Advocate of Dialogue: Fethullah Gülen
Compiled by Ali Ünal and Alphonse Williams
Contact: The Light, Inc.
contact@thelightinc.com
201-460-7575
In the aftermath of September 11th, Islam and Muslims have once again been singled out as threats to everything that the West holds dear: freedom, individual liberties, human rights, peace, education, social justice, and so on. Muslims are portrayed as fanatics, fundamentalists, irrational people who do things we cannot understand, who appear to be utterly alien to everything we know.
But just how accurate is this portrayal? Is there another side to the story?
Through their compilation, Advocate of Dialogue: Fethullah Gülen, Ali Ünal and Alphonse Williams show us this other side. Their compilation presents the ideas of Fethullah Gülen, a widely respected and distinguished Turkish gentleman who has worked since the 1970s to spread his belief that humanity can only benefit by pursuing religious tolerance and acceptance, interfaith dialogue, scientific education, and acknowledging the compatibility of religious and scientific knowledge.
While others talk, Mr. Gülen and his followers act. Mr. Gülen suggests to Turkish businessmen that they open businesses in a particular country and use the profits to open a school and promote education. After this, students from Turkey’s finest universities volunteer to teach various scientific subjects, mathematics, English, computer skills, and other subjects designed to prepare local student to make a positive difference in their society’s life.
Mr. Gülen and his followers have consciously chosen to live their Islam in a peaceful and intelligent way that benefits everyone – Muslim and non-Muslim alike. Always optimistic, they move gently through their adopted societies and work solely for God’s good pleasure and humanity’s betterment. No religious instruction is provided, and no converts are sought.
This book contains a selection of Mr. Gülen’s many books, articles, interviews, and speeches. More importantly, it presents Islam’s true face – that of love, peace, tolerance, enlightenment, and rationality leading to individuals and societies being at peace with themselves and others.
This other face of Islam – the true face – is seldom mentioned by the media. And all of us are poorer because of that omission.
Advocate of Dialogue: Fethullah Gülen can be ordered online at www.thelightpublishing.com and www.amazon.com.
