Ali, Yacob Mohammad, Ph.D. The University of Oklahoma, 2000. 153 pages. Adviser: McQuarrie, Frank. Publication No: AAT 9985571

This qualitative study explores the perceptions of Islamic educators in a southwestern state about the conflict between Islamic secularism and conservatism regarding the education of Muslim students. It also examines these educators’ perceptions as to whether science, philosophy, and mythical stories contradict Islam, and whether these educators can teach these topics to Muslim students. Semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews were used to collect data that were analyzed using grounded-theory methodology. Analysis showed convergent and divergent views about Islamic education. Many perceived a conflict between Islamic secularism and conservatism in education and were pessimistic about a compromise between the two groups. Almost all of the participants perceived a harmony between science and Islam including astronomy. However, as related to the teaching of Darwin’s theory of evolution, philosophy and mythical stories, supporting, opposing, and ambivalent views were expressed.