Fethullah Gulen and the Gulen Movement

“I think this question begins with a definitional one and theoretical one. The definitional one is what exactly are the properties of globalization? The optimists argue that globalization means the increased understanding and interaction of mankind so that the globalization seems to promise nothing but something good. The pessimists look at it and say that what globalization may be doing is stimulating a nationalism that which before globalization arguably might have been under control in a balance of power kind of view of the world so globalization might be releasing negative forces in the world. So I am inclined to think that, I am more persuaded by the more negative view of this, but I have to admit that I am not, you know, I cannot give any complicit evidence about it, but let’s say that globalization is increasing tensions between mankind. You might then argue that globalization has the potential for things that I just described. But it is more likely that increased level of conflict will occur in the world. However, having said that there is the important question of the globalization on the one hand, and universal political culture on the other. Because if globalization is being accompanied by a more understanding of unity, universal properties of mankind, then I think the question of the dialog concept and the Gulen movement may really have something important to play.  So I am concluding by saying that I am inclined to be a pessimist on this but I am also willing to be persuaded that perhaps something more positive about this as far as the brotherhood of man is concerned, and mutual respect and cooperation among men is concerned. I don’t think I am gonna say much more than that because I know that the further questions to some extend come back to this. Because it really has to do is what the next step is the question of the dynamics of the Gulen movement  and what are the serious prospects for that movement, and I will have something to say about that.

… well, I think there is a problem here. In terms of the Gulen movement  on the one hand its location within Turkish culture and on the other the expectation that somehow the Gulen movement  is going to have, could have a global impact itself. I think getting there from here is a big order, and I am frankly not certain how it might do that, to be frank about it. The reason is very evident to me that what Nursi and Gulen have done is that they created a whole set of behavioral and belief axioms of Muslims to lead the good life and the proper life. Well, if I am correct in saying what I just did, that what I just said, it is a bit strange or a bit unusual to think that peoples of other cultures somehow are going to emulate this or to adapt it. That’s because the whole concept of the movement itself originated within Islam itself. Now having said that, I suppose the potential or the contagiousness of the Gulen movement  might have to do with concerned efforts on the part of the movement to work with the Abrahamic Faiths. The movement has begun to emerge now in Europe and North America, but if that’s the case I would caution that we are in for a protracted period of time and we are in, we would be involved in a slow process. I can’t think of much of a different way to say this. We know where Nursi and Gulen have come from. It is hard to identify similar people or personalities, which is probably what you wanna do, in Judaism for example, and in Christianity, it is probably the right thing to do. It is probably one might try to do, and that would be very very interesting, but I think it is in part and full a potential danger, because  if we have a situation in which a Muslim movement is beginning to identify its teachings and ideas within two other faiths which resemble those of Islam. Is it or it not possible that what the Gulen movement  is really doing is personalizing and trying to create, you know convert Jews and Christians to Islam. Now I have every reason to think that it is not at all what Fethullah Gulen has in mind. I strongly suspect that others will be suspicious about it, and that creates a further problem.

… I understand the Gulen movement  essentially to be a movement of, an ethical movement, which is why I find it very very interesting. Ethics is by definition the practical application of philosophical principals or religious principles, and that is what Fethullah Gulen has done very very effectively. It was great impact upon the Turkish people, but more specifically upon the Turkish middle class. So in regard all of that is an enormous success story, I mean that is one of these things that I am prepared to argue now having had this wonderful opportunity to experience the country and interact with the members of the movement and so forth. I just find it absolutely fabulous that one man could have had such an impact on human behavior and of such a high moral and spiritual standard. I think that is, we are looking at something that is in fact, if not certainly near a miraculous. I don’t know any other way to describe this. Now I have also commented about what I thought was, what I think is the somewhat limited applicability of his concepts and ideas across over cultures. That is a kind of a formidable challenge. I think anyone who is going to take this seriously and engage, has got to be prepared to be very patient, and I think also, I think that effort is in need of more reflection and more careful thought.  Because as I have already suggested it is intellectually naïve to think that the superior implementation of Gulen’s teachings among Turkish Muslims is now tailor made for Muslims and Christians in other parts of the world. That is not gonna happen! In fact it just think about this commonsensically and not certain of the movement has done this but, commonsensically the movement really ought to be more concerned about the ummah, and not with the world. The first stage in this process is one of persuading Muslims worldwide that this is an approach and a system of thought you know worthy of implementation and adoption. And by the way, if one attempts to do that you come back to what I think is the problem in trying to deal with Christians and Muslims and Jews. Other Muslim groups might be looking at Gulen suspiciously, as non-Muslims might be looking at him, and I think to some extend that already happened. I am not certain, but I can almost predict that it will happen, you know, and it is gonna require the skills that Fethullah Gulen has shown already.  I think I would say the political skill to make this work, it is gonna take a great deal of delicacy and sensitivity, you know…

… I think there is a simple point about that to begin with. I don’t mean simple by meaning unimportant but simple that is, that statement after all was a statement that was made by number of other Muslim leaders in the world. They all had one thing in common that is they all knew others of us also knew, that this really had nothing to do with Islam and it was an aberration and those were very very unjust to think or to characterize Islam as being involved in any of this. So that’s the kind of as I said, a kind of a simple point. That’s something that did occur and it was very important and it continuous to be important. But I think the continued speaking out about barbaric acts in the name of Islam is something that unfortunately all Muslims are burdened with in the present period we live in. I think it gets to the point personally painful as for my Muslim friends and Muslim organizations that I work with, some of them say you know because some stupid man or evil man has killed somebody somewhere on the world, why do I have to explain that? It is a very reasonable point. This happens in the United States all the time. Every time something happens the press or the US government expects the leader of some Muslim group to come out right away and say ‘No we are not associated with that!’ So Muslims I think are getting a little tired of apologizing. So something they literally have nothing to do with. So it is getting kinda tiresome you know. If you are a Muslim you might wanna be a Turkish Muslim and not an American Muslim these days. At least of what is coming around and calling you on the telephone asking you be taped in a public position on something that has occurred somewhere in the world that you had nothing to do with at all…”