Dr. Soltes on his "Embracing the World" at Rumi Forum

(Video Duration: 15 min 55 secs)

 Ori Z. Soltes of Georgetown University speaks on his recent book, "Embracing the World: Fethullah Gulen's Thought and Its Relationship to Jalaluddin Rumi and Others."

There is a range of distinct connections that may be found between Rumi in his time and Gülen in his time—our time. Fundamentally, the former one spoke and taught and wrote and while the latter speaks and teaches and writes of issues that reach beyond themselves, because they are not time-bound.

Read more & watch the video »

Hizmet (Gulen) Movement's fields of activity

(Video Duration: 14 min 55 secs)

Dr. Dogan Koc, Executive Director of the Gulen Institute at the University of Houston, lists the Hizmet (Gulen) Movement’s fields of activity in parallel with the three enemies of the society -namely poverty, ignorance and disunity- that they are aimed to eliminate. As Koc puts it, the movement’s activities fall into three main categories; education, aid/relief and dialogue all of which are developed and run by a voluntary basis.

Read more & watch the video »

Women's involvement in Gulen Movement

(Video Duration: 11 mins 18 secs)

Suveyda Karakaya of University of Tennessee presents her paper “Women in the Hizmet Movement: Traditionalists or Modernists?” which examines the women’s involvement and attitudes towards issues surrounding their position in the movement, at the international conference "The Gulen Movement: Paradigms, Projects, and Aspirations."

Read more & watch the video »

Zeki Saritoprak speaks on Gulen Movement at Chautauqua Institution

(Video Duration: 10 mins 7 secs)

Zeki Saritoprak is the Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies at John Carroll University and delivered an interfaith lecture on Gulen and the his Hizmet movement. Saritoprak also gave a brief outline of Turkish history, from the start of the Ottoman Empire to the founding of the Republic of Turkey.

“Muslims have to establish … not religious schools, but just regular, secular high schools,” Saritoprak said, “because [Gülen believes] mathematics is talking about God, physics is talking about God, chemistry is talking about God.”

Read more & watch the video »

Fethullah Gulen - Love For Truth

(Video Duration: 10 mins. 36 secs)

Truth means the essence and reality of a thing. It is to know clearly what a thing is, what it means, and what it signifies beyond its appearance and cognition. What is the essence and reality of the human being, the universe, and all things? What do they mean, both as individuals and as a whole? What is beyond this entire existence—from atoms to nebulas, from the smallest particles of a human being to his material and spiritual depths—and their orderliness, harmony, beauty, and wisdom?

Read more & watch the video »

Gulen Movement: A shared bridge between the US and Islam - Peter J. Mehl

(Video Duration: 13 mins. 18 secs.)

Life is a shared bridge of “passing over” and “coming back.” It is a passing over to other cultures and faiths, not to disown one’s own heritage, but to come back to incorporate new wisdoms and insight into one’s own worldview. The Gülen Movement is one such bridge."

Read more & watch the video »

Fethullah Gulen, the Gulen Movement and Socrates - A comparison of perspectives on peacebuilding

The American Turkish Friendship Association (ATFA) along with the Rumi Forum – Fairfax hosted a Dialogue and Friendship Dinner: Education for Peace on Wednesday, November 28th, 2012 at the Marriott Hotel in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

A diverse group of guests including elected officials, leaders and representatives from faith communities, business, media and academia attended the dinner and distinguished speakers gave important messages on the theme of this year’s event: “Education for Peace”.

Read more & watch the video »

Fethullah Gulen - Is Religion Contrived by Human Beings?

(Video Duration: 13 mins. 31 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.

Will Religion, Supposedly Developed by "Primitive" People to Explain the Unknown, Eventually Become Unnecessary?

Read more & watch the video »

Fethullah Gulen - Who is God? Why Can't We See Him?

(Video Duration: 12 mins. 58 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 Can't We See God?

Read more & watch the video »

Fethullah Gulen - Why did God Create the Universe?

(Video Duration: 12 mins. 13 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 the Universe?

Read more & watch the video »

Fethullah Gulen - Intention

(Video Duration: 11 mins. 29 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.

Can Our Intentions Save Us?

Read more & watch the video »

Fethullah Gulen - Manner and Time of Death

(Video Duration: 15 mins.)

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.

Are Manner and Moment of Death Predetermined?

Read more & watch the video »

Peacebuilding through Education Conference - Highlights

(Video Duration: 13 mins. 34 secs.)

The Fountain magazine and the Peace Islands Institute organized "Peacebuilding through Education: Challenges, Opportunities, Cases" conference on September 24, 2012, in New York. This video is a brief footage of highlights from the event. Gulen-inspired schools and Gulen movement educational initiatives were discussed by education ministers and intellectuals some of whom traveled from around the world.

Below you may find an excerpt of Fethullah Gulen's message to the conference:

Read more & watch the video »

Gulen Movement - An Example to the 'Committed Core' in Promoting Peace through Education

(Video Duration: 19 mins. 3 secs.)

Alp Aslandogan, Ph.D.

An international group of educators and convened for the inaugural "Peacebuilding Through Education" summit sponsored by Fountain Magazine, the Peace Islands Institute and co-sponsored by regional universities as well as the Alliance for Shared Values. The goal of the summit was to show how lessons of tolerance, understanding and intercultural respect can be woven into classroom curriculum or extracurricular activities. Throughout the day, speakers offered insights and strategies for building character in the classroom and creating a safe learning environment to incubate future leaders of more peaceful communities.

Read more & watch the video »

Gulen Movement and Peacebuilding through Education

(Video Duration: 14 mins. 18 secs.)

Ihsan Yilmaz, Ph.D.

Last week New York City hosted the United Nations General Assembly, the Clinton Global Initiative and the Education Nation conference. These massive events focus on international diplomacy and peace, societal problem-solving and improving classroom instruction. However, just a few blocks away from these grand assemblies, a smaller group met for the first time to tackle all these issues with a single, bold strategy.

Organized by The Fountain and Peace Islands Institute, the conference featured a number of distinguished speakers from the United States and abroad. Among the government representatives were Rochelle Hendricks, the Secretary of Higher Education of New Jersey, Armin Altamirano Luistro, Secretary of the Department of Education in the Philippines, and Tanzania Minister of Education Shukuru Jumanne Kawambwa.

Below, you may find Dr. Ihsan Yilmaz's presentation titled: Peacebuilding through Education: A Perspective on the Hizmet Movement:

Read more & watch the video »

Fethullah Gulen's Alternative to the Dialectic Humanity

(Video Duration: 19 mins. 23 secs. )

Heon C. Kim, Ph.D.

Dr. Heon C. Kim of Temple University presents his paper at the conference Preventing Violence and Achieving World Peace: The Contributions of the Gulen Movement, held by the Rumi Forum on Oct. 29, 2009 at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Read more & watch the video »

Islam = Peace

(Video Duration: 17 mins. 47 secs.)

A brief documentary that covers the 7/7 attacks in England, and the true teachings of Islam. The video also discusses how education might be a remedy for such unacceptable acts.

Read more & watch the video »

Fethullah Gulen's Ideals & Gulen Movement's Mission - An overview

(Video Duration: 11 mins. 21 secs.)

Fethullah Gulen is an authoritative mainstream Turkish Muslim scholar, thinker, author, poet, opinion leader and educational activist who supports interfaith and intercultural dialogue, science, democracy and spirituality and opposes violence and turning religion into a political ideology. Fethullah Gülen promotes cooperation of civilizations toward a peaceful world, as opposed to a clash:

Read more & watch the video »