Fethullah Gulen Tolerance, Dialogue and Peace
The basic values that mark the twenty-first century are modernism, pluralism, individualism, and religion. Some claim that modernity embraces individual and social life as a whole, and that it has created new forms of religious, cultural, and political pluralism. There is no doubt that the world today is in need of dialogue between cultures and civilizations more than at any other time; this is of the utmost urgency for all thinkers, educators, policy-makers and social entrepreneurs.
Fethullah Gulen believes the road to justice and real global peace is dependent on the provision of an adequate and appropriate universal education. Only then will there be sufficient understanding and tolerance to secure respect for the rights of others. To this end, he has, over the quarter century, encouraged the social elite and community leaders, powerful industrialists as well as small businessmen, to support quality education that is deem to cherish pluralism, democracy, and universal values. With donations from these sources, educational trusts have been able to establish many schools, both in Turkey and abroad.
Fethullah Gulen has stated that in the modern world the only way to get others to accept your ideas is by persuasion. He describes those who resort to force as being intellectually bankrupt; people will always demand freedom of choice in the way they run their affairs and in their expression of their spiritual and religious values. Democracy,Fethullah Gulen argues, in spite of its many shortcomings, is now the only viable political system, and people should strive to modernize and consolidate democratic institutions in order to build a society where individual rights and freedoms are respected and protected, where equal opportunity for all is more than a dream.
Fethullah GulenFethullah Gulen, in his press release denouncing the September 11th terrorist attacks on the USA,, he said, “. . . terror can never be used in the name of Islam or for the sake of any Islamic ends. A terrorist cannot be a Muslim and a Muslim cannot be a terrorist. A Muslim can only be the representative and symbol of peace, welfare, and prosperity.”
Fethullah Gulen, in his one of the collection, writes: Fethullah Gulen
Fend off evil with goodness and ignore rudeness! The attitude of a person reveals their character. Favor tolerance and be magnanimous toward those who do not know better. The most distinctive feature of a soul overflowing with faith is to love all love that is expressed in deeds and to feel enmity for all deeds in which enmity is expressed. To hate everything is a sign of insanity or of infatuation with Satan.
Be as vast as the oceans and take every soul to your bosom! Let faith keep you alert, cherish a never-ending affection for humanity, and leave no broken heart forgotten or ignored! Applaud the good for their goodness, appreciate those who have believing hearts, and be kind to them. Approach unbelievers so gently that their envy and hatred shall melt away. Like a Messiah, revive people with your breath.
For Fethullah Gulen, it is almost imperative for his followers to keep in mind that one should have such tolerance that we are able to close our eyes to the faults of others, to have respect for different ideas, and to forgive everything that is forgivable. In fact, even when faced with violations of our inalienable rights, we should remain respectful to human values and try to establish justice.
For Fethullah Gulen , tolerance does not mean being influenced by others or joining them; it means accepting others as they are and knowing how to get along with them. Being tolerant does not mean giving up one’s own traditions, religion, and culture, yet it means developing skills that will nurture mutual understanding, respect and coexistence. In this respect, as individuals, as families and as a society, we have to speed up this process that has already begun.Fethullah Gulen believes that even the people who do not share same/similar feelings and thoughts will soften when they are approached with these universal values. In fact, it can be said that democracy is out of the question in a place where tolerance does not exist. Advocates of democracy should be able to accept even those who do not share their views, and they should open their hearts to other people from every segment of society.
Fethullah gulen
Fethullah Gulen
