1. What do the selections on mathematics and the scientific description of smallpox tell you about Islamic values?
The selection states that mathematics has no connection with religious science, and it does not prove nor disprove religion. In addition, the selection goes to illustrate the issues with mathematics. The first issue being that mathematics causes people to think that everything should be as clear or subtle as math, which causes them to incline toward philosophy as opposed to religion. Next, mathematics leads people astray from religion, and promotes skepticism in religious beliefs. Overall, the selections tell me that Al-Ghazzali is trying to say how mathematics and religion should be separated.
2. According to Al-Ghazzali, should mathematics and religion be separated? Why or why not?
According to Al-Ghazzali, mathematics should be separated. In the selections, he mentions the two problems associated with mathematics, both of them causing people to detach from religion. Al-Ghazzali mentions how "Whoever studies this science admires the subtlety and clearness of its proofs", then goes on to say how people who study mathematics incline toward philosophy, and believe that every department should be as precise as mathematics.
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