Religious Leaders Discuss Interfaith Dialogue After 9/11

(Video Duration: 3 min 46 secs)

Ten years after 9/11, community and religious leaders acknowledge that more needs to be done to promote understanding between different religious communities in the US. Speakers at the "Into the Light", multifaith conversation at Princeton University on Thursday included a Sikh American filmmaker, a Rabbi, an Imam and a Presbyterian minister.

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Annabel Hertz on Fethullah Gulen and Hizmet Movement

(Video Duration: 3 min 15 secs) 

Annabel Hertz, the author of Seeing Green, shares her reflections on Fethullah Gulen and Hizmet Movement. Herzt points to Gulen’s humility, as a role model, and his messages regarding openness,
tolerance and community that resonate beyond religious orientation and find a home among a wide ranging audience from diverse faiths. She further touches on Hizmet’s role in revitalizing education and enriching the state’s efforts for social services, cohesion and education.

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Dr. Conway on Fethullah Gulen and Hizmet

(Video Duration: 3 min 46 secs)

Dr. Trudy Conway, professor of philosophy at Mount Saint Mary's University, Maryland, spoke to Rumi Forum on Fethullah Gulen and Hizmet (popularly known as Gulen Movement.)

“What I am most impressed by is the extent to which his teachings have been appropriated in the lives of people who are very devoted to the principles and truths he espouses.”

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Fethullah Gulen's strategic defamation

(Video Duration: 3 mins 4 secs)

In his presentation based on his paper and book entitled "Strategic Defamation of Fethullah Gulen: Turkish vs English" which argues the defamation efforts happen in a campaign manner not randomly, Dogan Koc of Cairo University analyzes references of the articles and books which offer totally contradicting pictures of Gulen based on the based sources.

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Gulen Movement: A Movement of Volunteers - S. A. Tekalan

(Video Duration: 3 mins 49 secs)

“The volunteers involved in this movement conduct activities geared toward promoting dialogue that bring all social sections closer together, with a particular emphasis on education; today such activities are extensively organized in various parts of the world. To this end, educational institutions have been established world-wide, offering new opportunities for different nations, with no political motives whatsoever being involved. This movement rejects the idea of the clash of civilizations, and aims to live in a peaceful world; departing from the principle of simply accepting everyone as they are, national and international meetings have been organized to discuss the issues and problems that present, or likely to present obstacles to an atmosphere of peaceful cohabitation and coexistence from developing.”

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Niagara Foundation 2009 Peace and Dialog Awards

(Video Duration: 3 mins 54 secs)

The Niagara Foundation, founded by Turkish Americans in Chicago, has awarded individuals who have devoted themselves to promoting mutual understanding, peace, dialog, community service and education in the Chicagoland area at the fourth Peace and Dialog Awards called Honoring the Heroes of Chicago. The event took place at the University Club of Chicago.

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Joel Rainey Reflects on Gulen Movement's Cross-Cultural Contributions and Anti-Violence Stance

(Video Duration: 3 mins 20 sec)

Director of missions for the Mid-Maryland Baptist Association Joel Rainey speaks at the 4th Annual Dialogue Dinner hosted by Maryland Turkish American Inhabitants (MARTI).

Based on his first-hand observations during the intercultural dialogue trip by MARTI to Turkey, Rainey shares the insights he has gained as to what is being achieved in that part of the world in the name of dialogue and what characterize Gulen Movement and, as Baltimore diverse faith communities, how they can benefit from them. Additionally, seeing the firm stance of the Muslims in the region in general and the Gulen Movement participants in particular against Islam’s association with violence, Rainey regrettably concludes faith is misused but people of faith can overcome the misunderstandings and assumptions it creates by listening to each other.

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The Atlantic interviews Fethullah Gulen

(Video Duration: 3 mins 13 secs)

Fethullah Gulen is one of the most important Muslim clerics alive today. Throughout his life, Gulen served as a model for interfaith dialogue and encouraged ideas to overcome ignorance, prejudice and misunderstanding. But, one hardly ever sees the world renowned scholar in public. Since 1999, he has been in a self-imposed exile in the Poconos. Major media networks and journalists have tried to interview him but were denied. It's a rare opportunity that Australian-born journalist Jamie Tarabay managed to secure.

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Mobilization and Organization in Gulen Movement - Muhammed Cetin

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 42 secs)

In an attempt to present the structural dimensions of the Gulen Movement, Dr. Muhammed Cetin delivers his presentation offering answers to how the movement mobilizes, what kind of institutions are set up, how they are governed and how the ideas diffuse. And finally the most frequently raised question “What exactly is the role of Fethullah Gulen?”, which he answers quoting from Gulen.

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Structure and Operation of Gulen Movement Prof. Johan Leman

(Video Duration: 3 mins 43 secs)

The Gulen Chair holder at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, Prof. Johan Leman presents his analysis of the Gulen Movement, based on his studies and observations in his native country Belgium.

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Gulen Institute Youth Platform - Award Ceremony 2011

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 41 secs.)

In order to promote positive social change, the Gulen Institute invited young people to consider crucial issues facing the world today. The institute's Youth Platform, an international essay contest open to all high school students, attracted more than 600 entries from students from 53 countries and 35 states in the U.S.

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Fethullah Gulen - Love Of Position

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 50 secs.)

Each individual has the seeds of virtue as well as the potential for evil. Such undesirable characteristics as passion and the desire to show off exist alongside such good qualities as sincerity, altruism, and self-sufficiency. We should take all these qualities into account when considering human nature so that we will not be disappointed.

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Fethullah Gulen - The Rights of Children

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 19 secs.)

A child has the same meaning for humanity's continuation as a seed for a forest's continued growth and multiplication. People who neglect their children decay gradually and those who abandon them to a foreign culture risk losing their identity.

Children form the most active and productive part of a community after every thirty or forty years. Those who ignore their young children should consider how important an element of their own community's life they are disregarding and then shudder.

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Fethullah Gulen - Humanity

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 46 secs.)

When interacting with others always regard whatever pleases and displeases yourself as the measure. Desire for others what your own ego desires and do not forget that whatever conduct displeases you will displease others. If you do this you will be safe not only from misconduct and bad behavior but also from hurting others.

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Fethullah Gulen - Tolerance

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 55 secs.)

Be so tolerant that your heart becomes wide like the ocean. Become inspired with faith and love for others. Offer a hand to those in trouble and be concerned about everyone.

Applaud the good for their goodness appreciate those who have believing hearts and be kind to believers. Approach unbelievers so gently that their envy and hatred melt away. Like a Messiah revive people with your breath.

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Fethullah Gulen - Humility

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 54 secs.)

Those who are humble and modest are highly regarded in the sight of both the created and the Creator. Those who are haughty and self-conceited who belittle others and put on arrogant airs are always disliked by the created and punished by the Creator.

Self-conceit shows a lack of sensibility and maturity. Those who are more reflective and spiritually mature have the sense to attribute whatever gifts they may have to the Creator the Most High and devote themselves to Him with humble gratitude.

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Fethullah Gulen - The Rights of Parents

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 18 secs.)

Respect of parents is a primary and sacred obligation. If you do not respect your parents you are disobeying God Almighty. Those who treat their parents badly eventually are treated badly by others.

From the very moment of conception a growing and developing child is a care and responsibility for its parents. One cannot estimate the depth of attachment and compassion parents feel for their children or calculate the troubles and hardships they endure because of them. For this reason respecting parents is a debt of human gratitude as well as a religious obligation.

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Fethullah Gulen - Man

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 9 secs.)

Each individual is equipped with sublime emotions has a natural disposition toward virtue and is fascinated with eternity. Even the most wretched-looking person has a rainbow-like atmosphere in his or her spirit comprised of the thought of eternity love of beauty and virtuous feeling. If people can develop these most basic inherent elements of their being they can rise to the highest ranks of humanity and attain eternity.

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Fethullah Gulen says, Hizmet movement should not be attributed to him alone

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 58 secs.)

Fethullah Gulen

Fethullah Gülen himself never approves and never uses the terms “Gülen Movement” or “Gülen Community.” He prefers the action to be called “the Volunteers’ Service” because this does not connote any contentious otherness, political separatism or a conflictual front. He insists that the Movement does not and must not involve conflict, and that the volunteers’ service must be offered within a certain framework of principles.

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There is so much to write about the Hizmet Movement

(Video Duration: 3 mins. 41 secs.)

Karen Fontenot, Ph.D.

Dr. Karen Fontenot* speaking at the dinner reception of the conference Mapping the Gülen Movement: A Multidimensional Approach in Amsterdam, October 7, 2010:

“This was one of the most informative and provocative and useful conferences on the issue I have been to up to date. I’ve been involved in the movement since 2005, and I’m fortunate to live with my coauthor, my husband Dr. Michael Fontenot, and we were asked to present a paper at that conference in 2005 at Rice University. After we were finished, I told Mike: ‘This was such an interesting topic, it’s a shame there is nothing more to write about.’ Well five years ago, we were just finding out we just hit the surface.

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