What is the GUlen Movement?
The Gulen Movement (aka Hizmet Movement the term most commonly used by participants. Hizmet is the Turkish word for "service") originated in 1970's Turkey as a faith-inspired initiative to improve educational opportunities for a local community; since then, it has grown into a transnational educational inter-cultural and interfaith movement. It is estimated that participants number in several millions, Hizmet, has securely established, respected institutions on every continent. [1]
Normal piety cannot carry the burden such a sacrifice. It is because the limit of a normal religiosity is a certain limit: praying, fasting, giving prescribed purifying alms, making pilgrimage, etc. But Gulen's definition of Hizmet is more comprehensive and continuous [lifelong effort]. Not only the religious basis, it holds onto the national, humane, ethical, and the universal values and never leaves rationality. Those who took upon themselves the Hizmet, in the sense Gulen defines, made the values of altruism, idealism, sense of devotion and rationality inseparable part of their personality. [2]
[1] Muhammet Cetin, Hizmet: Questions and Answers on the Gulen Movement, Pg 1
[2] Ergene 2005, 56
Normal piety cannot carry the burden such a sacrifice. It is because the limit of a normal religiosity is a certain limit: praying, fasting, giving prescribed purifying alms, making pilgrimage, etc. But Gulen's definition of Hizmet is more comprehensive and continuous [lifelong effort]. Not only the religious basis, it holds onto the national, humane, ethical, and the universal values and never leaves rationality. Those who took upon themselves the Hizmet, in the sense Gulen defines, made the values of altruism, idealism, sense of devotion and rationality inseparable part of their personality. [2]
[1] Muhammet Cetin, Hizmet: Questions and Answers on the Gulen Movement, Pg 1
[2] Ergene 2005, 56
