Fethullah Gulen inspired dialogue: NEW BOOK: Preventing Violence and Achieving World Peace: The Contributions of the Gulen Movement (Washington College Studies in Religion, Politics, and Culture)

Preventing Violence and Achieving World Peace: The Contributions of the Gulen Movement (Washington College Studies in Religion, Politics, and Culture)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2012 | Series: Washington College Studies in Religion, Politics, and Culture (Book 4)

How can we address the seemingly endless conflicts in the world, particularly those arising from misunderstandings of Islam by both Muslims and non-Muslims? "Preventing Violence and Achieving World Peace: The Contributions of the Gulen Movement" presents the essays of eight scholars who consider the diverse ways in which the Gulen Movement or hizmet (service to others) - inspired by contemporary Turkish social philosopher Fetullah Gulen - has worked to answer this question. Drawing from various intellectual and theological sources, particularly Sufism, these essays indicate multiple instances of positive interfaith and/or multicultural dialogue. In addition, they consider how the writings of Gulen and the works of the Gulen Movement, through an extensive program of education and communication, have contributed significantly to efforts that oppose violence and shape universal peace.

Editorial Reviews

Review

At a time of utter urgency in Muslim/non-Muslim relations, this book on the Guelen Movement appears as a beacon of hope, offering multifaceted insight into Guelen's thought and practice - touching upon themes of philosophy, education, interfaith mysticism, universalism, and the cosmos. It offers significant support to the Charter for Compassion movement, another grassroots effort, also grounded in the need for self-improvement, humility, education toward tolerance and away from violence, and, above all, in the compatible notion of hizmet - outward action of kindness and service toward the other. Taking these insights to heart may help to awaken humanity to embrace 'our diversity as a species. and - insha'Allah - to achieve 'fullness of peace' in our time. (Helen McConnell, CAN (Compassionate Action Network) International Fellow; Co-Founder of the Compassionate Washington, D.C. Campaign)

About the Author

Ori Z. Soltes teaches theology and art history at Georgetown University. He received his BA from Haverford College, his MA from Princeton University, and his PhD from Union University. He is the author of over 215 books, articles, and essays including Mysticism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Searching for Oneness and Embracing the World: The Relationship between Fetullah Guelen, Jelaladdin Rumi and Others. Margaret A. Johnson, a sociologist and business owner, is Senior Research Associate for the Institute for Islamic and Turkish Studies in Fairfax, Virginia. She received her PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. Her current research is on peace building and Islam in the United States. She is President and CEO of Transfirex Translation Services. Recently ranked 5th in the D.C. Metro Area by the Washington Business Journal, Transfirex, Inc. is in its eleventh year of providing scientific, technical, and educational translations in over 40 languages.