October 20, 2013

Eid al-Adha in Rio

Sahin Alpay

I spent the second week of October in Brazil. What took me there was an invitation from a foundation founded by the former Brazilian President, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, for me to give a talk on Turkey’s domestic and foreign politics, in Sao Paulo.

Beginnings and Endings: Fethullah Gülen's Vision for Today's World

Beginnings and Endings: Fethullah Gülen's Vision for Today's World
Wagner's book explores the way that Fethullah Gülen, in his extensive writings, lays out a vision for humanity to make the most of its time on earth as the end times near. Wagner shows how Gülen uses his deep understanding of both Islamic faith and our modern times to lay out a path for humans to co-exist and live peacefully during their brief lifetimes. In this way, not only can humanity create a better world "here and now," fulfilling their destiny as "viceregents on earth," but they can best prepare for life in the hereafter. Instead of taking an apocalyptic view of the world, where religions and ideologies clash, Gülen believes that people of faith and good intentions can work together to make a more peaceful, prosperous world.