FETHULLAH GULEN - A TRUE DEDICATION TO PEACE

THE GULEN MOVEMENT - PEACE AND DIALOG
Tolerance and dialogue are among the most basic and broad dynamics of the Gülen movement. These two concepts, first developed on a small scale, have turned into a search for a culture of reconciliation on a world scale. Today, the idea of different groups peacefully living together is a philosophical issue that modern states are trying to formulate. The international relations of past empires were founded on conflict and war. Different civilizations were separated by thick walls, which were supported by political, ideological, and religious identities.

The Gülen movement is a clear example of a search, a search that has reached international proportions. Gülen strengthens this search with religious, legal, and philosophical foundations. One of the basic aims of the global education activities is to form bridges that will lead to dialogue between religions and civilizations. The long-lasting wars of the past had to do with the problem of power balance that reigned in the international relations of the day. This was probably the case for all political empires and religious formations of the past. But today, humanity is not in a position to shoulder such a conflict on the global scale. According to Gülen, Muslims today should not shape their own cultural, social, and existential identities according to destructive values which are rooted in conflict and fight; these are not aligned with the universal value system of Islam, in which peace, dialogue, and tolerance are the basic principles. Today, humanity is not in a position to bear a conflict on the global scale.



Mar 22, 2011

Gulen Movement: Promoting Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation

Jannah Scott*

I was recently privileged to give the keynote address at the 6th Annual Intercultural Dialogue event sponsored by the Multicultural Mosaic Foundation (MMF) in Denver. The address was attended by Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, 25 Colorado state senators and representatives and more than 100 government, faith, community and business leaders.

Inspired by Turkish Muslim scholar, educator and peace activist Fethullah Gulen, MMF is one of 215 volunteer organizations affiliated with the Washington, DC-based Turkic American Alliance. MMF hosts annual events with state and local elected officials, nongovernmental organizations and others to promote dialogue and interfaith cooperation that leads to action.

One of President Obama’s key priorities for his Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships initiative is to promote interfaith dialogue and cooperation. The US Department of Homeland Security and its Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships supports this priority through events such as this and other efforts at home and abroad. For example, an important result of the address was that Colorado Director of Homeland Security Larry Trujillo and members of MMF agreed to work together to establish an interfaith/intercultural team of volunteers to promote emergency preparedness and to support first responders in times of crisis incidents.

Director Trujillo said that we are all safer when we work together with the communities we serve, and our partners in the Federal government. He added that he looks forward to expanding the homeland security team in Colorado through partnerships with faith-based and neighborhood groups like the MMF.

Attorney General Suthers said, “Groups like MMF help us build bridges in our community that might not otherwise be built. I applaud the work of MMF in promoting understanding across cultures and faiths for the common good and our federal colleagues for recognizing such efforts.”

MMF Board President Ismail Akbulut said, “Mirroring MMF's own principles of fostering interfaith dialogue, cooperation and understanding, Dr. Scott provided an inspirational vision for the future of our nation and abroad. We believe the alignment of priorities between the Administration, MMF and other similar organizations establishes a social foundation that is ripe for ushering in a new era of collaboration amidst differences.”

The DHS Center is committed to turning dialogue into interfaith service.

* Jannah Scott serves as the Deputy Director at the DHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Published on The White House Blog, 10 March 2011, Thursday

No comments:

Post a Comment