I grew up believing that our intellectual gifts must be used -- that the universe about us is complex but operates on consistent and observable rules that by study and testing we might understand and put to best ends. It seems that this is now an outlying opinion. A Malaysian mufti recently underscored the viewpoint of too much of the world: The Malay Mail Online reported Tuesday that the Perak mufti, Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria, advised Muslim members of the government “not to go overboard.” He reminded them that “Islam is based on faith… Don’t make any remarks based on the intellect or logic…” Why not? Because “the intellect is governed by desires and it is influence by shaitan (satan). Don’t be ruled by desires and rudderless comments.” Harussani was reflecting an aspect of Islam that runs through its history, but is little remarked upon today by Western analysts: its anti-intellectualism and rejection of...(Read Full Article)