Clivedurdle

i'm doing some research about Somalia, and reading the classic First footsteps in East Africa by Sir Richard Burton.

He comments about the Tomal or Handads, the blacksmiths.

It has been observed that the blacksmith has always been looked upon with awe....the connections of wits and witchcraft is obvious......In Abyssinia all artisans are Budah, sorcerers, especially the blacksmith, and he is a social outcast.....Throughout the rest of Al -Islam, the blacksmith is respected.

I wonder if the real reason behind these fascinating debates about creationism, the flood, dating of Gospels et al is a basic superstitious fear of the magical practices of science and technology.

As with Islam, there are individuals who accept scientific thinking and keep their religion, there are others who start with an assumption, however well hidden, that science is basically evil - it is saying we know better than God.