tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753107846534926552024-03-13T14:21:49.757-04:00Gulen in The NewsGulen, Gulen Movement, Gulen-inspired Schools, Islamophobia, Dialogue, Peace.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-46940764722987735152013-01-22T11:50:00.001-05:002013-01-22T12:02:13.224-05:00Gulen inspired Schools and Peace education<div style="text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/education.jpg" height="168" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: #fff7f8; color: #5f5f5f; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-weight: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Gulen inspired Schools and Peace education</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The world is gradually becoming a small village, and have been facing challenges like conflict, violence, terrorism, and war along with their terrible consequences of poverty, disease, despair, environmental destruction, and poor leadership. These challenges are present at all levels of human life—family, school, community, society, and globally. The solution to all of challenges is within the education that people have been receiving so far. Incorporating <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/152-new-york-conference-highlights-turkish-schools-contribution-to-world-peace" target="_blank">Peace education</a> in the education systems would to eventually help people to gain the ability to prevent conflict, and to resolve conflict peacefully when it does arise, whether on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, intergroup, national or international level.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Peace education has been defined as an learning environment to addresses cognitive, affective and behavioral learning and can occur both within schools, through curriculum development and teacher education, and outside of schools, through camps, sports and recreation programs, youth groups and clubs, and training for community leaders, parents. And, the <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/169-hizmet-movement-wins-hearts-with-education-charity-scholar" target="_blank">Gulen inspired school </a>worldwide become an exceptional model to actually implement the peace education. Gulen teachings emphasizes the significance of educating younger generations with the idea of peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding. The educational perspective of Gulen is to illumination of the mind to science and knowledge, and the lighting of the heart in faith and virtue. And, according to <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/who-is-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>, it can be accomplished though teachers who are committed to devoting their lives, time and knowledge to teach the younger generations in these educational institutions. There are currently more than 1000 Gulen inspired schools in more than 110 countries around the world. In the European countries, there are at least a dozen <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/143-fethullah-gulen-schools-or-gulen-inspired-schools" target="_blank">Gulen inspired schools</a>, and more than 150 smaller educational and cultural centers. Having an exceptional track of success in the different section of the world, Gulen schools have been perceived to be elite schools around the globe. Most of these outstanding schools are private schools where students have been selected on the basis of academic performance. The students in the schools tend to score high in different national and international competitions. In Gulen’s thinking there is no greater religious concept than love, there is no greater religious action than love: “Love is the most essential element of every being, and it is the most radiant light, and it is the greatest power; able to resist and overcome all else”. True religion is therefore how we move from being merely human to in fact becoming humane. In this way, Gulen teaches, spiritual people are open to the flow of the divine.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We are going to conclude with a testimony from Emre Celik who recently traveled South Africa, Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Kenya and Ethiopia to see Gulen inspired schools first hand. “The ripple effect these schools have is tremendous. They provide a safe haven, a kind of “peace island” for all those associated with the school” [1]</div>
<br />
[1] Source: <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/155-an-untold-african-story-gulen-movement-activities" target="_blank"><i>http://gulenmovement.com/news/155-an-untold-african-story-gulen-movement-activities</i></a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/175-gulen-inspired-schools-and-peace-education" target="_blank"><i>http://gulenmovement.com/news/175-gulen-inspired-schools-and-peace-education</i></a><br />
<br />
Related articles:<br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/143-fethullah-gulen-schools-or-gulen-inspired-schools" target="_blank"><i>http://gulenmovement.com/news/143-fethullah-gulen-schools-or-gulen-inspired-schools</i></a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/154-the-gulen-movement-inspired-schools-effect-muslims-and-christians-connect-for-peace" target="_blank"><i>http://gulenmovement.com/news/154-the-gulen-movement-inspired-schools-effect-muslims-and-christians-connect-for-peace</i></a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/152-new-york-conference-highlights-turkish-schools-contribution-to-world-peace" target="_blank"><i>http://gulenmovement.com/news/152-new-york-conference-highlights-turkish-schools-contribution-to-world-peace</i></a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/169-hizmet-movement-wins-hearts-with-education-charity-scholar" target="_blank"><i>http://gulenmovement.com/news/169-hizmet-movement-wins-hearts-with-education-charity-scholar</i></a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/155-an-untold-african-story-gulen-movement-activities" target="_blank"><i>http://gulenmovement.com/news/155-an-untold-african-story-gulen-movement-activities</i></a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities" target="_blank"><i>http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</i></a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/educations" target="_blank"><i>http://gulenmovement.com/educations</i></a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank"><i>http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</i></a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/conferences" target="_blank"><i>http://gulenmovement.com/conferences</i></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-7974201389148320012013-01-18T12:27:00.000-05:002013-01-18T12:27:54.265-05:00In what ways is Fethullah Gulen spiritual?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img height="197" src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/fethullah_gulen-3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Fethullah Gulen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As a devout Muslim, <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/who-is-gulen">Fethullah Gulen</a> maintains the principles of orthodox Islamic spirituality taught by the Qur’an, and historically and ideally exemplified in the life of the <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Prophet Muhammad</a>. This general sense of <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen/58-the-statue-of-our-souls" target="_blank">spiritual life</a> includes observation of canonical daily prayers, consistent supplications to God, and frequent invocations of the divine names or “remembrance” (dhikr), as well as meditation. Gulen is well known to have observed all these basic spiritual practices in his deep sense of piety throughout his entire life. Since his early youth, he has adopted a spiritually-based daily life that starts an early wake up before the dawn to practice the traditional late night prayer called tahajjud and to recite various supplications. He dedicates a couple of hours to informal prayer called du‘a to ask God for goodness not only for himself, his relatives and friends, but also for all fellow believers and all humanity. Indeed, prayer and supplication comprise the very spirit of his daily discourse.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Gulen is also considered a follower of Sufism, the traditional mysticism of Islam. Sufism is not only a spiritual tradition, but also a humanistic and humanitarian one. Gulen wrote his masterpiece of four volumes on the key concepts of Sufism, which is entitled <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen/50-key-concepts-in-the-practice-of-sufism-1" target="_blank">The Emerald Hills of the Heart</a>. In this work, Gulen examines the traditional Sufi understanding of spirituality, morality, and metaphysics, with a constant emphasis on the human perfection to be realized by dedication to the eternal values of the Divine, especially mercy, compassion, love, and generosity, all expressed by the divine name of Rahman. This latter attribute of God has an outstanding significance in the spiritual system of Sufism, as it signifies the character of the ideal human being. Traditionally called al-insan al-kamil, this ideal individual is to be the greatest manifestation of the name of Rahman, namely the greatest representative of “The Most Merciful and Generous One” in the universe. Here is the necessary intersection of service to God and service to humankind and all creation. As Gulen reiterates in his article on al-insan al-kamil, the true spirituality requires the embracement of all creation, especially the human existence, as well as the dedication to the betterment of society, for the sake of the Creator, who is first of all the Lord of mercy and generosity.</div>
<br /> Source: <a href="http://www.hizmetesorulanlar.org/in_what_ways_is_gulen_spiritual.html" target="_blank"><i>http://www.hizmetesorulanlar.org/in_what_ways_is_gulen_spiritual.html</i></a><br />Related articles:<br /><i><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/op-ed/171-little-known-facts-about-the-eu-a-new-responsibility-for-the-gulen-movement" target="_blank">http://www.gulenmovement.com/op-ed/171-little-known-facts-about-the-eu-a-new-responsibility-for-the-gulen-movement</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/173-scholars-to-discuss-tolerance-at-hizmet-movement-conference" target="_blank">http://www.gulenmovement.com/news/173-scholars-to-discuss-tolerance-at-hizmet-movement-conference</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/169-hizmet-movement-wins-hearts-with-education-charity-scholar" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/169-hizmet-movement-wins-hearts-with-education-charity-scholar</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/168-taipei-conference-to-explore-islamic-social-movement" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/168-taipei-conference-to-explore-islamic-social-movement</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/167-conference-on-hizmet-movement-to-be-held-in-taipei" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/167-conference-on-hizmet-movement-to-be-held-in-taipei</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/conferences" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/conferences</a></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-57974930470877529402013-01-14T11:57:00.000-05:002013-01-14T11:57:51.995-05:00Little Known Facts about the EU: A new responsibility for the Gulen Movement<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.gulenmovement.com/images/news/Paul-Lynch.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hon. Paul Lych</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While researching on the Internet with regard to violent extremism, I came across with an outstanding conference seminar of Hon. Paul Lych, Consul General of the UK, in the <a href="http://www.guleninstitute.org/programs/luncheon-forums/34-hon-paul-lynch-consul-general-of-the-united-kingdom" target="_blank">Gulen Institute</a>, which is a well – known institute in Houston, TX promoting the ideas of Gulen movement. As a part of <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">Gulen Movement</a> the institute is based on the idea to develop interfaith and intercultural dialogue among communities and cultures. Currently, there is no doubt that the movement has gone beyond the borders of Turkey and transformed from a local movement to a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oviQq1WIYpc" target="_blank">global social movement</a> over the course of the last two decades.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In his speech, basically, Lych talked about violent extremism in the UK and also aptly emphasized that the UK has significant amount of experience on violent extremism of various religions or religious groups. He said that at that time there were almost 2 million Muslims and half of them was born in the homeland according to 2001 Census. Lych also added that Muslims had 1,000 years history in the Britain mainland where the first mosque was built in 1889.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The above mentioned facts reveals that Muslims have been inseparable components of the Western World. If we consider the fact that half of the Muslim population are native British citizens, they are not supposed to return their parent's hometowns in future. Sooner or later, Western countries have understood the necessity to understand minority communities living in their homelands. At this point, Lych addressed the importance of developing religious programs to help Muslim communities to better understand the faith of Islam. The worst thing that can happen for a person is to be the enemy of the community that he or she has grown up. Unfortunately, this was the case in London bombings in 2005 or in Norway shootings last year. All the attackers have grown in their respective countries and have somehow developed violent extremist ideas and relations before the attacks.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Therefore, nowadays, according to Lych the UK government is supporting programs and intitutes, and developing partnerships with leading Islamic organizations to deliver the faith of Islam in a proper way in the late 2000s. That is the point where Gulen movement's responsibility starts. Because this is a clear goodwill on the side of the Western world; however, it is a clear responsibility on the side of Gulen movement in the context of Islam. It is more than a mission, because the goals are defined by the movement in a mission; however, since it is a responsibility, as to Lych's speech, it is time for Gulen Movement to fulfill the gap, take the responsibility and create collaborations with the UK or other demanding countries to deliver the faith of Islam to Islamic communities of Western countries.</div>
<br />
Source: <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/op-ed/171-little-known-facts-about-the-eu-a-new-responsibility-for-the-gulen-movement" target="_blank"><i>http://www.gulenmovement.com/op-ed/171-little-known-facts-about-the-eu-a-new-responsibility-for-the-gulen-movement</i></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.guleninstitute.org/programs/luncheon-forums/34-hon-paul-lynch-consul-general-of-the-united-kingdom">“Combating Extremism in the UK-Government and Communities Working Together”</a><br />
Hon. Paul Lynch - Consul General of the United KingdomAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-64587703877417925882013-01-07T12:49:00.000-05:002013-01-07T12:50:14.959-05:00Scholars to discuss tolerance at Hizmet Movement conference<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/fethulah_gulen_chpost.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fethullah Gulen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The China Post news staff -- Scholars from Taiwan, Turkey, the United States and Japan meet in Taipei this weekend for a conference on the <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">Hizmet Movement</a>, a faith-inspired social movement that calls for tolerance. The Hizmet Movement, inspired by the teachings of Turkish native <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>, began in the late 1960s as an initiative to build dormitories for university students. Today, followers build schools, charities and platforms for interfaith and intercultural communication.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The movement differentiates itself from extremist Islamic beliefs with its emphasis on <a href="http://peaceislands.org/" target="_blank">peaceful intercultural dialogue</a> and respect, said Osman Cubuk, Vice Chairman of the Taipei-based Formosa Institute.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.formosainstitute.org/" target="_blank">Formosa Institute</a> organizes seminars, conferences, panels and luncheons and interfaith dialogue dinners to promote diversity and multiculturalism in Taiwan. The institute is co-organizing this weekend's conference with National Taiwan University's College of Social Sciences.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The "International Conference on the Hizmet Movement and the Thought and Teachings of Fethullah Gulen: Contributions to Multiculturalism and Global Peace" takes place Dec. 8-9 at National Taiwan University's College of Social Sciences.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scholars from Taiwan, Turkey, the United States and Japan are to discuss issues such as Gulen's contributions to <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/141-fethullah-guelens-understanding-of-democracy" target="_blank">democracy</a>, modern Islamic theology, science, <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/educations" target="_blank">education</a> and <a href="http://www.hizmetnews.com/index.php/latest-news/itemlist/tag/humanitarian%20aid" target="_blank">charity</a> as well as the structure, development and finance of the movement.</div>
<br />
Source: <a href="http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/foreign-community/2012/12/07/363307/Scholars-to.htm" target="_blank"><i>The China Post</i></a><br />
<div>
<br />
Related articles:<br />
<i><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/169-hizmet-movement-wins-hearts-with-education-charity-scholar" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/169-hizmet-movement-wins-hearts-with-education-charity-scholar</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/168-taipei-conference-to-explore-islamic-social-movement" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/168-taipei-conference-to-explore-islamic-social-movement</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/167-conference-on-hizmet-movement-to-be-held-in-taipei" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/167-conference-on-hizmet-movement-to-be-held-in-taipei</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition">http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/conferences" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/conferences</a></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-62258148656961885282013-01-02T15:42:00.000-05:002013-01-02T15:43:07.763-05:00Turkish schools abroad: a global phenomenon<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; padding: 6px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;">
<img src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/seyfettin_gursel.jpg" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
Dr. Seyfettin Gursel</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Two weeks ago, I was in northern Iraq, the region controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), with my colleagues from Zaman. We had a very informative exchange of views with KRG personalities about the collaboration between Ankara and Arbil on the exploration of natural resources (see my article "Kurdish oil: a strategic shift," Dec. 14, 2012).</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
During our stay we had also the opportunity to visit<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/news/152-new-york-conference-highlights-turkish-schools-contribution-to-world-peace" target="_blank">-inspired Turkish schools</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to meet some of the managers as well as teachers.</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
This was my third visit to these schools. Years ago I visited those of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.hizmetnews.com/index.php/latest-news/itemlist/tag/South%20Africa">South Africa</a>, and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.hizmetnews.com/index.php/latest-news/itemlist/tag/Bosnia">Bosnia</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and Herzegovina. A very similar story is found in each case. A handful of volunteers arrive in difficult times and succeed in tearing out required authorizations in an atmosphere of suspicion. They move on to build their first school with the support of donations coming from the faithful of some Anatolian city. After the first school proves its high performance in educating students and once the local authorities are reassured that there is no obscure political or ideological aim behind the institution, the way is opened wide for enlarging the school's presence.</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
In Iraq the saga began in 1994 with 74 students in Arbil at a time when an armed confrontation between Kurds and then-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein raged on, isolating the country's north. The second school opened in Sulaimaniya, but beyond that the number remained limited to four till 2004. After the fall of Saddam, an explosion occurred. According to Talip Büyük, general director of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.fezalar.org/" target="_blank">Fezalar Education Company</a>, there are now 30 Turkish schools in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Iraq, 18 of which were established in northern Iraq and 12 in the territories controlled by Baghdad. As many as 12,000 students are enrolled in these schools. Naturally, the question comes to mind: How many of these schools are there worldwide? I asked the question to Celal Uşak, a board member of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.gyv.org.tr/" target="_blank">Journalists and Writers Foundation</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(GYV). Uşak estimates that there are about 1,000 in approximately 150 countries, employing 10,000 teachers from Turkey. No doubt that we are facing an astonishing global phenomenon whose long-term implications are difficult to predict from where we stand.</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
This phenomenon has been puzzling me for a long time. How do<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.hizmetnews.com/index.php/latest-news/itemlist/tag/Hizmet%20schools%20%28Gulen%20schools%29" target="_blank">these schools</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>work? What are the keys items behind their<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.us/gulen-movement/gulen-movements-view-on-education" target="_blank">success</a>? What are the mission and limits of this global phenomenon? I cannot claim to be able to fully answer these questions, only to give some personal perspectives. The educational system is quite similar to foreign schools established in Turkey during Ottoman times. Mathematics and scientific courses are in English, taught by Turkish teachers, while social courses are in the countries' native languages, handled by local teachers. English and Turkish language education is very important. For example, in Iraqi schools there are 16 hours of English and 12 hours of Turkish per week. We met by coincidence in an Arbil mall a Kurdish student, Berhevan, who actually teaches English in the Mosul school. We were impressed by Berhevan's fluent Turkish.</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The performance of the graduates in university entry exams is undisputable. Last year Selahaddin Eyyubi, one such school in Sulaimaniya, had seven of their students in the top 10 KRG baccalaureate students. I asked Ali Çavdar, a math teacher and the vice president of the committee responsible for educational matters, to account for this success. The key word is "a dynamic educational process" for staff, Çavdar said, some kind of learning-by-doing program for the educators themselves. Workshops are regularly organized for the teachers, aiming to improve their skills. Mr. Çavdar told me that a laboratory workshop was going on right now in which university professors of physics, chemistry and biology from Turkey were showing experiments to the young Turkish teachers. He told me also that the experienced teachers regularly show the beginners teaching methods.</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The entry into schools requires high performance on entry exams for students even though there are school fees. Last year, in the Arbil school, 5,000 students applied for 400 places. I have to note that the fees are quite affordable for the middle class. Turkish teachers receive salaries similar to the salaries of local teachers, which makes the Turkish schools very attractive vis-à-vis their competitors when comparisons are made on price to quality. Once the startup cost is financed from Turkey, the schools are able to produce sufficient income to finance new ones.</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Obviously, the fundamental factor behind the success of Turkish schools is the spirit of the mission of the people who belong to the faith-based social movement which supports the schools. What is this mission? I am not able to answer this question, but nothing I have seen indicates it is Islamization.</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br />
<b>Source:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist-301819-turkish-schools-abroad-a-global-phenomenon.html" target="_blank">Today's Zaman</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>December 21, 2012</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br />
<b>Related articles:</b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/169-hizmet-movement-wins-hearts-with-education-charity-scholar" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/169-hizmet-movement-wins-hearts-with-education-charity-scholar</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/168-taipei-conference-to-explore-islamic-social-movement" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/168-taipei-conference-to-explore-islamic-social-movement</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/167-conference-on-hizmet-movement-to-be-held-in-taipei" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/167-conference-on-hizmet-movement-to-be-held-in-taipei</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/conferences" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/conferences</a></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-68880979534694844142012-12-13T13:41:00.002-05:002012-12-13T13:43:08.853-05:00Hizmet movement could be powerful argument for education: scholar<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/gulen_movement_conference_taiwan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conference on Hizmet [Gulen] Movement in Taiwan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Taipei, Dec. 11 (CNA) The <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/gulen-movement" target="_blank">Hizmet movement</a>, a social movement inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>, could be a powerful argument for the theory that people need only good education to bring out the goodness in them, a U.S. scholar said Saturday.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mark Owen Webb, chairman of the Department of Philosophy at Texas Tech University, said schoolchildren in southeastern Turkey told him during a visit he made in 2008 that they would have become extremist had it not been for the schools built by supporters of the movement and their teachers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Hizmet (Turkish world for "service") movement began as a faith-inspired initiative in the 1970s to improve education in Turkey and grew into a civic movement around the world that encourages interfaith and intercultural dialogue.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The movement has inspired the building of schools and other educational institutes in some 140 countries, and the establishment of charities and hospitals, as well as media such as Zaman newspaper, Turkey's largest circulating daily.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scholars from Taiwan and abroad gathered at a two-day international conference in Taiwan that kicked off Saturday to discuss the teachings and practices of Gulen, a scholar, educator and author who has millions of followers worldwide.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Parents of the children believe the spirit of Hizmet "makes schools that produce well-trained citizens of strong moral character," Webb said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said schools affiliated with the Hizmet movement emphasize science, math and language education. Religious subjects are not taught, but teachers are expected to model good moral character, he added.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The schools are financed by sponsors and businessmen and offer the same curricula as public schools, he said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If the changes in southeast Turkey can be attributed, even in part, to the <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.us/" target="_blank">Hizmet movement</a>, it is a powerful argument for the educational theory that people have the resources to live together in peace and need only the support of good education to realize their basic goodness, Webb said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It also provides an example of one way to reform damaged societies, he said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Gulen, 71, is known for making the remark "a terrorist cannot be a Muslim, nor can a true Muslim be a terrorist," after the Sept. 11 Muslim terrorist attacks on the U.S. in 2001.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Meanwhile, Lin Mei-rong, a professor at Taiwan's Tzu Chi University, said people often think that the religious field is conservative.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She said, however, that both the Hizmet movement and the Buddhist Tzu Chi movement initiated by Buddhist nun Cheng Yen, which stresses charity, medicine, education and culture, are innovative religious movements that correspond to calls for change.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ahmet Gurhanli, chairman of the Taipei-based Formosa Institute, which organized the conference, said his institute has been organizing lectures and academic conferences to promote mutual understanding and social harmony.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the Hizmet movement is "often misunderstood" and expressed belief that the movement "could be a good cure for Islamic phobia."</div>
<br />
Published on <a href="http://focustaiwan.tw/SearchNews/hyDetailws.aspx?qid=201212110007&q=Hizmet+Movement" target="_blank">F<i>ocus Taiwan</i></a>, December 11, 2012<br />
<br />
<div>
Related video:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySB8h0war94" target="_blank"><i>Taiwanese delegations visit Gulen Movement inspired institutions in Turkey</i></a><br />
<br />
Related articles:</div>
<div>
<i><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/170-hizmet-movement-could-be-powerful-argument-for-education-scholar" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/170-hizmet-movement-could-be-powerful-argument-for-education-scholar</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/169-hizmet-movement-wins-hearts-with-education-charity-scholar" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/169-hizmet-movement-wins-hearts-with-education-charity-scholar</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/168-taipei-conference-to-explore-islamic-social-movement" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/168-taipei-conference-to-explore-islamic-social-movement</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/167-conference-on-hizmet-movement-to-be-held-in-taipei" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/167-conference-on-hizmet-movement-to-be-held-in-taipei</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/conferences" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/conferences</a></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-57540502253671392222012-12-07T10:43:00.000-05:002012-12-07T10:43:33.750-05:00Hizmet movement wins hearts with education, charity: scholar<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/taiwan_gulen_conference.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conference on Hizmet Movement in Taiwan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Taipei, Dec. 6 (CNA) A social movement inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar </span><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> differentiates itself from extremist Islamic views by winning hearts with education and charity, a Taiwanese scholar said Monday.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some think that Muslims are belligerent toward those with different religious views, but Gulen believes in influencing people with one's heart instead of force, Lin Chin-ming, assistant professor in Asian Studies at Tamkang University, told CNA.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/his-life" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>, <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-scholar" target="_blank">a scholar</a>, <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-educator" target="_blank">educator</a> <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">and author</a>, has millions of followers worldwide. He is known for making the remark: "A terrorist cannot be a Muslim, nor can a true Muslim be a terrorist," after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists in the U.S. in 2001.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">Hizmet</a> (the Turkish word for "service") movement, inspired by Gulen, began in the late 1960s as an initiative to build dormitories for university students and later expanded into the <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/educations" target="_blank">fields of education</a>, charity and cultural interactions.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Its supporters build schools, charity organizations and encourage interfaith and intercultural dialogue around the world, according to the Taipei-based Formosa Institute, which follows the teachings of Gulen.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Wang Ding-shu, a Russian studies professor at National Chengchi University who has been studying Turkey, said the Hizmet movement is more progressive and more in line with the world trend compared with more conservative Islamic thought.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He touted the movement's advocacy of tolerance, love and dialogue as a "correct direction" and said he believes the movement will be well-accepted in Taiwan.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Osman Cubuk, vice chairman of the institute, said the Hizmet movement aims to facilitate mutual understanding and respect between different cultures and stresses the importance of education.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Our purpose is not to promote Islamic culture but to resolve our common problems, including clashes between civilizations, war, poverty and environmental pollution," Cubuk said, adding that cultural interaction is needed to address those problems.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said his institute hopes to cooperate with more groups in Taiwan to address these common problems.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scholars from Taiwan and abroad are expected to attend an international conference on the movement in Taipei Dec. 8-9.</div>
<br />
<br />
Published on <a href="http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aSOC&ID=201212060006" target="_blank">Focus Taiwan</a>, December 6, 2012<br />
<div>
<br />
Related articles:<br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/168-taipei-conference-to-explore-islamic-social-movement" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/168-taipei-conference-to-explore-islamic-social-movement</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/167-conference-on-hizmet-movement-to-be-held-in-taipei" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/167-conference-on-hizmet-movement-to-be-held-in-taipei</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/conferences" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/conferences</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-47202621841130658382012-12-03T18:07:00.000-05:002012-12-03T18:07:56.143-05:00Taipei conference to explore Islamic social movement<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/fethullah_gulen_taipei.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fethullah Gulen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Taipei, Dec. 3 (CNA) An international <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/167-conference-on-hizmet-movement-to-be-held-in-taipei" target="_blank">conference to be held in Taipei</a> next weekend aims to explore the impact of an Islamic scholar's thoughts and approaches to education, dialogue, peace and charity work, organizers said Monday.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The conference, slated to take place Dec. 8-9, will focus on the impact of the Hizmet (the Turkish word for "service") Movement, a civic movement initiated by <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-scholar" target="_blank">Turkish Islamic scholar</a> <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> in the late 1960s to address problems of educational system in the world.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scholars from Taiwan and abroad will also discuss the movement's contribution to democracy, religious peace and interfaith and intercultural dialogue, and compare the thoughts of Gulen with Chinese Confucian thinking.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Gulen, a scholar, <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">educator and author</a>, has millions of followers, mostly Turkish, around the world, said the Formosa Institute, which is co-organizing the conference with the Taiwan Association of Islamic Studies.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">Hizmet (Gulen) Movement</a> involved a few university students and small-business owners when it was first initiated. Its first project was to build dormitories for students studying away from their hometowns and to fund their tuition and living expenses, the institute said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
From 1983, volunteers of the movement began building schools in Turkey and other countries and so far, over 1,000 schools have been built in some 140 countries, said the institute, which follows the teachings of Gulen.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The movement expanded into the ex-Soviet republics in Central Asia with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1994, and from 1997, began advocating inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, as well as humanitarian aid, it said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Charities such as "<a href="http://hhrelief.org/index.php" target="_blank">Helping Hands</a>" and "Kimse Yok Mu" (Is Anybody There) were established to bring aid to needy people around the world, it said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Kimse Yok Mu, for example, has raised funds and has built some 20 schools for victims of the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, flooding in Bangladesh and earthquakes in Pakistan, Peru and Haiti, it added.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Gulen's thoughts also inspired the founding of Zaman newspaper, the largest circulating daily in Turkey, the weekly magazine Aksiyon and Turkey's Cihan News Agency, which is active in more than 50 countries, the institute said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The conference, held under the banner "<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/gulen-movement" target="_blank">Hizmet Movement</a> and the Thoughts and Teachings of <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/his-life" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>: Contributions to Multiculturalism and Global Peace," will take</div>
<br /><br />Published on <a href="http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&TNo=&ID=201212030005" target="_blank">Focus Taiwan</a>, December 3, 2012<div>
<br />Related articles:<br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/167-conference-on-hizmet-movement-to-be-held-in-taipei" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/167-conference-on-hizmet-movement-to-be-held-in-taipei</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/conferences" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/conferences</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-31816406156372656572012-12-03T17:40:00.004-05:002012-12-03T17:40:54.686-05:00Conference on Hizmet Movement to be held in Taipei<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/conference_taipei.jpg" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hizmet Movement and the Thought and Teachings of Fethullah Gulen: Contributions to Multiculturalism and Global Peace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Taipei, Nov. 29 (CNA) An international conference on the <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">Hizmet Movement</a>, a civic movement inspired by the Turkish Islamic scholar <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>, will be held in Taipei to promote its teachings and practices in Taiwan, organizers said Thursday.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The conference, held under the banner "<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/gulen-movement" target="_blank">Hizmet Movement</a> and the Thought and Teachings of Fethullah Gulen: Contributions to Multiculturalism and Global Peace," is slated to take place Dec. 8-9 at National Taiwan University's College of Social Sciences.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scholars from Taiwan, Turkey, the United States and Japan will discuss issues ranging from faith-inspired social movements and the structure, development and finance of the movement to <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/141-fethullah-guelens-understanding-of-democracy" target="_blank">Gulen's contributions to democracy</a>, modern Islamic theology, science, education and charity, said the Taipei-based Formosa Institute, which is co-organizing the event with the Taiwan Association of Islamic Studies.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They will also discuss the philosophy of Hizmet (the Turkish word for "service"), compare Gulen's philosophy with Confucian thinking, and discuss the movement's stance on gender issues, the institute said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Similar conferences have been held in countries including the U.S. and Britain, said the institute, an organization inspired by the teachings of Gulen and other intellectual and spiritual leaders.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fethullah Gulen, <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-scholar" target="_blank">a scholar</a>, <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-educator" target="_blank">educator</a> <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-an-intellectual">and author </a><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-peace-advocate" target="_blank">who advocates</a> a moderate brand of Islam, has millions of followers around the world. He is known for making the remark "a terrorist cannot be a Muslim, nor can a true Muslim be a terrorist," after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. in 2001.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In July 2008, the 71-year-old Islamic scholar, who now lives in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, was voted by readers of the U.S.' Foreign Policy magazine and Britain's Prospect magazine as the world's top public intellectual in a poll.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fethullah Gulen has <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/143-fethullah-gulen-schools-or-gulen-inspired-schools" target="_blank">inspired the founding of hundreds of schools</a>, hospitals and businesses around the world, including schools in 140 countries.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
His teachings advocate tolerance, peace and intercultural and interfaith dialogue, as well as mutual understanding among different religious and ethnic groups.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Work done by Gulen followers focus on issues ranging from democracy, multiculturalism and globalization to civil society and intercultural dialogue, the institute said.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Published on <a href="http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aSOC&ID=201211290004" target="_blank">Focus Taiwan</a> on November 29, 2012</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
(By Christie Chen)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Related articles:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/conferences</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-72803812633330145882012-12-03T17:31:00.000-05:002012-12-03T17:31:45.313-05:00Fethullah Gulen – a humanist par excellence<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/fethullah_gulen_lahore.jpg" height="212" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fethullah Gulen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
This was consensus among speakers at an international conference on “Ideal human and ideal society in the thoughts of M Fethullah Gulen,” arranged at the Punjab University Law College Auditorium on Wednesday.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> is a key figure in Turkey and abroad. He is known as the founder of the <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/gulen-movement" target="_blank">Hizmet movement</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Senior faculty members and researchers from universities of Pakistan, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Northern Ireland and USA spoke at the conference and presented their papers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They included Linkages Director (External) Dr Maria Maldonado, Member of Turkish Parliament Dr Muhammad Cetin, Turkey’s Kaynak Holdings Chairman Nasi Tosun, The Fountain magazine editor Hakan Yesilova, Rumi Forum Pakistan Chairman Haron Koken, Lahore chapter Director Mesut Kacamz and Gallop Survey of Pakistan Chairman Dr Ijaz Shafi Gillani.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
PU Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Liaquat Ali said in his inaugural address that all-out efforts had been made for the successful organisation of the conference and it was hoped that the moot would achieve its goals.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Presiding over the first session of the conference, Islamia University Bahawalpur Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Mukhtar said he was personally impressed by the thoughts of Fethullah Gulen whose clear message was globalisation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We should try to find out how we can transform our society into an ideal one in the light of Gulen’s thoughts,” he added.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Other speakers said Fethullah Gulen respected all religions and stressed in his teachings that a state that was neutral to religion was an ideal state. They said that <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">Hizmet movement</a>, which started in the late 1960’s, was a social movement and did not challenge or represent any government.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They said Hizmat Movement acted upon core Islamic principles and Gulen emphasised character building of individuals by making them part of the collective. The movement’s democratic component was collective decision making and implementing Islam’s Shoora principle. <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/his-life" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> believed in freedom of faith for all and provision of human rights to all.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In his message for the conference, Mr Gulen said raising a generation of ideal humans was not only a civic duty we had to shoulder; it was an indispensable one-way road for those of us who hold high hopes for the common future of humanity.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the first session, Prof Dr Abida Ejaz, Dr Ihsan Yilmaz, Dr Alper Dede and Dr Johnston McMaster presented their research papers on different topics covering the theme of “Secularism, Democracy and Faith-based Activism”.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the second session that was chaired by University of Management and Technology Rector Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad, Dr Maria Isabel Maldonado, Dr Aalia Sohail Khan, Ijaz Shafi Gillani, Dr Seema Arif and Dr Salih Yucel presented research papers on topics covering the theme of “Gulen’s philosophy on life, meaning and language.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the third session, chaired by University of Education Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Faizul Hasan, Dr Radhi al-Mabuk, Dr Ali Unsal, Dr Hafeezur Rehman, Dr Raazia Hassan Naqvi and Ibrar Mohmand, Dr Nabi Bux Jumani and Abdul Jabbar Bhatti presented research papers on topics covering the title of “Hizmet perspectives on education”.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Isra University Hyderabad Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Asadullah Qazi presided over the concluding session in which Dr Abdul Basit Mujahid, Dr Umbreen Javed, Muhammad Nawab and Muhammad Osman and Dr Bassem K Khafagy presented papers on “Case studies on Hizmet”.</div>
<br />
Published on <a href="http://dawn.com/2012/11/22/fethullah-gulen-a-humanist-par-excellence/" target="_blank">Dawn.com</a>, November 21, 2012<br />
<br />
<div>
Related articles:<br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/conferences" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/conferences</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-66116664112060243182012-11-20T16:16:00.000-05:002012-11-20T16:17:12.466-05:00Fethullah Gulen moot to explore meaning of life, model of ideal human<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img height="116" src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/ideal-human-and-ideal-society.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Ideal Human and Ideal Society in the Thoughts of M Fethullah Gulen</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
LAHORE: The editor of The Fountain, a Turkish magazine, has said that the purpose of international conference on “Ideal Human and Ideal Society in the Thoughts of M <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>” was to explore meaning of life and the model of ideal human and ideal society that have found their definitions in the thoughts of one of the most significant Turkish scholars Yesilova was addressing a press conference at Punjab University on Monday. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Fountain Magazine and Rumi Forum are organising the November 21 conference at PU Law College auditorium. Assistance will come from the Punjab government, Higher Education Commission, Punjab Education Department, Pak Turk International Educational Foundation, Journalists and Writers Foundation and Harmony Publications. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Talking to media, Yesilova further said that speakers from Pakistan, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Northern Ireland and the US had been invited to shed light on the thoughts of Fethullah Gulen, who had inspired an immense civil society movement known as “<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">Hizmet Movement</a>” in Turkey since the late 1960’s and had evolved and grown to encompass many facts of social life. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said that <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/his-life" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> was pioneer of the positive action that contributed to social welfare and peace in Turkey and worldwide through education. He said the movement of voluntary people was trying to act as a bridge in realizing unity in diversity, synergy, social innovation, interaction and dialogue between the members of different cultures and civilization. Yesilova was of the view that the speakers would share their research and experience with Hizmet, now active in over 140 countries, on the topics and themes such as democracy and faith-based activism, Gulen’s philosophy on life, meaning and language, Hizmet perspectives on <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/educations" target="_blank">education</a> and case studies on Hizmet.</div>
<br />
Published on <a href="http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C11%5C20%5Cstory_20-11-2012_pg13_7" target="_blank"><i>Dailytimes.com.pk</i></a>, November 20, 2012<br />
<br />
Related articles:<br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/conferences</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-7628124711990857212012-11-20T16:12:00.000-05:002012-11-20T16:13:01.834-05:00Conference on Fethullah Gulen’s thoughts on ideal society to be held in Pakistan<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/conference-on-fethullah-gulen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A press conference was held at the at the University of the Punjab in Lahore on Monday, to inform reporters about upcoming conference on Gulen's thoughts. (Photo: Today's Zaman)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A conference titled “Ideal Human and Ideal Society in the Thoughts of M. Fethullah Gulen,” seeking to extensively discuss the various dimensions of the <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-scholar" target="_blank">Turkish Islamic scholar</a>’s perspectives over an ideal society in a tumultuous time, will kick off on Tuesday in Lahore, Pakistan.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In a press conference held at the University of the Punjab in Lahore on Monday, Professor Dr. Liaqat Ali, the acting vice chancellor; Assistant Professor Maria Maldonado, director of International Linkages; Harun Köken, chairman of the Rumi Forum; and Hakan Yeşilova, editor-in-chief of The Fountain magazine, disclosed the details of the conference.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Professor Ali told reporters that the University of the Punjab had conferred an honorary doctorate on <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> on May 17, 2012, in recognition of his contributions to education and peace, and that this conference will be a follow-up event.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Dedicated to exploring <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-an-intellectual" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>’s ideas on diverse issues, the conference will feature speakers and participants from a number of countries, including Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the US.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fethullah Gulen is a key figure in Turkey and abroad. He is known as the founder of the <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/gulen-movement" target="_blank">Hizmet movement</a>, which has played a significant role in the opening of <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/143-fethullah-gulen-schools-or-gulen-inspired-schools" target="_blank">more than 500 schools</a> in over 100 countries around the globe. Additionally, several linked organizations and institutions have stepped up their efforts to build interfaith dialogue through cultural centers and intellectual circles in a bid to contribute to peace and reduce tensions.</div>
Fethullah Gulen has been <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO0lgqd_UVY&feature=plcp" target="_blank">living in the US</a> for more than a decade.<br />
<br />
<b>Source:</b> <a href="http://todayszaman.com/news-298712-conference-on-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan.html" target="_blank"><i>Today's Zaman</i></a> 19 November 2012<br />
<br />
<b>Related Articles:</b><br />
<i><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/165-fethullah-gulen-moot-to-explore-meaning-of-life-model-of-ideal-human</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/164-conference-on-fethullah-gulens-thoughts-on-ideal-society-to-be-held-in-pakistan</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/news/163-gulen-movement-challenges-culture-of-competition" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a><br /><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/conferences" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/conferences</a></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-6814327622696873672012-11-12T11:16:00.000-05:002012-11-12T11:17:37.474-05:00Rainer Hermann interviews Fethullah Gulen - Do good and let it unfold<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.gulenmovement.com/images/news/Frankfurter%20Allgemeine%20Zeitung.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.833333015441895px; line-height: 15.833333015441895px;">Photo Credit: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-preacher" target="_blank">Turkish preacher Fethullah Gulen</a> has been living in the United States for 13 years now. An extensive network of supporters has developed there, serving in projects under his name.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There is no sign on the road to indicate the exit and the dirt track which leads you through a foggy broadleaf forest, colored in all the shades of autumn, to an estate with eight houses. Thirteen years ago, the most influential preacher of Turkish Islam<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank"> Fethullah Gulen</a> retreated to this secluded place. Back then, the still powerful military had driven him out of Turkey. Stricken with illnesses, he decided to undergo surgery in American hospitals. Since then, he has rarely left the estate despite being issued a visa and a residence permit by the United States.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The voice of the 74-year-old Gulen sounds more powerful than ever, even from afar. It was his voice which has transformed the Muslims of Anatolia into a dynamic middle-class during the past decades. Gulen is the voice of these “black Turks”. Many movements have challenged Kemalism, the ideology of the “white Turks”. The urban, educated and secular upper-class of Istanbul – and later also of Ankara – have for decades ruled over Turkey. They looked down with contempt upon the uneducated, rural, poor and religious people of Anatolia. Inspired by Gulen’s teachings, many of these Turks sought education and became wealthy, yet remained religiously devout. As Gulen effectively challenged the Kemalist elite, he was declared as an enemy of the state. If Gulen was to return to Turkey, it would open old wounds. This is why Gulen, who shies away from conflicts, has decided to stay in Saylorsburg.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The 5-and-a-half hectare estate does partially resemble Gulen’s native region of Turkey. He was born in 1938 in Erzurum, in the remote eastern part of Anatolia. Saylorsburg is a place dominated by nature, where deer roam the forest and from time to time brown bears are seen. Soon, the snow will pile up, just as it will in Erzurum. When Turkish entrepreneurs bought the estate for $175,000 in 1993, under the name “Golden Generation foundation”, only a few log cabins were there. The foundation built eight stone houses, created the park, and invited Gulen to settle down here in 1999.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Down at the lake, the visitors’ children are playing football. At noon, everyone gathers in the clearing at the köşk – a type of garden pavilion in which Ottomans used to dine while in the countryside. Traditional Turkish cuisine is on the menu: lentil soup, vegetables pickled in olive oil, köfte meat balls with rice, tea in small curved glasses. Gulen cannot walk even this distance these days. After several bypass operations, his knees trouble him now. He leaves the estate only for medical exams and treatment at the hospital nearby. Gulen takes a life away from people, but his message is reaching millions.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A lift goes up to the first floor of the house which resembles a simply yet elegantly decorated Ottoman house which does not need more than a minimum of furniture. This is the floor on which Hocaefendi -- as he is reverently called by his followers -- lives and works. At his side always is his personal doctor, as well as a few other people in whom he trusts and confides. He very rarely gives interviews. This morning, a normal one, he taught a dozen young theologians who are his personal students. Twice a week, his sermons are recorded and uploaded onto the internet (www.herkul.org), from which TV stations will rebroadcast.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our interview has been scheduled to take place after the Islamic midday prayer. That is when Gulen receives guests. He specifically asks them about what is going on in the world outside and always has follow-up questions. After this he will read again, write and pray. He is said to get by on very little sleep. Every day is minutely structured. He instructs his followers to use their time well and practises as he preaches, without rushing. His followers say that he combines humility with charisma. On the wall behind him, a clock ticks softly. It is never switched to daylight savings hours. “The [real] time is always the same,” says Gulen.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Beautiful calligraphic writing decorates the walls, complementing Gulen’s words. He does not speak a sober modern Turkish. The Ottomans would have understood him perfectly. It is a challenge for many Turkish people to understand him. In long sentences, he intertwines chapters from the Quran with sayings by the Prophet, the experiences of the mystics with the requirements of the modern world, and unites the world of faith with the reality of life. He explains the relevance of education and success in business, the compatibility of Islam with the modern age and democracy, as well as the incompatibility of Islam and violence. His followers are supposed to create employment and prosperity with their own hands, and should not forget to distribute it among those who are in need.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Religious people wanting to live their faith far away from the vibrant cities were always drawn to the State of Pennsylvania. The early immigrants that settled on the fertile grounds of Pennsylvania must have been religious people. If you set out west from Philadelphia towards Saylorsburg, then you will drive through Quakertown and Emmaus. Road signs indicate exits to Hamburg as well as Lebanon and also to New Tripoli. The road to Saylorsburg also leads you through Bethlehem and Nazareth.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Manhattan is only a few hours drive away from Saylorsburg. And yet there are worlds between them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Alp Aslandogan is looking down from the sixth floor onto the urban canyon out of stone in the 5th Ave. In 1991, he came to New York from Turkey to do his PhD in IT and today he teaches at a university. In his spare time, he works many hours on a<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/160-fethullah-gulen-calls-on-muslims-to-help-hurricane-sandy-victims" target="_blank"> voluntary basis</a> for “hizmet” [service] – which is how Gulen’s followers describe their movement. The movement, which in Germany is known as the <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">Gulen movement</a>, is also growing in the United States. Entrepeneurs close to Gulen have founded more than a thousand educational institutions in 130 countries, including Germany and the United States. Aslandogan founded the “Milky Way Foundation” in 1993 to help tutor children of Turkish immigrants on the weekends, so that they could succeed in school. In 1999, the foundation became a private school.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We neither wanted to emulate the dominant culture, nor isolate ourselves from it to preserve our roots,” says Aslandogan. “We wanted to help parents to understand the American culture, and the children to preserve their parents’ values, but also be productive citizens of this country.” Over two decades, activities such as these in New York turned into an extensive network of diverse social activities. The Turkish Cultural Center in Manhattan and the <a href="http://peaceislands.org/">Peace Islands Institute</a> are two examples.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The cultural centre, for instance, organises English and Turkish language courses, prepares children for exams, helps adults to register themselves as voters and assists those who are self-employed to find success. After a large forest fire in Israel, it helped reforest the area, and built a new school in Haiti after the earthquake. After the terror attacks on September 11th, the Pacific Islands Institute was founded as a platform for dialogue. Under its framework, American politicians and foreign ambassadors have met, rabbis and Buddhist monks talk to each other, and Muslim families invite non-Muslim families home.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The cultural centre and the Pacific Islands Institute are two of the 218 social organizations which are associated with Gulen in the United States, which have united in May 2010 under the umbrella organization, the Turkic American Alliance. Its main offices are in Washington DC, between Capitol Hill and the CNN studios. Just as in its New York offices, the personality cult around Atatürk has vanished, and there is no relief on the wall depicting the forever-smiling founder of the republic. What importance the umbrella organization has already gained can be seen by the fact that at a recent gala evening, seven senators and 53 members of the Congress were present. Fevzi Bilgin, a 38-year-old political analyst and former professor at the University of Pittsburgh, compiles studies about relevant issues in Turkey and the Middle East and assesses the American political sphere in his work. He is the head of “Rethink”, the only private Turkish think tank in the United States.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Emre Çelik, an Australian IT specialist of Turkish descent living in the United States, is another strong supporter of Gulen. He started two decades ago in Sydney, trying to give Turkish youngsters a jump-start in subjects such as math, physics and chemistry in garages. Today, he is in charge of the Rumi Forum, named after a Turkish saint, which is located a stone’s throw away from the White House. On its board sit Jews as well as secular Americans. Prominent politicians or diplomats often speak at luncheons held at the forum, broadcasted by four TV channels.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Çelik considers himself to be a “mainstream Muslim” and this is the type of Islam he wants to foster in the pluralistic society of America. Initially in Australia, he was fascinated by Said Nursi (1876-1960), a spiritual mentor for Gulen. Nursi introduced to Islam raising scientific questions and doubt, taught his students to see the good in Western civilisation and adopt it, and called them to overcome the three basic evils of poverty, division and ignorance. “What Nursi formulated in theories, is carried out by Gulen in practice”, says Çelik. He considers the concept of pleasing God to be the decisive contribution of Gulen. By this, Gulen motivates people to act in this world, in order to gain rewards for the hereafter.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The movement is being attacked from two sides, says Gulen. Gulen describes those who equate the activities of “hizmet” with Islamism as ignorant. When it comes to other Turkish critics, he can only shake his head. They accuse him of being “a traitor to Islam, being a slave of the United States and Israel as well as carrying out propaganda for Christianity and Judaism”. A public prosecutor in Turkey once called him even a secret cardinal in the service of the Pope. The biggest accusation against the Movement is that it wants to carry out a revolution in Turkey, through cultivating a secret Islamist elite. It is also claimed that the movement is not transparent and works as a secret society. These kind of critics of the movement assert a hierarchical structure which does not exist. They attribute this claimed hierarchy to an asserted Islamic sufi lineage. During recent decades, periods where Turkey was ruled by generals, such a structure could be dangerous.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“My life and my work are open to everyone”, asserts Fethullah Gulen. “Nothing is kept secret.” The activities of “hizmet” are carried out in public with people from the entire spectrum of life, from all countries and religions. They have been observed and even under the control of public authorities. “I would like to know what is not transparent.”</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Education and building schools are issues particularly close to his heart. He says it is through education that a human being contributes in the most constructive manner to his or her family, society and humanity. "I am convinced that we as God’s creatures will only achieve our full individual maturity through worldly and spiritual education." He has been promoting this idea his entire life, as well as through the construction of schools, which are built by companies that claim to be inspired by him. His name appears neither as a founding nor board member on any of the institutions ascribed to him.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The continuous reference to entrepreneurs does not mean that everything is related to money, but he advises his followers to be successful. A major Turkish business association is ascribed to Gulen. The economic boom in Anatolia is linked to his name. "I have always called for a sincere entrepreneurial spirit," says Gulen. He advises entrepreneurs to carefully assess risks, and encourages them to invest and expand abroad. “I always remind them of their social and societal responsibilities.” And he reminds them to adhere to ethical principles: to avoid involvement in fraud, speculative or black-market trading, stand for trust and reliability, not to display greed and squander God’s riches while enjoying them, to show respect for the rights of employees, not to forget that the society they live in should also benefit from their benefits and to live aware of the fact that ultimately everything is given by God.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Tevfik Emre Aksoy is one of those businessmen who seeks God’s pleasure following Gulen’s advice. He made his fortune as a building contractor in Brooklyn, New York City. Self-employed and successful people like him donate a considerable share of their income to the "hizmet" movement and finance many projects. He is a board member of the Amity School in Brooklyn along with four other businessmen. Tuition fees only partially cover the costs of running the school. The rest comes from supporters like Aksoy.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yet despite his generous donations, he does not interfere in the day by day operations of the school, whose principal is Cengiz Karabekmez. Founded in 1999, 300 students attend the school. One hundred live in the adjacent student hostel. They come from 17 countries, and represent five different religious faiths. The majority are of Turkish descent. The school advertises that for many years all students have been accepted to college. The best go on to Harvard, Columbia and Yale. “Last year’s 25 graduates got scholarships in the amount of 4 million dollars”, Karabekmez says proudly.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The focus, as with all other “Gulen schools”, is on teaching sciences. “We do not compel religion upon our students”, stresses Karabekmez. “We are not a religious school.“ The course on “personality development” teaches universal values such as respect, altruism and work ethics. Most of the 36 teachers are American citizens. “Language barriers?” Andrea laughs. "Sure, many parents speak only a little bit of English", says a teacher. “But the school community ensures that everyone speaks English very well, starting from year one.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The English teacher, Adamir, knows Germany and the United States well, but he does not know Gulen. His parents fled the war in the Balkans, and along with their children, went first to Germany, and then settled down in New York 12 years ago. He had never heard the name of the “hizmet” movement. He opted for the Amity School because he has more opportunity to express himself as a teacher than at other schools. Worship of God is not compelled. “God loves everyone”, Aksoy asserts. “God loves in particular good deeds.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Source: <a href="http://en.fgulen.com/press-room/columns/4367-rainer-hermann-frankfurter-allgemeine-do-good-and-let-it-unfold-" target="_blank">www.fgulen.com</a>, November 10, 2012<br />
<br />
This article has originally been published in German language in <a href="http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/prediger-fethullah-guelen-tue-gutes-und-lasse-es-wirken-11955858.html" target="_blank">Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily</a> of Germany on November 9, 2012<br />
<br />
Related Acticles:<br />
<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</a><br />
<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/158-planting-seeds-of-understanding-a-buddhist-view-on-gulen-movement" target="_blank">http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/158-planting-seeds-of-understanding-a-buddhist-view-on-gulen-movement</a><br />
<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen</a><br />
<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-89026351447999565912012-11-08T16:46:00.000-05:002012-11-08T16:46:38.858-05:00Fethullah Gulen calls on Muslims to help Hurricane Sandy victims<br />
<div class="content clearfix" style="background-color: #f7f7f9; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="fethullah gulen hhreleif" height="300" src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/fethullah_gulen_hhreleif.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; margin: 5px auto;" width="450" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fethullah gulen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>, the honorary president of the <a href="http://www.peaceislands.org/" target="_blank">Peace Islands Institute</a>, has joined the relief efforts by donating $2000 to <a href="http://hhrelief.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=97:fethullah-gulen-has-joined-the-relief-efforts-by-donating-2000-for-the-hurricane-victims-&catid=44:past-events" target="_blank">Helping Hands Relief Foundation</a> for Hurricane Sandy victims. He wishes to express his deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones and sends his prayers for fast recovery to everyone who is affected.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He had earlier <a href="http://www.hizmetnews.com/index.php/latest-news/item/623-fethullah-gulen-calls-on-muslims-in-the-us-to-pray-against-sandy" target="_blank">called on Muslims to pray</a> against Sandy and wrote a prayer, which as disseminated through a website, <a href="http://www.herkul.org/" target="_blank">www.herkul.org</a>. Gulen is now calling on Muslims, by donating $2,000 personally, to help the victims of this devastating storm.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The arrival of Hurricane Sandy to the East Coast affected over 20 states, severely damaging New York and New Jersey. The US has experienced over $40 billion in property damage as a result of the hurricane and has grieved the death of more than a 100 Americans. Many selfless volunteers and disaster relief organizations including FEMA, The Red Cross and the Salvation Army have been aiding victims who are left without electricity, heat, food, and in many cases, shelter.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Helping Hands Relief Foundation, in cooperation with various Turkish American organizations, has <a href="http://hhrelief.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=95:relief-efforts-for-hoboken-nj-&catid=44:past-events" target="_blank">deployed volunteers</a> from Turkish American community to help the victims, who are in desperate need, <a href="http://www.peaceislands.org/locations/new-york/145-for-social-affairs/512-pii-contribute-to-ongoing-relief-efforts-in-staten-island-ny" target="_blank">in NJ and NYC</a>.</div>
</div>
<div class="content clearfix" style="background-color: #f7f7f9; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>You can help the victims through <a href="http://www.hhrelief.org/index.php" target="_blank">Helping Hands Relief Foundation</a>. Call the foundation at 201-528-3181 or reach it by email <a href="mailto:info@hhrelief.org">info@hhrelief.org</a></i></div>
<br /><br />Published on <a href="http://www.hizmetnews.com/index.php/latest-news/item/628-fethullah-gulen-calls-on-muslims-to-help-hurricane-sandy-victims" target="_blank">www.hizmetnews.com</a>, November 6, 2012</div>
<div class="content clearfix" style="background-color: #f7f7f9; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="content clearfix" style="background-color: #f7f7f9; margin-bottom: 0px;">
Related Articles</div>
<div class="content clearfix" style="background-color: #f7f7f9; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/160-fethullah-gulen-calls-on-muslims-to-help-hurricane-sandy-victims">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/160-fethullah-gulen-calls-on-muslims-to-help-hurricane-sandy-victims</a></div>
<div class="content clearfix" style="background-color: #f7f7f9; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/relief-a-healthcare-organizations">http://gulenmovement.com/relief-a-healthcare-organizations</a></div>
<div class="content clearfix" style="background-color: #f7f7f9; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/155-an-untold-african-story-gulen-movement-activities">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/155-an-untold-african-story-gulen-movement-activities</a></div>
<div class="content clearfix" style="background-color: #f7f7f9; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen">http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-7276174325707710522012-10-31T12:21:00.001-04:002012-10-31T18:13:31.292-04:00Planting Seeds of Understanding - A Buddhist View on Gulen Movement<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<em>Imagine ... "a world where people are deeply grounded in a moral and ethical tradition, where humility and service are highly valued and where reason, science and technology are fully utilized for the benefit of all."[1]</em></div>
</blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.gulenmovement.com/images/A_Buddhist_View_on_Gulen_Movement.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local Turkish people often asked for photos with our monastic group members</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Does this sound like some sort of utopia that we would like to choose for the human race? A place where harmony reigns and suffering is diminished? From a Buddhist perspective, does it resonate with the ideal of following the middle path for the sake of all sentient beings?<br />
<br />
These words, this dream, mirror the dedicated work of a <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-scholar" target="_blank">Turkish Muslim scholar</a> living in our modern times. His force of philosophy and concerns for peaceful coexistence among men has spawned a movement of believers around the world. His name is <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>.<br />
<br />
But Buddhists, Christians, and Jews alike could voice these same words, too. This is why the connections begin, in ways to bridge the great divides that often separate us. Humanity is a shared concern, and while religions offer guidance in their doctrines, the common essences link us all in spirit. We are connected, whether we face it or not, in cooperation.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">Gulen Movement</a> has promoted interfaith and intercultural dialogues for decades in many countries in order to encourage understanding, cultivate mutual respect and cooperation between disparate societies. Finding ways to live in peaceful coexistence are a mission. One such invitation for dialogue led a group of Buddhists to travel to Turkey this summer and discover the hosts' intent.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://acdc.org.hk/" target="_blank">The Anatolia Cultural & Dialogue Center in Hong Kong</a> initiated and arranged the intercultural visit. The ACDC mission is to share their national ethos and friendly hospitality to promote bridging in human kinship and community. The Buddhists went to learn about a country with a rich cultural and religious history that has evolved into a contemporary secular society. Metaphorically, Turkey is balanced between East and West, and Muslim faith is the dominant religion today.<br />
<br />
'Warmth of hospitality' abundantly springs to mind when travelling within Turkey as a visitor. Laughter, teasing, and friendly people greet you in all manner of casual encounters. They gleefully shouted "Japon" and "Kung Fu" in the direction of our Chinese appearance trying to make connection with labels that they knew. It was innocent and endearing. The monastic clothing of the monks and nuns in our group was a magnet for the curious. We became a 'tourist attraction' of sorts with Turkish locals requesting photo-ops.<br />
<br />
It was the special month of Ramadan and the extra-holy atmosphere beheld the prayer and fasting rituals. No food, no drink in the daylight hours for the pious Muslims. We had something to learn in terms of patience on an empty stomach. While we wilted in the summer heat and cherished every meal, it was a marvel to observe our abstaining hosts in their positive repose. Although they were sometimes sleepy, their willingness to cope was an admirable display of faith.<br />
<br />
One night in the mountains outside Bursa was a memorable dinner shared with five host couples that wanted to meet the Buddhist group. The restaurant was exceptional in that a village women's association, the first of its kind in a male-dominated society, run it and the delicious food is locally grown. The ambience was as comfortable as a private home with children running about and attentive service from the traditional ladies. The unity of breaking fast together in the evenings created fellowship and sincere appreciation for our nourishment.<br />
<br />
Gathered over coffee in a quiet room, we all joined "sharing" that night to exchange our views. After all, wasn't that one of the reasons for our journey? Taking turns around the room, my heart beat fast to speak out loud and share the feelings hiding there. In contrast to my Asian friends, the story began with a cultural difference: "I am from New York", were the words in introduction. Only days before, I had flown from there to join the group. Sitting in the warm circle gaze of those kind Muslim people, my tears began to fall.<br />
Still too often now, the words New York and Islam occur together with 9/11. Like other pairs: of love and hate, extreme and not, and bias and intolerance. My tears sprang from a deep well of emotions – a place of misconceptions. I felt for the Americans who struggle to comprehend why these events took place. Terrorism spoils the amity and confounds the well-meaning people. Why is there so much hatred?<br />
<br />
We met these sincere and gentle Turkish people who revere their Muslim faith. Their willingness to listen, and engage with other backgrounds, defies the negative perceptions. How I wish that life could be this way, with both sides reaching out in trust and conversation. The questions about religion and the mysteries of fear... make any of us vulnerable when facing strangers. There was compassion in that room and concern for making change.<br />
<br />
That night taught me a lesson, to remember what is possible. The sincere efforts of our hosts reminded me of the goodness in human nature. When we laughed and dined together, the values of their community and humble service were clear. I reflected on this during the rest of our trip, and thought about my own connections with others. How do I reach out generously, and try to make a difference for harmony in the world?<br />
<br />
In both small steps, and big strides, the <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/gulen-movement" target="_blank">Gulen movement</a> spreads outwards with patience and, in many ways, common sense. Through faith, education, communication and humanitarian assistance – these grass-roots communities strive to make the world a better place. For me, to meet these people is an encouragement to make my own contribution. To imagine what can happen next and in the future for our children.<br />
<br />
Buddhism is a journey of self-discovery and development of moral virtue. As individuals, we do not live in isolation. I have always felt that departing from one's comfort zone is an excellent way to gain an understanding of different people, places, and things – and our connections to one another. With this in mind and working on awareness, how can we learn to help each other? We begin with ourselves, and make improvements to lead by positive example.<br />
<br />
What I brought home from Turkey was inspiration. My heart has opened up. The dialogue arose, and the disparities explored. We learned about each other and probed the ways for peace. In so doing, the seeds of hope were planted and fertile ground was sown. We may be different in cultures and religion, but the sun shines on all of us as equals.<br />
<br />
<br />
Source: <a href="http://newlotus.buddhistdoor.com/en/news/d/30205" target="_blank"><em>Buddhistdoor International</em></a><em> Monday, 15 October 2012</em><br />
Related Acticles:<br />
<em><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</a></em><br />
<i><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/158-planting-seeds-of-understanding-a-buddhist-view-on-gulen-movement" target="_blank">http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/158-planting-seeds-of-understanding-a-buddhist-view-on-gulen-movement</a></i><br />
<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen" target="_blank"><em>http://gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen</em></a><br />
<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank"><em>http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</em></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<em>[1] Bruce Eldrige, "The Place of the Gulen Movement in the Intellectual History of Islam, Particularly in relation to Islam's Confrontation with Post modernism". Page 526, Gulen Conference, Dec. 4 – 6, 2009, Los Angelos, CA. </em><a href="http://gulenconference.net/" target="_blank"><em>http://gulenconference.net/</em></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Note: The Anatolia Cultural & Dialog Centre in Hong Kong (ACDC) invited and hosted two delegations from HKU - Centre for Buddhist Studies Alumni Association (CBSAA) during July and August this summer, 2012. The ACDC is a non-governmental Turkish cultural organization that promotes cultural & interfaith dialogue exchange to promote understanding between different communities. The Buddhist groups toured cities in Turkey, visited historical monuments, schools, media offices, charitable foundations, and private homes. The local Turkish hosts shared their hospitality, cultural heritage and Muslim practices of daily life in this secular modern society. Numerous discussions were shared throughout the travels, and reciprocally the Turkish people learned more about Buddhism and Chinese values.<br />
<br />
Buddhists and Muslims both came away with new appreciation of common virtues, shared human kinship, and mutual desire for peaceful societies in the world today. Above is one of the reflective essays on the experiences in Turkey from the Buddhist perspective.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-49774247165931587842012-10-31T12:08:00.001-04:002012-10-31T12:08:04.218-04:00Fethullah Gulen's book translated into Belarusian<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwhsxenP6W0slsA3i6vfHXQhVNYfS5ZrRmQHQMwg7iw0la3FamkgPnLOZojXqhipCvYoyHxIixgYQrY7Vq8oOhb8IpP7hInTZncov0PT9TC26YMV-xBjdVyaGAV7svNkTr2eeGpmb9Fo5/s1600/fethullah-gulens-book-belarusian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwhsxenP6W0slsA3i6vfHXQhVNYfS5ZrRmQHQMwg7iw0la3FamkgPnLOZojXqhipCvYoyHxIixgYQrY7Vq8oOhb8IpP7hInTZncov0PT9TC26YMV-xBjdVyaGAV7svNkTr2eeGpmb9Fo5/s1600/fethullah-gulens-book-belarusian.jpg" height="242" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fethullah Gulen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A book by renowned <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-an-intellectual" target="_blank">Turkish-Islamic intellectual</a> <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-scholar" target="_blank">and scholar</a> <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>, which has previously been translated into many languages, is now available in the Belarusian language.<br /><br />Titled “Ölçü veya Yoldaki Işıklar” (Criteria or Lights of the Way), the book has been printed in Belarusian by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, becoming the first book in Turkish to be translated into the Belarusian language.<br /><br />The book and its Belarusian version were recently <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities" target="_blank">introduced to Belarusian academics</a> and scholars at a conference titled “Dünya Edebiyat Sürecinde Türkiye ve Belarus” (Turkey and Belarus in the Course of World Literature). Sergey Garanin, deputy head of the Language and Literature Institute at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, spoke at the conference and said Belarusian readers are now able to access a book containing Gulen's teachings. “There is no doubt that Belarusian and Turkish people have stronger harmony and friendship after the translation of Gulen's book into the Belarusian language,” he stated.<br /><br />Garanin also defined Gulen as a scholar who wishes to build bridges between different religions and cultures through dialogue. “Fethullah Gulen's efforts are aimed at creating an atmosphere of tolerance in the world,” he added.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/his-life" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> has written many books on a variety of religious and Islamic topics that attract a large number of readers from all around the world. In order for the books to reach even more readers, they have been translated into a <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">variety of languages</a>, including Spanish, Russian and English. Fethullah Gulen has also pioneered <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/educations" target="_blank">educational initiatives</a> in a number of countries, along with efforts to promote intercultural and interfaith activities around the world.<br /><br />One of the world's most influential Islamic scholars, Gulen topped the list of “<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/in-the-media/interviews/84-the-worlds-top-public-intellectual" target="_blank">The World's Top 20 Public Intellectuals</a>” of Foreign Policy and Prospect magazines in 2008.<br /><br />Source: <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/157-fethullah-gulens-book-translated-into-belarusian" target="_blank">http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/157-fethullah-gulens-book-translated-into-belarusian</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />Related Acticles:<br /><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities" target="_blank">http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/156-book-on-fethullah-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities</a><br /><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">http://www.gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen</a><br /><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQnK05fCYlk" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQnK05fCYlk</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-28991617721119320702012-10-13T12:43:00.000-04:002012-10-13T12:45:40.211-04:00Book on Fethullah Gulen's teachings to be taught at Belarus universities<div style="text-align: justify;">
A group of academics from Belarus were in İstanbul on Tuesday for the presentation of the book “Social and Philosophical Aspects of the Teaching of <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/his-life" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>: The Look of Belarusian Intellectuals,” which will be used in the county's universities as a course book.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The academics, who are experts in the fields of philosophy, sociology, political science and philology, compiled the book, which is dedicated to the ideas and published works of respected <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-scholar" target="_blank">Islamic scholar</a> <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-an-intellectual" target="_blank">and intellectual</a> <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anatoliy Rubanov, the dean of Belarusian State University's faculty of philosophy and social sciences, noted that the country has started to learn about Turkey in the last 20 years. Rubanov stated that Muslims and Christians live peacefully in Belarus, saying: “Muslims are always very tolerant and gentle. If somebody in Belarus says that Muslims are violent and aggressive, nobody believes him. Fethullah Gulen shows us the value of tolerance.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Professor Svetlana Vinokurova, vice rector of the Belarusian State Academy of Arts, said that the name of the book has a special meaning for the academicians. “I do not know what “to look” means in Turkish, but, in the language of Belarus it means love and liking at first sight. When Belarus intellectuals looked at <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-pious" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>, they liked his teachings. It is not possible to appreciate the teachings of Gulen immediately as he is a deep intellectual, philosopher and wise person,” added the vice rector. Vinokurova also noted that Gulen has established indestructible bridges between Turkey and Belarus, and she gives high praise to <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-educator" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> for his contributions to world peace.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“When I first learned about the teachings of Gulen, I saw that the ideas of Gulen are notions that might draw the attention of every person. It was impossible for us to ignore his teachings. The most significant reason for compiling such a book was to acquaint others with the valuable ideas of Gulen and help people in our country learn about his teachings,” continued Vinokurova.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
According to Professor Marina Tenyanko, the book is not compiled through the eyes of a journalist or some citizen, it is a synthesis of results obtained from scientific research. Saying that Gulen has demonstrated what can be achieved though tolerance, mutual respect and love, Tenyanko added: “Gulen's thoughts make mutual interactions [between people] inevitable. Interactions can result in peace or war. Thus, people should understand each other to maintain good interactions.”</div>
<br />
<br />
Published on <a href="http://todayszaman.com/news-294934-book-on-gulens-teachings-to-be-taught-at-belarus-universities.html" target="_blank">Today's Zaman</a>, 10 October 2012, WednesdayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-13664179256237632712012-10-05T12:46:00.000-04:002012-10-05T12:48:04.820-04:00The Gulen Movement-Inspired Schools Effect: Muslims and Christians connect for peace<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fountain Magazine held a conference recently, titled "<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/152-new-york-conference-highlights-turkish-schools-contribution-to-world-peace" target="_blank">Peacebuilding Through Education</a>", in New York in cooperation with the <a href="http://peaceislands.org/" target="_blank">Peace Islands Institute</a>. Some institutions were honored with the <a href="http://fountainconferences.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63" target="_blank">best practice award</a>, as they have served the peacebuilding under difficult conditions. Among the honorees was The Filipino–Turkish Tolerance School (FTTS), Zamboanga, The Philippines. Below is an article about this school serve peacebuilding. The article also includes a story about some Kurdish youth in South Eastern Turkey.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="289" src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/filipino-turkish_tolerance_school.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">By Suat Erguvan for Silent Heroes, Invisible Bridge</span><br />
<br />
Most children of the picturesque city of Zamboanga in the Philippines' troubled south are groomed to be cautious in making friends believing in a different religion.<br />
<br />
Zamboanga Peninsula, the sixth most populous region and the third geographically largest in the Philippines, is home to 70 percent Christians and 30 percent Buddhist and Muslim people.<br />
<br />
The peninsula has been in the headlines for Moro Islamic Liberation Front's militancy against security agencies. The Muslim outfit brands its actions as 'freedom struggle' which has taken heavy toll on civilian lives over the past two decades.<br />
<br />
The Christian and Muslim communities have adapted to live in a tense equilibrium, with fire fights and bomb blasts claiming precious lives on one hand, and soaring number of unconstitutional disappearances on the other.<br />
<br />
Wherever the two enraged communities live side by side, traffic on the roads dividing them becomes litmus test for peace or unrest in the vicinity.<br />
<br />
While compatriot tourists visit the country's southern peninsula exercising caution, some foreigners are seen calmly working in a Zamboanga school.<br />
<br />
Since 1997, Turk educationists are sowing the seeds of tolerance and co-existence through the Filipino-Turkish Tolerance High School located in the heart strife-torn region.<br />
<br />
With humble beginning of 89 students, the institution today has boarding and teaching facilities for over 1,000 students. The school gets equal attention of Christian and Muslims parents and their offsprings.<br />
<br />
"It also has one of the best dormitories not only in Zamboanga, but in Mindanao. The Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School, considered one of the best in the region, has produced a number of students that topped in many international competitions and were even cited for their excellent educational skills," noted The Mindanao Examiner newspaper in one of its story in 2007.<br />
<br />
Encouraged by the vision of a <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-scholar" target="_blank">Turkish Muslim scholar</a>, <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">M. Fethullah Gülen</a>, over 1,500 non-governmental Turkish educational institutions have spread to almost 115 countries worldwide.<br />
<br />
The schools, also working in collaboration with local businessmen, strive to provide students with a learning environment to "make them acquire solid competencies in critical thinking, creative problem solving, consensus building, informed decision making and technical literacy."<br />
<br />
Fr. Thomas Michel, Ph.D, Secretary General of Interfaith Dialogue Council in Rome, Italy, visited the Turkish tolerance schools in 1995, in Zamboanga.<br />
<br />
"The Turkish and Filipino staff's proud claim was a stunning reality for me as Muslims and Christian students were getting education with true spirit of a culture of dialogue and tolerance," Fr. Michel shared these remarks with gatherings around the world.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bj7k9fU79ZM?version=3&hl=en_US"></param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param>
<param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param>
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bj7k9fU79ZM?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
He noted that children befriended their class fellows regardless of religious divides, thus their parents not only started communicating with each other but also eventually cooperate for children and community's future both.<br />
<br />
During a visit to Turkey in September 2009, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroy expressed need for increase in the number of Turkish schools to help "strengthen mutual relations". She vowed to learn from Turkey's experience "in helping the people of different faiths in our nation to accept one another."<br />
<br />
Last October, Philippines' Ambassador to Turkey Pedro Chan said his country wanted to open honorary consulates in Turkey's northern province of Samsun and northwestern province of Bursa.<br />
<br />
The Philippines is not an exception in strengthening bilateral relations with Turkey after fruitful contribution of schools. Many African nations saw following the Turkish embassy years after the voluntary Turkish schools made their mark.<br />
<br />
Recollecting his experiences in the Philippines, Ahmet Yamakoglu, former Principal of the Phillipines-Turkish Tolerance School, recalls a meeting of Kayseri philanthropist businessmen with Governor of Zamboanga Mrs Maria Clara Lobregat.<br />
<br />
Ahmet quotes the governor as saying, "You have changed the misconceptions formed in our minds owing to the unfortunate clashes between the Muslims and Christians, and you made us love Muslims and Islam."<br />
<br />
On occasion of the Philippines National Day, Ahmet recollects, "When our students were parading before her, she stood up and announced to the public: And now my new children are passing out before us!"<br />
<br />
This success did not come in platter for the Turkish educationists. Long after submitting papers for opening schools in Manila, the Turks received no results owing to the deep-seated suspicions of the central government about Muslims.<br />
<br />
Only in 2001, the final decision for opening the school was passed; however then slow-moving bureaucracy still had question marks about presence of Muslims educationists in the conflict zone. Until Mrs Maria assigned her parliamentarian son Celso Lobregat to facilitate her Turkish friends with the processes, hopes were dim.<br />
<br />
Celso Lobregat told his politician colleagues, "We fought with Muslims for many years in the Mindanao region. There might have been no bloodshed in the south if we had them many years ago."<br />
<br />
Thus, the Turkish NGO got permission in style to open more branches back then.<br />
<br />
Before dying Mrs Maria bequeathed her wish to Celso Lobregat to be the beneficiary of the Turkish schools in the Philippines. Lobregat became the Governor of Zamboanga and Turkish school quietly spread their message of co-existence and tolerance.<br />
<br />
Such experiences have borne fruit in Turkey as well where Kurdish militants are attacking civilian and security personnel indiscriminately, alleged at the behest of external factors.<br />
<br />
Abdullah Aymaz, a Turkish educationist, recalls a touching incident involving two Kurdish-speaking students who went on rampage in school 15 days after enrolling and lodging in the school.<br />
<br />
Realising sensitive nature of the region, the principal treated the students with affection.<br />
<br />
One of the students, whose name has been kept anonymous, is quoted as saying: "We were told so many negative things about you that we hated you and we came to burn the school, but we couldn't."<br />
<br />
In another incident, a student from Cizre - a Turkish town near the Syrian border - wrote to the principal, "Until recently, I used to see Turks as our sworn enemies but now I loved you all. If you had come here earlier, terrorism might not have been here." The youngster regretted about his uncle who has adopted Kurdish guerilla lifestyle in the mountains.<br />
<br />
The bar of expectations from the <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/143-fethullah-gulen-schools-or-gulen-inspired-schools">Turkish schools</a>' peacebuilding role is rising world over as many Muslim and non-Muslim geographies, too, long for tranquility and peaceful coexistence.<br />
<br />
<br />
Published on <a href="http://www.silent-heroes.net/home/?q=node/49&page=0,0">Silent Heroes</a>, 04 October 2012, Thursday<br />
<br />
Related Acticles:<br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/152-new-york-conference-highlights-turkish-schools-contribution-to-world-peace">New York conference highlights Turkish schools' contribution to world peace</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/151-fethullah-gulens-message-to-the-conference-entitled-peacebuilding-through-education">Fethullah Gulen's message to the conference entitled "Peacebuilding through Education"</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/143-fethullah-gulen-schools-or-gulen-inspired-schools">Fethullah Gulen schools or Gulen-inspired schools?</a><br />
<br />
Video Source:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/gulenmovement">http://www.youtube.com/gulenmovement</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/gulen4worldpeace">http://www.youtube.com/gulen4worldpeace</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-16226325201371086372012-10-04T11:49:00.000-04:002012-10-04T11:49:41.470-04:00Is the Gulen Movement opposed to the political, governmental or democratic system?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="194" src="http://gulenmovement.com/images/news/fethullah_gulen_04.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fethullah Gulen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
No. The fact that, as a thoroughly civic, autonomous initiative, the <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">Gulen Movement</a> is situated entirely outside the conventional channels of political representation – party, government, state, etc. – does not mean that it therefore stands in some way against the political, <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/141-fethullah-guelens-understanding-of-democracy" target="_blank">governmental or democratic system</a>.<br />
<br />
The non-profit-oriented management of its educational and cultural institutions distinguishes the <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/gulen-movement" target="_blank">Gulen Movement</a> sharply from political actors and formal state institutions and agencies. Its forms of collective action do not contend for space with or in government or state institutions or agencies. They deal with human beings individually in the public space through independent, legally constituted civic organizations.<br />
<br />
The Gulen Movement’s origin, source and target is the individual human being in the private sphere. The Gulen Movement’s approach is “bottom–up”, transforming individuals through education to consolidate a peaceful, harmonious and inclusive society as a result of an enlightened public sphere. It is not the “top–down” approach characteristic of state or government agency.<br />
<br />
This reflects <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>’s rationale for the primacy of education among the Gulen Movement’s commitments: “As the solution of every problem in this life ultimately depends on human beings, education is the most effective vehicle, regardless of whether we have a paralyzed social and political system or we have one that operates like clockwork.”<br />
<br />
<br />
Published on <a href="http://en.fgulen.com/about-gulen-movement/4334-is-the-gulen-movement-opposed-to-the-political-governmental-or-democratic-system">www.fgulen.com,</a> 04 October 2012, Thursday<br />
<br />
Related Articles:<br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/141-fethullah-guelens-understanding-of-democracy"></a><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/141-fethullah-guelens-understanding-of-democracy" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/141-fethullah-guelens-understanding-of-democracy</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/151-fethullah-gulens-message-to-the-conference-entitled-peacebuilding-through-education"></a><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/151-fethullah-gulens-message-to-the-conference-entitled-peacebuilding-through-education" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/151-fethullah-gulens-message-to-the-conference-entitled-peacebuilding-through-education</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/146-the-gulen-movement-pioneers-of-interfaith-dialogue"></a><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/146-the-gulen-movement-pioneers-of-interfaith-dialogue" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/146-the-gulen-movement-pioneers-of-interfaith-dialogue</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/145-followers-of-fethullah-gulen-seek-to-build-up-the-human-community"></a><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/145-followers-of-fethullah-gulen-seek-to-build-up-the-human-community" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/145-followers-of-fethullah-gulen-seek-to-build-up-the-human-community</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/144-australian-catholic-university-fethullah-gulen-international-scholarship"></a><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/144-australian-catholic-university-fethullah-gulen-international-scholarship" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/144-australian-catholic-university-fethullah-gulen-international-scholarship</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/143-fethullah-gulen-schools-or-gulen-inspired-schools"></a><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/143-fethullah-gulen-schools-or-gulen-inspired-schools" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/143-fethullah-gulen-schools-or-gulen-inspired-schools</a><br />
<a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/137-east-indian-activist-supports-inter-cultural-dialog-and-gulen-movement"></a><a href="http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/137-east-indian-activist-supports-inter-cultural-dialog-and-gulen-movement" target="_blank">http://gulenmovement.com/latest-news/137-east-indian-activist-supports-inter-cultural-dialog-and-gulen-movement</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-49686660268714596962012-09-26T11:07:00.000-04:002012-09-26T11:07:47.950-04:00Fethullah Gulen's message to the conference entitled "Peacebuilding through Education"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.gulenmovement.com/images/news/fethullah-gulens_peacebuilding-through-education.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Fethullah Gülen </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thank you for your kind invitation to the <a href="http://www.fountainconferences.org/" target="_blank">Peacebuilding through Education conference</a>, and I regret being unable to join you today. The theme you cover in this conference is a very dear one, and I feel very honored to be a part of it through <a href="http://fountainmagazine.com/" target="_blank">The Fountain magazine</a> that continues to publish my essays. I have been penning my humble writings with hopes for a contribution, as much as an essay can go, to a greater good of our world, to a better understanding of the meaning of our lives, to a greater appreciation of being human – the best of creation – and to the promotion of mutual respect and tolerance among nations, and all the other values and high goals The Fountain aims to uphold in its pages and cherished not to a lesser degree by the co-sponsors of this conference.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I wholeheartedly commend The Fountain magazine, <a href="http://peaceislands.org/" target="_blank">Peace Islands Institute</a>, the Baruch College, Quinnipiac University, New York Institute of Technology, Yale University, and Alliance for Shared Values for their partnership in this event. I welcome all speakers, especially those who had to cover long distances from abroad and other states. My special thanks to Hon. Armin Altamirano Luistro, the Secretary of Education of the Philippines, Hon. Shukuru Jumanne Kawambwa, the Minister of Education of Tanzania, and Hon. Rochelle Hendricks, Secretary of Higher Education of New Jersey, for sparing from their very valuable time exclusively for this event.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><b>Fethullah Gulen</b></span></a></div>
<br /> <br /><br />Source:
<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/151-fethullah-gulens-message-to-the-conference-entitled-peacebuilding-through-education">http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/151-fethullah-gulens-message-to-the-conference-entitled-peacebuilding-through-education</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-44170127741185690182012-09-21T16:24:00.000-04:002012-09-21T16:24:21.778-04:00Fethullah Gulen urges Muslims to exercise restraint over anti-Muslim movie<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.gulenmovement.com/images/news/fethullah_gulen.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f9; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 9.090909004211426px;">Fethullah Gülen. (Photo: Cihan)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-scholar" target="_blank">Turkish Islamic scholar</a> <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-peace-advocate" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen </a>has called on Muslims to exercise restraint and act with common sense while expressing their outrage over an anti-Muslim film as a wave of largely violent protests has swept 20 countries.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> was responding to a question from students and a recording of his speech was broadcast in herkul.org on Friday.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-pious" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> issued his <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/149-fethullah-gulen-strongly-condemns-mindless-violence" target="_blank">strongest pleas against resorting to violence</a> by citing examples from the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, trying to defuse Muslim anger over the film on Friday when new attacks on US and Western embassies left at least eight protesters dead.<br /><br />He rejected violent protests against offensive attacks by non-Muslims as “exorbitant behavior” but said remaining indifferent and silent in the face of insults and offenses against Muslims and Islam is also wrong. He urged Muslims to act in a delicate balance and move in the “correct direction” in appropriately responding to such offenses.<br /><br />The protests across the Middle East were sparked by a once-obscure, amateurish movie called "Innocence of Muslims," which ridicules the Prophet Muhammad. A 14-minute "trailer" for the movie, dubbed into Arabic, was posted on YouTube.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/his-life" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> said insulting Islam and the <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen/54-the-messenger-of-god-muhammad" target="_blank">Prophet Muhammad</a> through a movie is a “violation of all Muslims' rights” and said these kinds of attacks happen frequently for provocation.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-leader" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> added that Muslims need to be cool-headed and cautious in seeking ways to answer such attacks and said violently killing diplomats and setting buildings ablaze are far from the right response to the situation.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUkpkPHkPIE" target="_blank">US Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens</a> and three other embassy employees were killed after a barrage of small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar fire tore into the consulate buildings in Benghazi on Tuesday, setting the buildings alight.<br /><br />The Turkish Islamic scholar also offered self-criticism, blaming Muslims for largely failing to appropriately explain the true nature of the <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen/55-prophet-muhammad-as-commander" target="_blank">Prophet Muhammad</a> to non-Muslims. <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-educator" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> lamented that there are people who commit violence and suicide bombings, emphasizing that they don't know Islam well. He said suicide bombings are actions tantamount to barbarism and are not related to Islam.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.us/" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> also described the killing of four US diplomats in Libya as “savagery” and “inhumane.” He said the diplomats were innocent and not related to the movie and that those who killed them have no idea what Islam is. He also blamed supporters of those who killed the diplomats and stormed US embassies across the Middle East, saying that they are wrongly “committing crimes in the name of Islam.”<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-an-intellectual" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> also said he believes killing diplomats could be an orchestrated plan of “intelligence services,” without elaborating what intelligence services he is talking about. “Even if this is the case,” <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-preacher" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> said, “Muslims should not be trapped.” He said Muslims are easily trapped in games like this thanks to “group psychology.”<br /><br />He also slammed the Saudi grand mufti, without mentioning his name, and said his call to destroy churches in the Gulf region is not “friendly and humane.” He said this is an open invitation to non-Muslim countries to ban “mosques and minarets.”<br /><br />Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Shaikh had issued a fatwa, or religious order, against churches in May, prompting protests from Christian bishops across Europe and provoking a storm on Christian websites around the world.<br /><br />Saudi Arabia does not allow churches on its territory, citing a saying of the Prophet Muhammad that there cannot be two religions on the Arabian Peninsula. But neighboring Gulf states have long had churches and some allow new ones to be built.<br /><br /><a href="http://hizmetnews.com/index.php/latest-news/item/580-fethullah-gulen-is-hopeful-about-future" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> also condemned burning churches in Africa in retaliation to an attack on a mosque and said, “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb9Yc1Rm0sI&feature=plcp" target="_blank">This is not the way Muslims should behave</a>.”<br /><br /><br />Source:
<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/150-fethullah-gulen-urges-muslims-to-exercise-restraint-over-anti-muslim-movie" target="_blank">http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/150-fethullah-gulen-urges-muslims-to-exercise-restraint-over-anti-muslim-movie</a><br /><br />Similar news: <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/149-fethullah-gulen-strongly-condemns-mindless-violence" target="_blank">http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/149-fethullah-gulen-strongly-condemns-mindless-violence</a><br /><br />Video news: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUkpkPHkPIE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUkpkPHkPIE</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-55793709669710667012012-09-15T13:42:00.000-04:002012-09-15T13:42:45.640-04:00Fethullah Gulen Strongly Condemns Mindless Violence<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-scholar" target="_blank">Turkish Scholar</a>, <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> devotes his life to <a href="http://peaceislands.org/pii-about-us/honorary-president" target="_blank">inter-faith dialogue</a>. He is reacting to the death of the U.S. Amassador in Libya, as well as mass protests in the Arab world. He sent a message on the recent attack in Libya.<br />
</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/FUkpkPHkPIE" width="480"></iframe>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
"I have learned with sadness about the attack on the US Consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi which resulted in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, consulate personnel and several others.<br />
<br />
I strongly condemn this heinous attack which targeted Ambassador Stevens who was representing his country in Libya and thus was a guest of Libyan government and people.<br />
<br />
On this sad occasion I reiterate my condemnation of all forms of terror regardless of its perpetrators and the purposes for which it is carried out.<br />
<br />
I sent my sincere condolences to those who lost loved ones in the tragedy, to the United States Government, to American people and especially to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton under whom the ambassador and his staff have been serving.<br />
<br />
I share their pain in my heart and pray for the fast recovery of those who were injured."</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fethullah Gulen</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
Source: <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/149-fethullah-gulen-strongly-condemns-mindless-violence">http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/149-fethullah-gulen-strongly-condemns-mindless-violence</a><br />
Video Source: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUkpkPHkPIE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUkpkPHkPIE" target="_blank">FUkpkPHkPIE</a></div>
<br />
You may learn more about Mr. Fethullah Gulen at <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-68153974062343157602012-09-08T12:42:00.000-04:002012-09-08T12:45:12.757-04:00Can the West believe in Islamic progress?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZaMY1Pe9PcYqsS76nfEsweT_W78FjNfz0Tmu9a8W9qupjhxdJXrJKwnPeUChVFj7WzMbntw9fV7X1Ai38Bhcg2nO5qIXf_alHpV0YiKXfHVd0dHzp0mLsKkV_nG9l9-2wU062it1z4ij/s1600/opinion.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZaMY1Pe9PcYqsS76nfEsweT_W78FjNfz0Tmu9a8W9qupjhxdJXrJKwnPeUChVFj7WzMbntw9fV7X1Ai38Bhcg2nO5qIXf_alHpV0YiKXfHVd0dHzp0mLsKkV_nG9l9-2wU062it1z4ij/s1600/opinion.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 8.88888931274414px;">(ILLUSTRATION: ORHAN NALIN)</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While the West has been largely indecisive about its position on the several recent experimental and violent renegotiations of Islam and power in the Middle East, its feelings on Islamic power have been rather clearly demonstrated over the years: The acquisition of power by Islamic entities is a cause for concern. By the same token, the Islamization of a powerful entity is also a cause for concern.<br />
<br />
In Turkey’s case, the Western perception of the latter scenario has dominated the language of experts and journalists who are expressing worry by filling their assessments of Turkey’s political path in general, and the influence of the <a href="http://gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">Gulen movement</a> in particular, with sinister overtones. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government is viewed as facilitating a “takeover” in which Islamic powers in Turkey have seized control of previously secular state institutions. The association of Turkey’s Islamization with depictions of aggression and radicalization has been boosted by the alarm sounded by Bernard Lewis, one of the most influential historians of the Middle East, who describes Turkey’s movement as “re-Islamization,” thus emphasizing a return to darker days and a form of rule that does not rule out future Iranization.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/gulen-movement" target="_blank">This movement</a>, as viewed through Western eyes, presents what appears to be a baffling paradox, especially in light of Turkey’s economic growth: Turkey’s financial progress is coinciding with the ideological retreat of its secular identity. How on earth can more wealth be leading a country to become less Western? No wonder the West is bewildered.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Using Hegel to understand Turkey</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
It is here proposed that a helpful way to resolve the West’s Turkish cognitive dissonance is by employing one of the West’s own interpretive methods: the Hegelian dialectic. This philosophical technique was designed and developed by European thinkers in order to reconcile seeming contradictions similar to the one posed by modern-day Turkey’s tension between Islam and secularism. In such a framework of thought, Islam, in its original form in the Ottoman days, is likened to a thesis negated by its antithesis in the form of secularism, leading to the subordination and assimilation of the negation, resulting in a synthesis: an Islam that is self-reflective and self-conscious for having seen itself through the mirror of secularism and, hence, of an elevated degree of compatibility with the West. In other words, Turkey’s Islamization is not regressive, but progressive, motioning, as reason does, through the integration of contradictions into a more comprehensive unity.<br />
<br />
This dialectic movement forward in Turkey is primarily propelled by the Gulen movement, which sprang in bottom-up fashion from Turkey’s Anatolian bourgeoisie, comprising Muslims who identify their social class in Western terms. These are Muslims who promote and optimize Turkey’s civil society through Western sensibilities. For instance, headscarves, which were previously banned in Turkey’s secular antithetical stage, are now not forced upon anybody, but simply allowed in the public space. In other words, the true Muslim wishes of key elements in Turkish society are no longer denied while at the same time Western constitutional freedoms are respected.<br />
<br />
The political scientist M. Hakan Yavuz, whose fascinating upcoming book “Toward an Islamic Enlightenment: <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.us/" target="_blank">The Gulen Movement</a>” I was privileged to preview, considers the movement to constitute a genuinely Protestant Islam. This means the movement’s Islamic core is intertwined with an internalization of Western Weberian and Calvinist worldviews, highlighting the interconnectedness of religious principles and economic applications, believing, in the spirit of Capitalism, that socioeconomic prosperity is the most favorable way to bring about and reflect God’s pleasure. This is the main aspect of many other avenues in which the movement expresses a cognizant dialogue with Western thought and belief. Yavuz, a <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Turkish scholar</a> in the United States, puts the movement under the magnifying glass of academic scrutiny, identifying both its promise and the stumbling blocks ahead. His earnest analysis of the movement’s subtleties does not offer predictions of the movement’s future, but sends an echoing message that has been overlooked: The <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/146-the-gulen-movement-pioneers-of-interfaith-dialogue" target="_blank">Gulen movement</a> is still in motion.<br />
<br />
The path of the Gulen movement might not be perfect -- old contradictions are always replaced by new ones in humanity’s quest for betterment -- but it is nonetheless a road paved by a commitment to progress. The movement’s innovations in teaching must be continuously coupled with openness to learning even from its obvious detractors within Turkey. In particular, issues concerning freedom of expression and the judiciary have increased the number of the movement’s doubters, but doubt offers the best possible stage on which to show that perceived contradictions may be reconciled. The stage for showing the movement’s commitment to progress is also set outside Turkey, as tangible improvements in the lives of many Muslims would be readily noticeable. If this Turkish movement’s constructive focus on science and technology as well as love and community service could inspire the Arab world, then there would be hope of lessening the destructive worship of struggle in the region. Turkey’s ideological and actual fight against terrorism does not leave any room for comparison with Iran’s top-down, terror-sponsoring Islam.<br />
<br />
<h3>
The foreign Muslim Turk</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
Nonetheless, the portrayal of Turks in Western media is dominated by suspicion and alienation. The underwhelming reception of Islamic prosperity, especially of the kind that is not grounded in oil rigs but in economic ingenuity, is somewhat frustrating: While the West is adamant about stirring Islam away from violence, it is not terribly thrilled to see it flourish. Furthermore, the Armenian lobbies are trying to perpetuate Turkey’s defamiliarization in Western eyes by projecting past tragedies on Turkey’s modern-day image. The attempt to hold the current Turkish government accountable for Talat Pasha and the late Ottoman rule is as sensible as holding the Obama administration accountable for Jefferson Davis and the agenda of the Confederate States of America in the Civil War. The mere existence of such pressure is a banner of anti-Islamic double standards in the world today, standing atop unnecessarily highlighted divides between Muslims and Christians.<br />
<br />
The recent article by Maximilian Popp in the popular German weekly Der Spiegel epitomizes the ethnocentric chauvinism that is bent on defamiliarizing the progressive Turk. Unfortunately, that article, which will likely be read by many, is based on the erroneous belief that the author’s preferred secular culture sets the universal norm; the author’s own culture, upon its own preferred categories, is followed as if it were the exclusive determiner for judging other cultures. The article reveals an intention to take what volunteers of the movement feel are familiar standards, and give them a strange and unfamiliar appearance. This type of defamiliarization, which looks to present another culture through an aggressive biased devotion to one’s own cultural beliefs, should be rejected outright for its use of exaggeration, pretense objectivity and maneuvered context. In fact, it has already been criticized and even mocked by responsible anthropologists for quite some time now. Horace Mitchell Miner’s brilliant satirical essay “Body Ritual among the Nacirema” from 1956 shows that even American culture can be defamiliarized if such is the author’s intent as, for instance, brushing one’s teeth is described as a private mouth ritual and dentists are holy-mouth-men.<br />
<br />
Specifically, when Popp defamiliarizes the <a href="http://www.charteradvocate.org/gulen-charter-schools/148-universal-schooling-and-gulen-insipred-schools" target="_blank">Gulen-inspired schools</a> by highlighting the authoritative role of the elder brother and the restrictions on watching TV, listening to music or reading books that are not approved, he is trying to depict the movement as an adversary of freedom, failing to recognize that the concept of discipline is not so foreign, or exclusive to these schools, but rather is common in many quality private schools, professional sports or military academies. However, Popp will not be defamiliarizing the English Eton College, the FC Barcelona youth academy or the US Marine academy for their different emphases on discipline. Similarly, the article defamiliarizes a religious group’s right for self-preservation. If Der Spiegel finds it strange and newsworthy that volunteers of the movement are encouraged (or “pressured” as Popp puts it) to marry other volunteers, does that mean that the magazine is culturally uncomfortable with other religious or social groups who do the same, and even in a more explicit manner, such as the Jews? Furthermore, the endeavor to align one’s religion with science is not an invention unique to <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-scholar" target="_blank">Gulen</a>, but rather a continuation of efforts over centuries by Islamic mutakallimun, Jewish thinkers and Christian theologians. Correspondingly, <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-educator" target="_blank">Gulen</a> does not deny scientific facts, as the article states, but rather he concedes that the survival of Islam is dependent on a successful assimilation of scientific theories into the faith. Indeed, the article defamiliarizes religion, as it even considers the long practiced and biblically sanctioned concept of tithing to be “murky finances.”<br />
<br />
Wording goes a long way, especially in cases of first impression. If, as the article claims, the German public knows nothing about the <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.us/gulen-movement/short-description-of-the-movement">Gulen movement</a>, then such articles will likely present the movement’s volunteers, Turks and Muslims as a foreign threat. The pronounced negativity of such articles is clear if one gleans the harmful words carefully placed in it to describe the movement: references to the movement being “shadowy,” “secretive,” “mafia”-like and “dangerous” lead to unequivocal and immediate vilification; describing volunteers as serving Gulen rather than serving the community leads to impressions of self-service and self-aggrandizement; saying that the movement inspires volunteers to “idolize” creates a strong sense of a blind, rather than sober, worship; suggesting that the book collection of a proud volunteer is a mere exhibition with no substance is a reflection of painfully distrusting cynicism; comparing the movement to Opus Dei and Scientology creates an association with groups perceived in Germany as being controversial, cultish, and threatening; reporting that <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-peace-advocate">Gulen</a> seeks “control,” “power,” and “influence” as part of a strategy to dominate the West, is appealing to old xenophobic fears; and, most disturbingly, printing words to ascribe the Gulen movement the image of a spider that lays webs for innocent Germans, as the article in Der Spiegel does, is too reminiscent of the notorious anti-Semitic caricature in the Nazi newspaper Der Stürmer in which the Jews are represented as a spider that is about to devour the people caught in its web.<br />
<br />
Turkey’s Islamization is an opportunity, not a concern. There are those who pin America’s low popularity among Turks on Islamization, but this rate is only as low as the retrospective approval rate of the war in Iraq among Americans themselves; others pin the conflict with Israel on Turkey’s Islamization, but when viewed without prejudice it is purely a matter of pragmatic offensive realism, as would be expected of any power in Turkey’s situation, secular or religious. Turkey’s Islamization should not be vilified, but rather appreciated for the synthesis it presents between Islam and West. Turkey’s Protestant Islam, not secularism, is a much stronger foundation for a bridge between Islam and Christianity. The current wrong assessments and under-appreciation of Turkey’s role in politics and interreligious dialogue can be smoothly corrected with adequate study and gestures by secularists and Westerners. At a time when the West is greatly tested by tumultuous developments in Muslim countries, it is not less important for it to focus on how to handle the test posed by real Islamic capitalistic success.<br />
<br />
________________________________________________<br />
<div>
<div>
<i>Tal Buenos, an Israeli, has a master of theological studies from Harvard Divinity School (2005).</i></div>
</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Source: </i><a href="http://www.todayszaman.com/news-291623-can-the-west-believe-in-islamic-progress-by-tal-buenos*.html">http://www.todayszaman.com/news-291623-can-the-west-believe-in-islamic-progress-by-tal-buenos*.html</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-24155823577421965222012-08-22T12:13:00.000-04:002012-08-22T12:18:27.946-04:00The Gulen Movement: pioneers of interfaith dialogue <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="http://www.gulenmovement.com/images/news/churches-together.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Churches Together in England" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Churches Together in England
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f9;">The most populous Muslim presence in the UK has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, and the nature of Islam in Pakistan, especially, has coloured British understanding of and approaches to Islam. This is to ignore the diversity of Islam, not only theological, but also cultural and geographical.</span><br />
<div class="content clearfix" style="background-color: #f7f7f9; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<div align="justify" style="margin-top: 0px;">
<br />
A very different model of Islam can be seen in the movement around <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen">Fethullah Gulen</a>, a <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-scholar">Turkish Muslim scholar</a>,<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-leader">opinion leader</a> and <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-peace-advocate">peace activist</a>. <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/in-the-media/interviews/84-the-worlds-top-public-intellectual">Fethullah Gulen topped a 2008 poll of one hundred most influential public intellectuals</a> (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAnsy4Lc12c">Foreign Policyand Prospect magazines</a>). He has inspired a <a href="http://peaceislands.org/pii-about-us/honorary-president">worldwide civil society movement</a> to invest in <a href="http://peaceislands.org/">intercultural dialogue</a> as the basis for lasting peace. There are <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/143-fethullah-gulen-schools-or-gulen-inspired-schools">schools, universities</a>, <a href="http://peaceislands.org/">dialogue centres</a> and charitable organisations across the world, which have been inspired by Fethullah Gulen’s philosophy. He teaches that we are human first, and only then Muslim or of any other religion and culture. He <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/141-fethullah-guelens-understanding-of-democracy">supports democracy</a>, diversity, <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/gulens-views/human-rights">human rights</a>, freedom of belief, and argues, unsurprisingly, that ‘<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb9Yc1Rm0sI">No Muslim can be a terrorist and no terrorist a Muslim</a>’.<br />
<br />
Fethullah Gulen is an <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-preacher">Islamic preacher and scholar</a>, and author of over <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/published-works/books-by-fethullah-gulen">sixty volumes</a>. Professor Paul Weller (Continuum, 2009) noted that ‘Fethullah Gulen does not teach a “liberal” or “modernist” version of Islam. Rather, his teaching offers a robust renewal of Islam that is engaged with the contemporary world. It is rooted in a deep knowledge of authentically Islamic sources.’<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/">The Gulen movement</a> has a presence in various centres across the UK, not least in London and West Yorkshire. The principal point of contact is through an educational charity, <a href="http://peaceislands.org/">the Dialogue Society</a>, which is always open to exploring partnerships with other institutions. The London base of the Dialogue Society hosts a variety of cross-cultural lectures and round-table discussions; the West Yorkshire presence includes a girls’ school in Bradford and a set of Ph.D. students in Leeds.<br />
<br />
For Christian churches struggling to relate to Islam, the <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/gulen-movement">Gulen movement</a> is a breath of fresh air. Here are deeply committed, prayerful, intelligent Muslims, wanting to dialogue, to listen as well as proclaim, promoting human values and engaging thoughtfully yet critically with Western society. This is Islamic bridge-building, seeking mutual understanding and, through understanding, making peace.<br />
<br />
Clive Barrett, CEDO, West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #33336b; font-family: verdana, lucida, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
<b>Source: </b><a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/146">http://www.gulenmovement.com/latest-news/146</a></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175310784653492655.post-82963932639259757152012-08-17T15:33:00.000-04:002012-08-17T15:33:28.895-04:00Fethullah Gulen and Gulen Movement discussed at CSIS <div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="360" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nravVNEe484?version=3&hl=en_US"></param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param>
<param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param>
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nravVNEe484?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
[<a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a> | <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">Gulen Movement</a> | CSIS, <a href="http://csis.org/" target="_blank">Center for Strategic and International Studies</a>]<br /> <br /> Members of the Center for Strategic and International <a href="http://gulen4worldpeace.blogspot.com/#">Studies</a> gather in Washington... The topics discussed include: <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/gulen-movement" target="_blank">Gulen Movement</a> and <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/his-life" target="_blank">Fethullah Gulen</a>.<br /> <br /> The group's director Dr. Bulent Aliriza hosted the discussion... and says that the movement has grown rapidly... reaching out to the world for more than 40 years.<br /> <br /> Aliriza added that the movement, led by <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-scholar" target="_blank">Muslim scholar Fethullah Gulen</a>, provides the basic philosophy of serving people in order to serve God.<br /> <br /> Dr. Alp Aslandogan, who is a member of the board, says that the movement is especially important to the youth because they find that faith, spirituality and science can work together.<br /> <br /> The <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/fethullah-gulen/as-a-leader" target="_blank">Gulen Movement</a> makes political choices by subject, values and attitudes rather than by political parties.<br /> <br /> Members of the movement say they would like to see values such as being against corruption, democracy, and not abusing political power.<br /> <br /> Dr. Alp Aslandogan added it was impossible to pronounce an exact number for the institutions of the movement because they are prevalent in the society and the donations are made locally depending on the amount of the need.<br /> <br /> When asked why the Army was against such a movement, Dr. Alp Aslandogan explained that this was a simple case of over generalization rather than speaking in terms of the Turkish Army, we need to single out individuals within the institutions, as some high rank officers after their <a href="http://gulen4worldpeace.blogspot.com/#">retirement</a> speak about the positive effects of the <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.us/" target="_blank">Gulen Movement</a>.<br /> <br />Source: <a href="http://gulen4worldpeace.blogspot.com/2012/08/fethullah-gulen-and-gulen-movement.html" target="_blank">http://gulen4worldpeace.blogspot.com/2012/08/fethullah-gulen-and-gulen-movement.html</a><br />Video Source: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nravVNEe484" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nravVNEe484</a><br /> <br /> More videos on Fethullah Gulen & Gulen Movement:<br /> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/gulenmovement" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/gulenmovement</a><br /> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/gulen4worldpeace" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/gulen4worldpeace</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.hizmetnews.com/">Latest news</a>, <a href="http://peaceislands.org/">academic excerpts</a>, commentary, <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/published-works/book-reviews">book reviews</a> and <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/in-the-media/interviews">interviews</a> on Fethullah Gulen and Gulen Movement:<br /> <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.com/" target="_blank">http://www.gulenmovement.com</a><br /> <a href="http://www.gulenmovement.us/" target="_blank">http://www.gulenmovement.us</a><br /> <a href="http://www.hizmetnews.com/" target="_blank">http://www.hizmetnews.com</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525732734872852812noreply@blogger.com0