Said Nursi Symposium Held in US
The international "Islam in Contemporary Turkey: Perspectives of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi " conference was held by The Bediuzzaman Said Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies at John Carroll University. The conference evaluated Said Nursi and his ideas in religious, political, social and dialogue perspectives.
Fethullah Gülen, who was invited to the conference to give a speech but could not participate due to health problems, sent a congratulatory message instead. Gülen said in his message that Nursi's vision had served millions of people in Turkey and in the world and taught them to be aware of their faith and to respect the faith of others as well. "We have more need for Nursi's apolitical and tolerant ideas, especially in a period when fighting darkens humanity's hopes for a good future" Marcia Hermansen from Chicago Loyola University made a comparative analysis of the initiatives that Nursi and Indian Mewlana Mohammad Ilyas started. Hermansen said that Nursi struggled against Russian colonialism as Ilyas struggled against British colonialism in India and added Nursi was a representative of the "post-tarikat" period. (By Ali H. Aslan, Cleveland)
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