Gulen Movement

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- Teetertotter
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Gulen Movement
OP - March 20, 2011, 09:17 PM

Family members are raving about this new association that moved into our area, all of them have removed their children from the standard sunday schools here (our population does not make an islamic school a viable option). Today I had a chance to speak at length with the guy who runs the program - it sounds very good - very inclusive. This group has done more in the community in the past 2 years than the islamic masjid has done in the last decade. Their accomplishments or rather activities are admirable. They hold iftari at churches, organize events to promote interfaith dialogue that seems to draw a crowd. I didnt necessarily feel like i was actively being recruited, but i couldnt help but be impressed by their expressed desire. i am highly suspicious of the funding (sunday school is free) although i do believe their are acts motivated solely by altruism, I've never seen it at this level. Our talk would touch upon this Gulen guy once in while but was not pushed. is this some sort of weird cult? the wiki article pretty much backed up what the guy told me, how they have a numberof charter public schools around the country. He gave some literature I will be reading through and doing some research online, but i wondered if any of you guys have heard of them and perhaps get your impressions?

Tv channel: ebru.tv
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gülen_movement
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Re: Gulen Movement
Reply #1 - March 20, 2011, 09:28 PM

Quote
1938, 1941 or 1942 Gülen born either in Korucuk or Pasinler, villages in Erzurum province

1950's As a state preacher in Edirne, Gülen joins the Nurcu movement of Said Nursi

1960 death of Said Nursi

1960's Gülen begins attracting disciples while a state preacher in Izmir

1971 Gülen arrested for organizing Islamic summer camps, imprisoned seven months

late 1970's Gülen establishes himself independently of other Nurcu organizations; first isik evleri ("houses of light," i.e., student residences) established

1978 First dershane (study center for university exams) opens

1979 Science journal Sizinti begins publication[58]

1981 Gülen retires

1982 First "Gülen school" opens[citation needed]

1986 Zaman, an Istanbul daily newspaper, begins publication

1988-1991 Gülen gives lectures in various Turkish cities, building a nationwide following

1991 Fall of Soviet Union permits establishment of Gülen schools in Central Asia

1994 Founding of the (Turkish) Journalists and Writers Foundation, with Gülen as "honorary leader"

1994, 1999 Gülen school in Tashkent closed (twice) by Uzbekstan government

1996 Founding of Fatih University; creation of Asya Finans (investment bank aimed at former Soviet Central Asia), with Tansu Çiller as an investor

1998 Gülen meets with Pope John Paul II in Rome

1999 Gülen emigrates to Pennsylvania in self-imposed exile

2002 / 2004 Establishment of Kimse Yok Mu ("Is there anybody there?"), a charitable organization

2005 Establishment of Tuskon (Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey)

Essentials of the Islamic Faith and The theological though of FETHULLAH GÜLEN

http://users.ox.ac.uk/~metheses/GulayThesis.pdf

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the beloved betrayed me and turned in to a Muslim
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Re: Gulen Movement
Reply #2 - March 20, 2011, 10:35 PM

There was recently a conference about this man and his followers.. There were quite a few americans too (Rose Helen Ebaugh ) who praised this man and told us that there are many wealthy businessmen in this community who regularly give millions of $$.
Having spoken to a few of them and considering the evidence of what they do, I DO think those people are truly inclusive and tolerant towards other people.
(I say this because there are quite a few paranoid Americans/Turks claiming this man performing taqiyya and that he wants to impose shariah once he will get the power.)

I shouldn't be here. Really. Shaytan SWT deluded ALL of us. Amen.
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