be reconciled with the divine act of creation. In this way, it has been claimed that scientific findings do not necessarily contradict religious beliefs; on the contrary, they can complement each other.

 Since the second half of the nineteenth century, the development of scientific methods and groundbreaking discoveries in the natural sciences have created an unprecedented tension between religion and science in the West, leading to the widespread view that scientific data may contradict religious beliefs. In particular, groundbreaking discoveries in the field of biology have led to a strong scientific consensus that human nature is shaped by the biological process of evolution. This perspective asserted that human behaviour and traits are the result of the interaction of genetic and environmental factors and that this interaction is based on the principle of necessary causality. This scientific approach has been seen in direct conflict with the creation narratives of religious belief systems, especially Christianity. This view, also called scientific materialism, was perceived as a challenge to religious beliefs and led to protracted debates between religion and science. Especially institutions such as the Catholic Church could not reconcile scientific findings such as the theory of evolution with religious doctrines and tended to reject these findings. However, this scientific-religious conflict has not affected all religions in the same way. In religions that allow for a wider diversity of interpretations, such as Muslim thought, more flexible approaches to reconciling scientific findings with religious beliefs have been adopted. It has been argued that Islamic thought is open to different interpretations and that modern scientific theories do not necessarily contradict religious beliefs. This shows that the relationship between religion and science is not one-dimensional and can be interpreted in different ways within different religious traditions. In this study, in order to better understand the complex relationship between religion and science, the field of biology, which forms the basis of human nature, was analysed. In particular, the concepts of modern biology such as genotype, which refers to the genetic structure, and phenotype, which refers to the observable characteristics that emerge as a result of the interaction of this structure with the environment, are compared with the theory of latency and emergence kumūn-ẓuhûr theory in Islamic thought. The theory of latency and emergence kumūn-ẓuhûr theory is a concept developed by Muslim theologians on the purpose of creation and the existential position of human beings. In this study, the question of how the concepts of genotype and phenotype can contribute to the understanding of human potentials in Islamic thought and how these potentials are realised under the influence of environmental factors is at the centre of the study. In this context, an attempt has been made to establish a link between genotype and phenotype, which are accepted as basic concepts in modern biology, and the theory of latency and emergence kumūn-ẓuhûr theory in Islamic theology. In particular, it is argued that the concepts of genotype and phenotype can be compatible with the explanations in Islamic theology on how human potential characteristics emerge. Furthermore, it has been tried to show that scientific research on human nature does not contradict the theological views that God plays an active role in the universe. In this respect, it is argued that the so-called scientific determinism, the view that human behaviour can be explained entirely by biological factors, can be reconciled with the divine act of creation. In this way, it has been claimed that scientific findings do not necessarily contradict religious beliefs; on the contrary, they can complement each other.

 On dokuzuncu asrın ikinci yarısından itibaren, bilimsel yöntemlerin gelişmesi ve doğa bilimlerindeki çığır açan keşifler, Batıda din ile bilim arasında daha önce görülmemiş bir gerilim yaratarak bilimsel verilerin dini inançlarla çelişebileceği yönündeki görüşün yaygınlaşmasına neden olmuştur. Özellikle biyoloji alanındaki çığır açıcı keşiflerle insan doğasının biyolojik bir süreç olan evrim aracılığıyla şekillendiği yönünde güçlü bir bilimsel konsensüs oluşmuştur. Bu perspektif, insan davranış ve özelliklerinin genetik ve çevresel faktörlerin etkileşimi sonucu ortaya çıktığını ve bu etkileşimin zorunlu nedensellik ilkesine dayandığını öne sürmüştür. Bu bilimsel yaklaşım, özellikle Hristiyanlık gibi dini inanç sistemlerindeki yaratılış anlatılarıyla doğrudan çelişki halinde görülmüştür. Bilimsel materyalizm olarak da adlandırılan bu görüş, dini inançlara bir meydan okuma olarak algılanmış ve din ile bilim arasında uzun süren tartışmalara yol açmıştır. Özellikle Katolik Kilisesi gibi kurumlar, evrim teorisi gibi bilimsel bulguları dini doktrinlerle bağdaştıramamış ve bu bulguları reddetme eğiliminde olmuştur. Ancak, bu bilimsel-dini çatışma tüm dinleri aynı şekilde etkilememiştir. Müslüman düşüncesi gibi daha geniş bir yorum çeşitliliğine izin veren dinlerde, bilimsel bulguların dini inançlarla uzlaştırılmasına yönelik daha esnek yaklaşımlar benimsenmiştir. İslam düşüncesinin farklı yorumlara açık olduğu ve modern bilimsel teorilerin mutlaka dini inançlarla çelişmediği savunulmuştur. Bu durum, din ile bilim arasındaki ilişkinin tek boyutlu olmadığını ve farklı dini geleneklerde farklı şekillerde yorumlanabileceğini göstermektedir. Bu araştırmada, din ve bilim arasındaki karmaşık ilişkiyi daha iyi anlamak amacıyla insan doğasının temelini oluşturan biyoloji alanı incelenmiştir. Özellikle, modern biyolojinin genetik yapıyı ifade eden genotip ve bu yapının çevreyle etkileşimi sonucu ortaya çıkan gözlemlenebilir özellikleri ifade eden fenotip gibi kavramlar, İslam düşüncesindeki kümûn-zuhûr teorisi ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Kümûn-zuhûr teorisi ise insanın yaratılış amacı ve varoluşsal konumu üzerine Müslüman teologlar tarafından geliştirilmiş bir kavramdır. Çalışmada genotip ve fenotip kavramlarının, İslam düşüncesinde insanın potansiyelleri ve bu potansiyellerin çevresel faktörler etkisiyle ne şekilde gerçekleştiği hakkındaki anlayışa nasıl bir katkı sağlayabileceği sorusu merkeze alınmıştır. Bu bağlamda, modern biyolojide temel kavramlar olarak kabul edilen genotip ve fenotip ile İslam kelâmındaki kümûn-zuhûr teorisi arasında bir bağ kurulmaya çalışılmıştır. Özellikle, genotip ile fenotip kavramlarının, insanın potansiyel özelliklerinin nasıl ortaya çıktığına dair İslam kelâmındaki açıklamalarla uyumlu olabileceği ileri sürülmüştür. Ayrıca, insan doğası üzerine yapılan bilimsel araştırmaların, Tanrının evrende aktif bir rol oynadığına dair teolojik görüşlerle çelişmediği gösterilmeye çalışılmıştır. Bu yönüyle, bilimsel determinizm olarak adlandırılan ve insan davranışlarının tamamen biyolojik faktörlerle açıklanabileceği yönündeki görüşün, Tanrısal yaratma eylemiyle bağdaştırılabileceği savunulmuştur. Böylelikle, bilimsel bulguların dini inançlarla çelişmek zorunda olmadığı, aksine birbirlerini tamamlayabileceği iddia edilmiştir.

Article Details

At the Crossroads of Theology and Biology: Genotype, Phenotype and Latency and Emergence (Kumûn-Ẓuhûr) Theory

Authors:

Veysel Eliş | Seyithan Can

Publisher:

Van Yuzuncu Yıl University

Main Topics:

Kelam

Journal:

Van İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.13 Issue 22, pp.41-54

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001350255

pISSN:

2667-615X

Kalām

Biology

Latency and Emergence (kumûn-ẓuhûr) theory

Genotype

PhenotypeKelâm

Biyoloji

Kümûn ve Ẓuḥûr teorisi

Genotip

Fenotip

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Veysel Eliş | Seyithan Can

Publisher: Van Yuzuncu Yıl University

Main Topics: Kelam

Journal: Van İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.13 Issue 22, pp.41-54

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001350255

pISSN: 2667-615X

Issues

Authors:

Veysel Eliş | Seyithan Can

Publisher:

Van Yuzuncu Yıl University

Main Topics:

Kelam

Journal:

Van İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.13 Issue 22, pp.41-54

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001350255

pISSN:

2667-615X