Friday, November 22, 2013

The Concept of Ikhlas in the Gulen Movement - Fr. Thomas Michel

(Video Duration: 6  mins. 12 secs)

In his two-part presentation, Georgetown University professor Thomas Michel focuses, first, on Fethullah Gulen’s use of the Qur’an and the hadith, which he asserts what Gulen elaborates on as foundations of his belief and acts as opposed to those claiming he is innovating new ideas. In the second part, he moves on to “Gulen with regard to Sufism”, the school that Gulen both distinguishes himself from and has a lot in common with.

The one-day international conference reflects different dimensions of the Gülen Movement, which originated in Turkey and then expanded throughout the world. International experts discuss the movement from the following viewpoints: theological, intellectual, financial, structural, political, gender, and sociocultural. This multidimensional approach provides useful pointers about this transnational movement. The Gülen Movement, also called the Volunteers Movement, is rooted in the teachings of Muslim scholar M. Fethullah Gülen. The movement's messages and praxis are discussed and reflected on, and its organization and accomplishments, including its resonance thoroughly analyzed. By focusing on its seven dimensions, this interdisciplinary conference contributes to a comprehensive view of one of the most widely discussed societal programs in the contemporary world.

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