Login (DCU Staff Only)
Login (DCU Staff Only)

DORAS | DCU Research Repository

Explore open access research and scholarly works from DCU

Advanced Search

Intelligent Design in Arabic: From Scientific Knowledge to Religious Worldviews

Aboomar, Mohammad orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-1391-5061 (2024) Intelligent Design in Arabic: From Scientific Knowledge to Religious Worldviews. Translation Matters, 6 (1). pp. 46-59. ISSN 2184-4585

Abstract
While modern science adopts an evolutionary worldview in the study of life on earth, competing religious systems adopt variations of the creationist worldview in line with their respective brands of culturally embedded knowledge. Nonetheless, these religious systems inevitably interact with science in order to exchange information and interpretations. This paper views the knowledge exchange between science and religion as a form of epistemic translation that involves reframing biological evolution through adaptation and transformation. First, the claims of the creation science and intelligent design movements in the United States are conceptualised as translations of the scientific knowledge produced in evolutionary biology. Afterwards, paratexts accompanying the earliest translations of intelligent design literature into Arabic are analysed to reveal how this conservative Christian literature is adapted to a Muslim context. Epistemic translation arises in both cases as a factor influencing dynamic discourses sensitive to knowledge transfer from other epistemic systems.
Metadata
Item Type:Article (Published)
Refereed:Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:Epistemic Translation, Intelligent Design, Science and Religion, Islamic Creationism, Paratextual Analysis
Subjects:Humanities > Translating and interpreting
Humanities > Religions
Humanities > Culture
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Humanities and Social Science
DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Humanities and Social Science > School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies
Publisher:Centre for English, Translation and Anglo-Portuguese Studies (CETAPS)
Official URL:https://ojs.letras.up.pt/index.php/tm/article/view...
Copyright Information:The articles published in this journal are covered by the Creative Commons “AttributionNonCommercial-NoDerivs” license (see http://creativecommons.org). They may be reproduced in their entirety as long as Translation Matters is credited, a link to the journal’s web page is provided, and no charge is imposed. The articles may not be reproduced in part or altered in form, or a fee charged, without the journal’s permission. Copyright remains solely with individual authors. The authors should let the journal Translation Matters know if they wish to republish.
Funders:Research Ireland
ID Code:31792
Deposited On:06 Nov 2025 13:30 by Dr Mohammad Aboomar . Last Modified 06 Nov 2025 13:30
Documents

Full text available as:

[thumbnail of Research article is special issue titled: (Inter-)epistemic Translation]
Preview
PDF (Research article is special issue titled: (Inter-)epistemic Translation) - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
487kB
Metrics

Altmetric Badge

Dimensions Badge

Downloads

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Archive Staff Only: edit this record