Cemil Genç
Fethullah Gülen has stated that society’s three greatest enemies are ignorance, poverty, and internal schism (separatism) and inspired people to consider applying some practical solutions.
February 4, 2012
February 3, 2012
Pakistani loyalty: 100 thousand dollars donated to Van
Kimse Yok Mu
Punjab, the most crowded state in Pakistan with a population of 79 million, donated 100 thousand dollars to Van. KYM President Ünal Özturk received the check.
Volunteer doctors have conquered the hearts of Libyan patients
Kimse Yok Mu
KYM volunteer doctors are working in East African countries, such as Somalia and Uganda, and in Libya their works became a solution for patients in need.
February 2, 2012
Support for democracy
Mahmut Övür, Sabah
Turkey is currently witnessing a fierce struggle for democratization, and Turkey’s important dynamic powers such as the Gülen movement -- followers of Fethullah Gülen, an Islamic scholar -- left-wing groups and liberal democrats strongly support this.
Turkey is currently witnessing a fierce struggle for democratization, and Turkey’s important dynamic powers such as the Gülen movement -- followers of Fethullah Gülen, an Islamic scholar -- left-wing groups and liberal democrats strongly support this.
Philippines Ambassador makes a thankful visit
Kimse Yok Mu
The Philippines Ambassador Marilyn J Alarilla paid a thankful visit to Kimse Yok Mu for its assistance in the Mindanao region of the Philippines which has suffered a flood disaster.
The Philippines Ambassador Marilyn J Alarilla paid a thankful visit to Kimse Yok Mu for its assistance in the Mindanao region of the Philippines which has suffered a flood disaster.
February 1, 2012
Fethullah Gülen: Even democracy needs a metaphysical dimension
Rainer Hermann
Western World is disputing with Islam. Muslims also have some responsibility for this attitude: the Taliban is practicing the 'stoning sentence' and burning the schools for girls; al-Qaida claims Islam as a support for terrorism. On the other hand, like in Christianity, there are different interpretations in Islam but the West carelessly speaks about a single Islam. This problem will not be resolved until Muslims resolve their own issues and West meets with the different interpretations of Islam that has developed around the world.
One of such interpretations is the Turkish Islam. No other country with Muslim population embraced secularism as one of the fundamental principles of the state. Unlike Egypt and Algeria, Islam always remained a peaceful faith in Turkey. Turkey is Fethullah Gulen's country. Gulen, who is called 'Hodja Efendi' by his sympathizers, is an inspiration for people in Turkey and abroad. Gulen Movement is an apolitical, social movement.
Western World is disputing with Islam. Muslims also have some responsibility for this attitude: the Taliban is practicing the 'stoning sentence' and burning the schools for girls; al-Qaida claims Islam as a support for terrorism. On the other hand, like in Christianity, there are different interpretations in Islam but the West carelessly speaks about a single Islam. This problem will not be resolved until Muslims resolve their own issues and West meets with the different interpretations of Islam that has developed around the world.
One of such interpretations is the Turkish Islam. No other country with Muslim population embraced secularism as one of the fundamental principles of the state. Unlike Egypt and Algeria, Islam always remained a peaceful faith in Turkey. Turkey is Fethullah Gulen's country. Gulen, who is called 'Hodja Efendi' by his sympathizers, is an inspiration for people in Turkey and abroad. Gulen Movement is an apolitical, social movement.
January 31, 2012
The Imam: Fethullah Gulen in the Western Media
More than a decade after Fethullah Gulen moved to the US, three articles appeared in the Western media in 2010 providing a closer look to the life of Gulen, and the movement he inspired. One was written by Suzy Hensen and published in The New Republic on November 10, 2010. The other appeared in The Wall Street Journal on June 4, 2010 right after the Gaza flotilla incident. Another comprehensive article was published in The Time magazine on April 26, 2010. Aside from being the only three major articles that appeared in the western media covering Fethullah Gulen, all three articles had one common word in their titles: Surprisingly it was not Gulen's name, but the term "imam".
Time Magazine called Gulen "The Turkish Imam" whereas The Wall Street Journal referred to him as "Reclusive Turkish Imam", and finally The New Republic went with "The Global Imam". So what does "imam" mean, and why did such prestigious media choose to call Gulen "the imam"? This note provides a little analysis on the perception of Fethullah Gulen in the Western media and suggests alternative terms that could better define and describe him.
Time Magazine called Gulen "The Turkish Imam" whereas The Wall Street Journal referred to him as "Reclusive Turkish Imam", and finally The New Republic went with "The Global Imam". So what does "imam" mean, and why did such prestigious media choose to call Gulen "the imam"? This note provides a little analysis on the perception of Fethullah Gulen in the Western media and suggests alternative terms that could better define and describe him.
January 30, 2012
What does the Gülen movement stand for?
Şahin Alpay
Last week I was invited to speak at a panel organized for the occasion of the publication of Muslim scholar and preacher Fethullah Gülen's new book “Yaşatma İdeali” (The Ideal of Serving Mankind), in which he explains the main principles of the faith-based social movement serving the nation and the mankind he has inspired.
On that panel, in the hope of contributing to a better understanding and appreciation of the movement, I presented as follows an assessment of it from a social science perspective.
I am not at all a religious person. I do, however, respect religions and religious people. I believe religious beliefs are coexistent with life, because human beings have spiritual as well as material needs and that they are, if not the only main source of moral principles that help societies stay together. I respect religious beliefs, but regard at the same time, the fight against dogmatic and oppressive interpretations of religions that infuse animosity between people as one of the main challenges of mankind. I deeply respect Fethullah Gülen's understanding of Islam, which rejects dogmaticism and teaches love and respect between human beings. I have expressed my respect for Gülen and his work, not just since 2002 writing for the Zaman and later Today's Zaman daily newspapers, which are products of the faith-based social movement he has inspired, but since 1995, while I was writing for the daily Milliyet, which is one of the bastions of Kemalism, that is authoritarian secular nationalism in the Turkish media.
On that panel, in the hope of contributing to a better understanding and appreciation of the movement, I presented as follows an assessment of it from a social science perspective.
I am not at all a religious person. I do, however, respect religions and religious people. I believe religious beliefs are coexistent with life, because human beings have spiritual as well as material needs and that they are, if not the only main source of moral principles that help societies stay together. I respect religious beliefs, but regard at the same time, the fight against dogmatic and oppressive interpretations of religions that infuse animosity between people as one of the main challenges of mankind. I deeply respect Fethullah Gülen's understanding of Islam, which rejects dogmaticism and teaches love and respect between human beings. I have expressed my respect for Gülen and his work, not just since 2002 writing for the Zaman and later Today's Zaman daily newspapers, which are products of the faith-based social movement he has inspired, but since 1995, while I was writing for the daily Milliyet, which is one of the bastions of Kemalism, that is authoritarian secular nationalism in the Turkish media.
January 29, 2012
God in the details
Lisa Van Wyk
The Süleymaniye Mosque was built more than 500 years ago, and it is rare to find modern buildings that demonstrate the same meticulous and time-consuming craftsmanship. South Africans will soon be able to experience first-hand the attention to detail and proportion that is so characteristic of Ottoman design.
The Süleymaniye Mosque was built more than 500 years ago, and it is rare to find modern buildings that demonstrate the same meticulous and time-consuming craftsmanship. South Africans will soon be able to experience first-hand the attention to detail and proportion that is so characteristic of Ottoman design.
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