davezilla.com > current: October 31, 2001: "“Rub the lamp harder! The meat’s defrosting.”"

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October 31, 2001 :: "“Rub the lamp harder! The meat’s defrosting.”"

Sultan Bashiruddin Mehmood is a leader in the development of nuclear technology in Pakistan. In 1980, as a senior director of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, he “recommended that djinns [or genies], being fiery creatures, ought to be tapped as a free source of energy. By this means, a final solution to Pakistan’s energy problems would be found.”

This entertaining bit of wisdom was recorded by Pakistani physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy in his book Islam and Science: Religious Orthodoxy and the Battle for Rationality.

In a Wall Street Journal article on Islamic science [13 September, 1988], Dr. Mehmood pointed out that King Solomon had harnessed energy from djinns. “I think that if we develop our souls we can develop communications with them,” he said.

Right. And if I wish real hard I’ll grow bat wings and explode in a cloud of blue pixie dust.

Is there a point to this story? I suppose. The idea of an energy source powered by djinn is indeed laughable. This we know. The point is that influential figures in parts of the Islamic world have an engrained view of reality that our fat, MTV-watching asses will never quite comprehend.

Info via Secrecy News, Federation of American Scientists

He said. She said. There’s 12 Comments

are you sure the pixie dust will be blue?
bakiwop :: 31 October, 2001 11:12 AM

I thought genies were busty blondes that lived in bottles - not fiery at all.
kd :: 31 October, 2001 12:00 PM

i thought they were blue and had robin william's voice.
pike street :: 31 October, 2001 01:01 PM

when I saw the headline, I thought this entry would be about masturbation. hmmm.
ari :: 31 October, 2001 02:15 PM

Oops. Didn’t even cross my mind Ari. [blush]
Davezilla :: 31 October, 2001 03:35 PM

i kinda feel like a sicko BECAUSE it crossed my mind. Aren't pregnant women supposed to think strictly about nursery themes and soft, fuzzy playthings? Oops.
ari :: 31 October, 2001 05:37 PM

I'm not going to comment on Ari's "fuzzy playthings" comment. Oh, oopsie.
maggie :: 31 October, 2001 06:01 PM

*flame suit on*

i dunno. Is this much different then influential Christians praying to God for an outcome that they wish? Then again Djinns are much older than Muslim or Christian mythologies. T'would be more like praying to an Earth Mother over here.

Now, have I offended everyone yet?
tbit :: 31 October, 2001 07:29 PM

It sounds like Dr. Mehmood meant that literally, though. That's the way it sounds to me, at any rate. I guess it would be as if a high-ranking member of the Canadian Energy Board were to propose harnessing wind power from the beating of angels' wings in order to solve southern Ontario's energy problems.

Praying is fine, but spiritual/religious beliefs have nothing to do with real science.

(I'm not flaming, just saying. :)
Natalie :: 31 October, 2001 08:51 PM

Oh please, do flame away. This story cracks me up.
Davezilla :: 31 October, 2001 09:40 PM

oh that was supposed to be a flame retardant suit to avoid being attacked by some "zealous" Xian who might take offense at my comparison between their religion and someone else's.

if my comment was supposed to be a flame i should fight with more than a candle :)
tbit :: 01 November, 2001 10:07 AM

Just to put this topic to rest...

I've replaced the power source from my well aged science project potato clock with Buddha and Jesus Christ. The clock is now keeping perfect time.

There is hope.

Go Dr. Mehmood, go.
Uncle Franklin :: 01 November, 2001 07:19 PM