The theory of evolution and atheism from the perspective of lslamic theology (Kalam)

The theory of evolution has been on the centre of attention not only in biology but also in many other fields such as sociology, history, art, philosophy and theology. Despite its history of nearly two centuries, the flame of discussions on evolution has never been extinguished, on the contrary, it has continued to increase until today. Besides the internal scientific problems of the theory, the biggest debate is undoubtedly on the existence of God, the material and spiritual position of man on earth, the value of man and the source of morality. For this reason, the effects of the theory on metaphysics and faith are discussed more than its scientific aspects. In the academic community, many scientific researches, theses, articles and books are published on the theological implications of the theory of evolution. The number of these researches is increasing day by day. In our country, more attention is paid to the theory of evolution in the context of faith. Most of the objections to this theory arise from its susceptibility to theological and philosophical implications, which are thought to provide a scientific basis for atheistic thought. This perception is strengthened by the direct link that some scientists working on evolution try to establish between evolution and atheism. In this study, the connections between evolution and atheism are identified and the problem areas that are thought to be created by the theory of evolution regarding the existence of God and religious phenomena are tried to be addressed from a theological point of view. The aim of this study is not to show the scientific accuracy or inaccuracy of the theory of evolution. The aim of this study is to examine the areas in which the theory of evolution is used as a scientific basis for atheist claims, to discuss the philosophical and theological dimensions of this theory in the context of atheism, and then to evaluate these claims from a theological perspective. Firstly, in the first part, the history of the subject of evolution, its basic scientific claims, and the historical development and types of the concept of atheism, which are the key concepts of the study, are explained; then, how atheist thought develops its arguments in the context of this theory and the claims it puts forward for the negation of the belief in God are emphasised. In the second part, the traces of the theory of evolution in the history of Islamic thought are traced and the perspectives of Muslim thinkers on the formation of this life form are analysed. In the third part, whether the theory of evolution conflicts with the understanding of creation in the Qur'an is discussed in the context of the idea of creation in Islam. The conclusionsreached in the light of all these discussions are emphasised in the conclusion section of our study. Key Words: Kalām, God, Evolution Theory, Atheism, Creation