Hizmet Movement’s stance on the recent issues in Turkey

Video Duration (4 min. 52 secs.)

On Feb. 17, 2014, gathering in Istanbul at a meeting organized by Turkish Review and Hira magazines, Arab and Turkish intellectuals have discussed the role of the state in Muslim societies and agreed that Islamist politicians have lost their test with power, as they were transformed by the state instead of transforming the state.

Mustafa Yesil, President of the Journalists and Writers Foundation, speaks on the Hizmet Movement’s stance on the recent issues in Turkey:

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Leo Lefebure on Fethullah Gulen and Gulen Movement

(Video Duration: 4 mins 10 secs)

Prof. Leo Lefebure of Georgetown University shared his views of the Gulen Movement, in the light of his experiences with the movement’s participants in multiple countries, namely Australia, India and Turkey. Among all, one aspect of the movement he has been particularly impressed with is its emphasis on high quality education along with  efforts to make it available to those who, otherwise, wouldn’t be able to afford it. Second was the generosity of Hizmet (Gulen Movement) participants, which Lefebure has witnessed in person.

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Gulen Movement in its Private and Public Domain - Prof. Martin van Bruinessen

(Video Duration: 4 mins 56 secs)

The presentation of Prof. Martin van Bruinessen from Utrecht University, the Netherlands, comprises two parts: In part one, he characterizes Muslim Brotherhood as a faith-based movement. In part two, he attempts to compare and contrast Muslim Brotherhood with the Gülen Movement and offers their similarities and dissimilarities (if applicable).

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Quality of Gulen Movement Schools - Ruth Woodhall

(Video Duration: 4 mins 20 secs)

“This study is based on my own experience of working within the movement in a number of different locations and roles over a period of almost eight years, I offer for consideration the view that it is only the remarkable harmony between Gülen’s philosophy of education and the cultural practice of his followers which can explain adequately the continuing growth and success of the movement. It is my contention that Gülen is the unusual individual who is able to work with multiple paradigms simultaneously and this is one of the reasons that he has such extraordinary influence and leadership capacity.”

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Love is A Verb - Forthcoming Documentary on the Gulen Movement

(Video Duration: 4 min 52 secs)

Love Is A Verb is an examination of a social movement of Sufi-inspired Sunni Muslims that began in Turkey in the l960s and now spans across the globe. The group is called Hizmet, the Turkish word for “service” or The Gülen Movement after its inspiration and teacher, Fethullah Gülen, a man TIME magazine named as one of the most influential leaders in the world in 2013 for “…preaching a message of tolerance.”

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Gulen Institute, Niagara Foundation and IDC Spreading Positive Social Message in the US

(Video Duration: 4 mins 20 secs)

In the US, among many-- three prominent Turkish American groups affiliated with the Gulen Movement  as well played a significant role in carrying themes of dialogue, friendship and tolerance as organizations across the world work tirelessly to build bridges between religions and across cultures.

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Intellectual Dimension of the Gulen Movement - Pim Valkenberg

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 25 secs)

Pim Valkenberg presents his analysis on whether a difference exists between esoteric and exoteric forms of discourse that the Gulen Movement communicates. His analysis intends to bring facts-that the movement is addressing to diverse communities and profiles and the discourse is necessarily modified -to light in an answer to the claim that the movement has a double agenda.

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Gulen Movement’s Financial Sources by Dr. Ebaugh

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 24 secs.)

Dr. Helen Rose Ebaugh answers one of the oft-voiced questions on the Gulen Movement: "Who is/are financing the movement’s projects?” or, as she straightforwardly puts it, “Where is the money coming from?”

Making references to her book, “The Gülen Movement: A Sociological Analysis of a Civic Movement Rooted in Moderate Islam” based on first-person interviews with supporters of the movement in Turkey and in the U.S. and visits to Gülen-inspired schools, hospitals, newspapers and relief organizations, Dr. Ebaugh presents a clear and concise profile of the movement’s donors and their motives for donating.

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Fethullah Gulen's Philosophy Gives Rise to Peace and Understanding

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 40 secs.)

Betsy Carr

A member of the Virginia House of Delegates, Betsy B. Carr speaks at the Rumi Forum and ATFA 2012 Dialogue Dinner to which a diverse group of guests including elected officials, leaders and representatives from faith communities, business, media and academia attended on November 28, 2012 at the Marriott Hotel in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

Highlighting the importance of the ideas and work of Fethullah Gulen, Delegate Carr later mentioned her trip to Turkey which "remains one of the most memorable and profound experiences not only of [her] ten-year legislation but of [her] entire life:"

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Fethullah Gulen - Why Are Some People Created ''More Equal'' Than Others?

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 49 secs.)

Islam, probably the most misunderstood religion in the world, is among the hot reading topics for people all over the world. Questions and Answers about Islam Vol. 1 and 2 have been prepared to provide first-hand information from one of the most leading Islamic scholars of our time. In this book, Fethullah Gülen, sensitive to the real questions people have - the questions given rise to by the modern age - has tried, through patient argument, to answer people's doubts and questions.

Why did God Create Humans Different?

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Fethullah Gulen - The Balance Between Physicality and Spirituality

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 38 secs.)

The true life is the one lived at the spiritual level. Those whose hearts are alive, conquering the past and the future, cannot be contained by time. Such people are never excessively distressed by sorrows of the past or anxieties of the future. Those who cannot experience full existence in their hearts, and thus lead banal, shallow lives, are always gloomy and inclined to hopelessness. They consider the past a horrifying grave, and the future an endless well. It is torment if they die, and it is torment if they survive.

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Culture of Coexistence

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 52 secs.)

We’re now one global family. As a matter of fact, we’ve always been one human family, sons of daughters of same parents, Adam and Eve.

The awareness and commitment of serving all people regardless of race, color, religion or nationality…

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Fethullah Gulen - Addiction to Comfort

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 37 secs.)

Every noble cause and truth will gain constancy and a universal identity by its adherents' determination to protect it and their devotion to it. If those who have embraced that cause and truth are not perceptive, faithful, and persevering, that which they have embraced eventually will be erased from human memory by the hostility of its determined enemies.

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Fethullah Gulen - Holding One's Tongue

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 06 secs.)

Talking too much is a personality defect stemming from mental and spiritual imbalance. Use precise words that do not confuse the listener's mind and do not use more words than necessary to convey the intended message. Indeed using many words may even be harmful for the more words you use the greater the chance of contradiction which will confuse the listener even more. This development will not benefit the listener; on the contrary it will work to his or her detriment.

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Fethullah Gulen - Upbringing

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 19 secs.)

The future of every individual is closely related to the impressions and influences experienced during childhood and youth. If children and young people are brought up in a climate where their enthusiasm is stimulated with higher feelings they will have vigorous minds and display good morals and virtues.

Little attention and importance is given to teaching cultural values although they are essential to education. When we give them their deserved importance we shall have reached a major objective.

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Fethullah Gulen - Clarity About Aims and Means

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 30 secs.)

We must be as precise as possible about the aim and object of any project that we undertake. If we do so we will not so to speak fall between the objectives. In our particular service if we do not direct our spirits to a definite aim our thoughts will collapse into a whirl of confusion and we will become their powerless playthings.

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Fethullah Gulen - Keeping Secrets

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 14 secs.)

Guarding a secret is the same as guarding one's chastity. Those who keep a secret whether personal or a friend's keep themselves chaste. Conversely those who spread secrets damage their honor and reputation by leaving them unguarded.

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Followers of Fethullah Gulen seek to build up the human community

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 31 secs.)

Leo Lefebure, Ph.D.

Prof. Leo Lefebure of Georgetown University speaks at Annual Intercultural Shared Iftar (fast-breaking Dinner) held by Rumi Forum of Washington D.C.

According to him, we all can get so used to routines, and fasting exerts a call to attention for not only Muslims, but followers of other religious paths as well. He shares how Islamic faith calls him to stop and think "what do I worship functionally in my life?"

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The Gulen Movement - Civic Engagement, Efficacy and Success

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 54 secs.)

Muhammed Cetin, Ph.D.

Sociological Approaches to the Hizmet Movement was the topic of the fifth panel at the “International Conference on the Gulen Movement: Paradigms, Projects, Aspirations” held at the International House of University of Chicago in 2010.

In the panel, Dr. Muhammed Cetin of the East Stroudsburg University, Pennsylvania presented his paper titled The Gulen Movement - Civic Engagement, Efficacy and Success. Below are some excerpts from Dr. Cetin’s presentation:

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Fethullah Gulen as a model and his approach to "the other"

(Video Duration: 4 mins. 1 sec.)

Martin Marty, Ph.D.

Hizmet Movement and Civic Engagement was the topic of the second panel at the “International Conference on the Gulen Movement: Paradigms, Projects, Aspirations” held at the International House of University of Chicago in 2010.

In the panel, Dr. Martin Marty of the University of Chicago presented his paper on The Risks and Promise of “Engagement” in Gulen’s Writings. Below are some excerpts from Dr. Marty’s presentation:

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