September 6, 2013

Gülen’s ideal: Building bridges between Islam and the West

Helen R. Ebaugh

A major focus of Mr. Gülen’s teaching is the need to create bridges between the Muslim world and the West, along with the importance of synthesizing scientific and technological advances in contemporary Muslim society. He believes that just Turks played a pivotal religious and cultural role under the Ottomans for centuries, Turkey is now poised to lead the Muslim world into the twentieth and twenty first centuries with emphasis on tolerance, dialog, science and education. While Mr. Gülen believes that there is only one authentic Islam based on the Qur’an and traditions of the Prophet, he recognizes the different historical, cultural and social interpretations of Islam in the modern world.

Alevi, Sunni businessmen will finance joint prayer complex

The first joint mosque-cemevi (Alevi house of worship) project in Turkey will be financed by businessmen from both parties, the head of the Hacı Bektaş Veli Culture, Education, Health and Research Foundation, Kemal Kaya, said on Thursday.

Mosque and cemevi in the same complex

Last year deputies from the Republican People's Party (CHP) demanded the opening of a cemevi on the grounds of Parliament, and that demand created much controversy.