That really is the glory of science – that science is tentative, that it is not certain, that it’s subject to change. What is really disgraceful is to have a set of beliefs that you think is absolute…, where you simply won’t listen to evidence. … This is the legendary remark of Omar when they captured Alexandria and asked what to do with the library. He said ‘If the books agree with the Qur’an, they are not necessary, and may be burned. If they disagree with the Qur’an, they are pernicious and must be burned’
Isaac Asimov (quoted by Bill Moyers)