Within a day of posting my sermon, I've begun to receive some fascinating responses. Here are a few...
I read your sermon titled "Turkey to Transylvania: Reflections for a New Year", and I enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the part that you objectively reflected on the Gulen Movement. Being some one who is inspired by Gulen and a social scientist who is studying Gulen Movement, I find that your trip was somewhat misleading.
It seems it was your first encounter with the Gulen Movement (doing internet search explains that). As your first impression you suggest that Gulen Movement has wealth and power, which might be true in some ways. However this is also misleading.
First of all, I am sure you experienced how hospitable Turkish people are. Due to this hospitality you were most probably hosted by upper class businessmen, and in nice hotels and had nice meals. I don't blame you; you then picture all the members of the movement as such. This is not unique to Gulen Movement, but to Turkish culture. They host their guests in the best format they can. But it does not mean all the members of the movement are like that. In fact the activities of the movement are carried out by middle and lower class while it is supported by upper class businessmen. If you have chance, please ask your guide, if he had stayed such hotels before he/she went to trips like yours. Most probably he/she belongs to a middle or lower class family, and got educated first generation in his/her family.
The story that you heard from the journalist (him being a shepherd if he did not go to a Gulen school) is a not a rare story that you can hear from people in the Gulen Movement, and mine is also similar.
As a social scientist who is educated in the West, what I found is that studying non-western cultures and social developments with Western tools is sometimes misleading and not enough.
For instance, you may question why these hosts are spending this much money for you, and what they want from you in return? But in other cultures that is simply a part of the culture, and they don't want anything back from you.
Gulen Movement is pictured mainly as a religious movement, however, within Turkey it is also a civil right movement similar to American civil right movement, but in a different level. Yes it is true we don't have blacks in Turkey, but there is a division between established elites and rest of the people. Contrary to social division in America, you have oppression of majority by an elite minority. In America you had oppression of black minority by white majority. In Turkey, elites who control the power in their hands (this is still the case) do not give rest of the people to have any sayings in anything. How can you explain for a female university student being not accepted to university due to headscarf when she goes to school in a country where the 99% of the population is Muslim? How can you explain for an army officer who was kicked out from the army because his wife had headscarf in a country where the 99% of the population is Muslim?
You think the Gulen Movement has power and wealth because of the people you met and because of the places you visited (newspaper, tv station, etc). It is true that there are many rich businessmen that support the activities of Gulen Movement, however this is not a good picture of the movement. Most probably you were taken this places as part of the Turkish hospitality. In fact, the genius of Gulen is that he was able to mobilize wealthy for the rest. He encouraged people who can contribute to contribute for the people who does not have. In those schools that you visited between 20-50 % of the students are receiving full scholarships. How do they do that? They provide a good education, attract people who can pay, with the tuition they receive and the donations they get, they provide same kind of good education to those who cannot afford. I wish you were able to go to Urfa or Mardin in the southeast of Turkey and see the schools there.
According to a survey conducted by Akbar Ahmed of American University in DC, 84% of the Turkish population support Gulen Movement and its activities. However by the elites in Turkey and their partners in other countries (neo-cons in the US) the movement has been shown as a religious cult, or a threat to Turkey or western countries. But in fact the Movement represents Turkey more than the elites or any other social groups in Turkey. Unfortunately, you are not able to read Turkish, because same guys tell to Turkish population that Gulen is a CIA agent, working for the US, or he is a hidden cardinal of the Pope who is christinasing the Turkish Muslim population through his dialogue activities. But on the other hand, in western media they say Gulen is like Khomeini, or has a hidden agenda and Islamising the western population. But they are the same guys only writing in different languages.
Gulen Movement phenomenon is in fact a civil right movement happening within Muslim World with its uniqueness to it social context. Unfourtuanlty, starting in the 20th century (still the case) Muslim countries were in the hands of modernizing dictators who imitated western countries only in shape but not in the spirit. While they were imitating western countries in clothing, and other forms of social life, they did not get anything such as democracy, human rights, liberalism, etc. You can see this in Egypt,Libya, Syria, Iraq, and also Iran. Dictators of these countries established a secular elite minority around themselves and ignored the rest of the population. While this elites were getting education and having a good life, rest of the population were denied from any rights to get in the positions in importance. These dictators mostly used religious radicalism as an exuce and used force against these movements, and wiped them out mainly by killing or imprisoning them.You can see the examples of such groups throughout the Muslim world.
Gulen Movement is the story of this struggle between the elites and the rest in Turkey.
I am sorry for this long email, it took too long to explain the issue, but I just wanted to tell you that the matter is not that simple. My father was a shepherd, his father was a shepherd, I my self was a shepherd until the age of 18. I was going to school during the school days, and going going back to village during holidays and summers to take care of sheep. But this is not unique to me, there are many people who has similar stories. I received a BS degree in Chemistry at one of the best schools in Turkey, than received a MA degree in Education, another MA degree in Sociology, another MA degree in political science, and currently pursuing a PhD degree in political science in the United States. I may have all the credentials to get a job in Turkish foreign affairs, but, most probably I won't be able to, you know why?, because I am not from the elites?
One more thing, I believe you can make your decision by yourself, you have seen the people in Turkey, and I am sure continue to see them in Canada. An intelligent person with a right heart can make his/her wise decision. And I have no doubt that you have the both.
Best regards,
Dogan Koc
http://www.amazon.com/G%C3%BClen-Movement-Sociological-Analysis-Moderate/dp/1402098936/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253808211&sr=1-3
This book was written by my MA thesis chair Dr. Helen Rose Ebaugh, it will come out next month. It is one of the first of its kind, and I believe an objective book about the Gulen Movement.
Regards,
Dogan
My wife and I came upon your sermon about your trip to Turkey and appreciated the nuance of your discussion. We've just gotten home from a Gullen-sponsored trip and had an itinerary similar to yours. Our guides were both Turkish men now living in Texas while they pursue graduate and post-graduate education.
We encountered a similar reticence on their part to really speaking of the movement itself, and yet, just as with you, the hospitality was profound. I had an experience not unlike yours on our flight from Urfa back to Istanbul. I was sitting between two English-speaking Turkish men and they asked me, "Why did you come to Urfa?" I told them about the Gullen sponsorship of our trip, and they both reacted courteously. But when we got to Istanbul, they each found me at the baggage carousel. One said, "Be careful who you tell that you are here because of Gullen." The other said, "Gullen is doing wonderful things. I'm glad you're associated with the movement." So I guess there are very few Turks who do not have an opinion of the movement.
We had a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner with one of our guides once we returned, and that was pleasant.
Thanks for the thoughtful sermon. It helped us as we continue to ponder what we saw and heard.
Blessings to you.
John Thornburg
A Ministry of Congregational Singing
9553 Atherton Drive
Dallas, TX 75243
