'Religion has a Strong and Constructive Role in Society'
By Ali H. Aslan , Houston
Published: Tuesday, November 15, 2005
zaman.com
“Islam in the Contemporary World: Fethullah Gulen Movement in Thought and Practice” was the subject of a symposium that was being held at Rice University for two days and served as a scientific and scholastic feast ended Tuesday.
During the first session of the last day titled, “Social Context of Sufism,” Zaman daily columnist Mr. Ali Bulac termed Mr. Gulen as a “civilian reformist” (islahatci) and an “iharmonizing leader” adapting a civilian Islam approach. Today in Turkey, it is impossible to conduct sociology without touching upon Mr. Gulen’s mission, Bulac claimed. "Perhaps the only contribution of Turkey to the global process is the schools and educational activities inspired by Fethullah Gulen."
Karen Fontenot from Louisiana Southern University said the Turkish Sufism Gulen represents is a “type of Islam” that could be adapted any where in the world. Along the history, the contributions made by Turkey for Islam to become a “universal religion” were also voiced by Fontenot. Heon Kim from Temple University pursuing his doctorate degree on the Gulen Movement described Mr. Gulen’s line as “Sufism without (tariqah) sect.”
At the “Islam and Democracy” session, Alp Aslandogan from the University of Texas talked about Gulen’s ideas on improving democracy in a way to satisfy one’s spiritual needs. Janse Schlubach of Central Oklahoma University shed light on the similarities between Imam Ghazali and Gulen in regard to tolerance. Greg Barton from Deakin University said some wrongly classified Gulen’s social conservatism and profound spirituality as a “civil society movement”, and his charisma as an “Islamist” or "tariqah" (religious sect); Barton also noted similar progressive Islamic social movements exist in Indonesia as well. Ian Williams from Central England University said the Gulen Movement is not an organization that can be defined in terms of a sect, pressure group or a grouping of hierarchy but it has traces of a social movement. Moderator Bekim Agai questioned how Islam and Democracy could be brought together as he pointed out that the Gulen Movement became successful in secular Central Asia but has not entered the non-secular Arab world.
Marcia Hermansen from Loyola University in Chicago at the session on “Media, dialogue and community” placed the concepts of "community" in this movement under microscope. The Movement, which has begun as a small circle around Mr. Gulen in Izmir appeared as a service to mankind in the fields of education, religious, and inter-cultural dialogue in particular as being the basic focal point of the 1990s. Today, hundreds of schools have been opened by this group, said Hermansen, spread throughout the world and their dialogue activities are expanding in a way to include America’s largest cities.
‘Gulen adopts his Sufism concept from the Quran’
Mustafa Gokcek from the University of Wisconsin emphasized that the basis of Mr. Gulen’s Sufism understanding lies in the “Quran and Sunnah”. Emphasis on the action is the greatest contribution of Mr. Gulen to Sufi literature according to Gokcek, who also said Mr. Gulen approaches many issues criticized by Orthodox Muslims with tolerance. Doctor of Theology Adnan Aslan on the other hand said Mr. Gulen has prepared a ground for a “new theological language” in line with modern conditions needed by today’s global society.
An academic assessment of the two-day symposium came from Professor Dale Eickelman. He pointed out that those who defend that religion has no role to play in modern society are mistaken; on the contrary, “religion plays a very strong and constructive role in society, the solidarity Movement in Poland, the Christian movements in Latin America, and the Gulen Movement are perfect examples, the professor said. There are many subjects regarding Gulen Movement that requires deeper research.
At a closing dinner, students received awards for their winning research projects. Jill Carroll of Boniuk Center at Rice University spoke about the success of the symposium and reiterated her warm welcome for such organizations. Individuals, who most likely would not have received an education if not for the Gulen Movement, today hold responsible positions in society and that is no small thing to achieve; it is incredible, Carroll said. Journalists Avni Ozgurel and Fehmi Koru, Professor Dogu Ergil from Turkey, and Dr. Ihsan Yilmaz from Britain attended the symposium as observers.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Symposium: slam in the Contemporary World: Fethullah Gulen Movement in Thought and Practice
'Religion has a Strong and Constructive Role in Society'
By Ali H. Aslan , Houston
Published: Tuesday, November 15, 2005
zaman.com
“Islam in the Contemporary World: Fethullah Gulen Movement in Thought and Practice” was the subject of a symposium that was being held at Rice University for two days and served as a scientific and scholastic feast ended Tuesday.
During the first session of the last day titled, “Social Context of Sufism,” Zaman daily columnist Mr. Ali Bulac termed Mr. Gulen as a “civilian reformist” (islahatci) and an “iharmonizing leader” adapting a civilian Islam approach. Today in Turkey, it is impossible to conduct sociology without touching upon Mr. Gulen’s mission, Bulac claimed. "Perhaps the only contribution of Turkey to the global process is the schools and educational activities inspired by Fethullah Gulen."
Karen Fontenot from Louisiana Southern University said the Turkish Sufism Gulen represents is a “type of Islam” that could be adapted any where in the world. Along the history, the contributions made by Turkey for Islam to become a “universal religion” were also voiced by Fontenot. Heon Kim from Temple University pursuing his doctorate degree on the Gulen Movement described Mr. Gulen’s line as “Sufism without (tariqah) sect.”
At the “Islam and Democracy” session, Alp Aslandogan from the University of Texas talked about Gulen’s ideas on improving democracy in a way to satisfy one’s spiritual needs. Janse Schlubach of Central Oklahoma University shed light on the similarities between Imam Ghazali and Gulen in regard to tolerance. Greg Barton from Deakin University said some wrongly classified Gulen’s social conservatism and profound spirituality as a “civil society movement”, and his charisma as an “Islamist” or "tariqah" (religious sect); Barton also noted similar progressive Islamic social movements exist in Indonesia as well. Ian Williams from Central England University said the Gulen Movement is not an organization that can be defined in terms of a sect, pressure group or a grouping of hierarchy but it has traces of a social movement. Moderator Bekim Agai questioned how Islam and Democracy could be brought together as he pointed out that the Gulen Movement became successful in secular Central Asia but has not entered the non-secular Arab world.
Marcia Hermansen from Loyola University in Chicago at the session on “Media, dialogue and community” placed the concepts of "community" in this movement under microscope. The Movement, which has begun as a small circle around Mr. Gulen in Izmir appeared as a service to mankind in the fields of education, religious, and inter-cultural dialogue in particular as being the basic focal point of the 1990s. Today, hundreds of schools have been opened by this group, said Hermansen, spread throughout the world and their dialogue activities are expanding in a way to include America’s largest cities.
‘Gulen adopts his Sufism concept from the Quran’
Mustafa Gokcek from the University of Wisconsin emphasized that the basis of Mr. Gulen’s Sufism understanding lies in the “Quran and Sunnah”. Emphasis on the action is the greatest contribution of Mr. Gulen to Sufi literature according to Gokcek, who also said Mr. Gulen approaches many issues criticized by Orthodox Muslims with tolerance. Doctor of Theology Adnan Aslan on the other hand said Mr. Gulen has prepared a ground for a “new theological language” in line with modern conditions needed by today’s global society.
An academic assessment of the two-day symposium came from Professor Dale Eickelman. He pointed out that those who defend that religion has no role to play in modern society are mistaken; on the contrary, “religion plays a very strong and constructive role in society, the solidarity Movement in Poland, the Christian movements in Latin America, and the Gulen Movement are perfect examples, the professor said. There are many subjects regarding Gulen Movement that requires deeper research.
At a closing dinner, students received awards for their winning research projects. Jill Carroll of Boniuk Center at Rice University spoke about the success of the symposium and reiterated her warm welcome for such organizations. Individuals, who most likely would not have received an education if not for the Gulen Movement, today hold responsible positions in society and that is no small thing to achieve; it is incredible, Carroll said. Journalists Avni Ozgurel and Fehmi Koru, Professor Dogu Ergil from Turkey, and Dr. Ihsan Yilmaz from Britain attended the symposium as observers.
By Ali H. Aslan , Houston
Published: Tuesday, November 15, 2005
zaman.com
“Islam in the Contemporary World: Fethullah Gulen Movement in Thought and Practice” was the subject of a symposium that was being held at Rice University for two days and served as a scientific and scholastic feast ended Tuesday.
During the first session of the last day titled, “Social Context of Sufism,” Zaman daily columnist Mr. Ali Bulac termed Mr. Gulen as a “civilian reformist” (islahatci) and an “iharmonizing leader” adapting a civilian Islam approach. Today in Turkey, it is impossible to conduct sociology without touching upon Mr. Gulen’s mission, Bulac claimed. "Perhaps the only contribution of Turkey to the global process is the schools and educational activities inspired by Fethullah Gulen."
Karen Fontenot from Louisiana Southern University said the Turkish Sufism Gulen represents is a “type of Islam” that could be adapted any where in the world. Along the history, the contributions made by Turkey for Islam to become a “universal religion” were also voiced by Fontenot. Heon Kim from Temple University pursuing his doctorate degree on the Gulen Movement described Mr. Gulen’s line as “Sufism without (tariqah) sect.”
At the “Islam and Democracy” session, Alp Aslandogan from the University of Texas talked about Gulen’s ideas on improving democracy in a way to satisfy one’s spiritual needs. Janse Schlubach of Central Oklahoma University shed light on the similarities between Imam Ghazali and Gulen in regard to tolerance. Greg Barton from Deakin University said some wrongly classified Gulen’s social conservatism and profound spirituality as a “civil society movement”, and his charisma as an “Islamist” or "tariqah" (religious sect); Barton also noted similar progressive Islamic social movements exist in Indonesia as well. Ian Williams from Central England University said the Gulen Movement is not an organization that can be defined in terms of a sect, pressure group or a grouping of hierarchy but it has traces of a social movement. Moderator Bekim Agai questioned how Islam and Democracy could be brought together as he pointed out that the Gulen Movement became successful in secular Central Asia but has not entered the non-secular Arab world.
Marcia Hermansen from Loyola University in Chicago at the session on “Media, dialogue and community” placed the concepts of "community" in this movement under microscope. The Movement, which has begun as a small circle around Mr. Gulen in Izmir appeared as a service to mankind in the fields of education, religious, and inter-cultural dialogue in particular as being the basic focal point of the 1990s. Today, hundreds of schools have been opened by this group, said Hermansen, spread throughout the world and their dialogue activities are expanding in a way to include America’s largest cities.
‘Gulen adopts his Sufism concept from the Quran’
Mustafa Gokcek from the University of Wisconsin emphasized that the basis of Mr. Gulen’s Sufism understanding lies in the “Quran and Sunnah”. Emphasis on the action is the greatest contribution of Mr. Gulen to Sufi literature according to Gokcek, who also said Mr. Gulen approaches many issues criticized by Orthodox Muslims with tolerance. Doctor of Theology Adnan Aslan on the other hand said Mr. Gulen has prepared a ground for a “new theological language” in line with modern conditions needed by today’s global society.
An academic assessment of the two-day symposium came from Professor Dale Eickelman. He pointed out that those who defend that religion has no role to play in modern society are mistaken; on the contrary, “religion plays a very strong and constructive role in society, the solidarity Movement in Poland, the Christian movements in Latin America, and the Gulen Movement are perfect examples, the professor said. There are many subjects regarding Gulen Movement that requires deeper research.
At a closing dinner, students received awards for their winning research projects. Jill Carroll of Boniuk Center at Rice University spoke about the success of the symposium and reiterated her warm welcome for such organizations. Individuals, who most likely would not have received an education if not for the Gulen Movement, today hold responsible positions in society and that is no small thing to achieve; it is incredible, Carroll said. Journalists Avni Ozgurel and Fehmi Koru, Professor Dogu Ergil from Turkey, and Dr. Ihsan Yilmaz from Britain attended the symposium as observers.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment