Of time and place

I see that at a conference in the Persian Gulf, Muslim scientists and clerics have called for the adoption of Mecca time to replace GMT, arguing that the Saudi city is the true centre of the Earth.

One geologist argued that unlike other longitudes, Mecca's was in perfect alignment to magnetic north.

. . .

A prominent cleric, Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawy, said modern science had at last provided evidence that Mecca was the true centre of the Earth; proof, he said, of the greatness of the Muslim "qibla" - the Arabic word for the direction Muslims turn to when they pray.

Interesting, guys, but I haven't seen any research in scientific peer-reviewed journals to corroborate your claims. As far as I'm concerned they're on a par with Globular Worming: nice try, but no cigar.

The meeting also reviewed what has been described as a Mecca watch, the brainchild of a French Muslim.

The watch is said to rotate anti-clockwise and is supposed to help Muslims determine the direction of Mecca from any point on Earth.

An anti-clockwise watch? OK, cue the jokes about backwardness! Besides, what about the digital model?

Seriously, this nonsense is on a par with the Catholic Church trying to decree that the Earth is the center of the solar system and the universe, many centuries ago. Copernicus and Galileo knocked that theory into a cocked hat, despite theological opposition.

I'm a believer, and not in the least ashamed of it, but I'm also rational. If you want to argue scientifically, base your arguments on science - not on theology. If you want to argue theologically, you can use proven science to buttress your point, but you can't claim that science is theology and/or vice versa. I have news for you. It ain't so.

The two disciplines can coexist in perfect harmony, provided one doesn't try to dictate to the other, and provided that reason rules the exchange between them. Once that changes, all bets are off and chaos ensues.

Peter