Professor Ori Z. Soltes: ‘Gülen wants to be an altruistic servant of others’
Dec 17, 2013
Pacifica Blogs
Fethullah Gulen, Sufism
Aydogan Vatandas Professor Ori Z. Soltes, author of ‘Embracing the World: Fethullah Gülen’s Thought and Its Relationship to Jalaluddin Rumi and Others,’ explains how Gülen’s perception of...
Turkey’s Tea Party
Dec 15, 2013
Pacifica Blogs
Uncategorized
Mümtazer TürköneSome civil society organizations known for their religious tendencies expressed full support for the government in newspaper ads titled, “They thought it would last 1,000...
Moved by Syrian refugees’ woes, U.S. mayors initiate blanket drive
Dec 14, 2013
Pacifica Blogs
Donation, Syria
Ali H. Aslan The conditions the Syrian refugees in Adana refugee camp are in deeply moved the U.S. mayors on an intercultural trip to Turkey. They have collected over 10 thousand blankets through the...
Middle East’s Struggle for Democracy: Going Beyond Headlines
Dec 13, 2013
Pacifica Blogs
Authoritarianism, Democracy, Egypt, Erdogan, Gulen, Hizmet, Islam, Islamists, Middle East, Secularism, Syria, Turkey, World News
Alp Aslandogan The ongoing struggle in the Middle East is not between the so-called Islamists and secularists. It’s not pro-Morsi vs. pro-military in Egypt, or even Assad vs. opposition in...
Turkish Syriac Catholic patriarch launches ‘Fruits of Dialogue’
Dec 11, 2013
Pacifica Blogs
Dialogue, fruits of dialogue, News, Turkey
Tuğba Mezararkalı “Diyaloğun Meyveleri” (Fruits of Dialogue), a book by Deputy Patriarch of the Turkish Syriac Catholic Church Yusuf Sağ, was launched at a reception held at Taksim Green Park...
Attacks on free press in Turkey
Dec 08, 2013
Pacifica Blogs
Freedom of the Press, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Abdullah Bozkurt It appears that Turkey’s powerful prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has adopted a two-pronged assault on the right to freedom of expression and free press in Turkey...
Students strengthen spirituality on campus
Dec 05, 2013
Pacifica Blogs
Campus, Spirituality, Student
By Liliana Frankel This week, Sharples lit a menorah and sidelined the condiments bar to make room for a Christmas tree. These religious symbols were praised as festive, and widely appreciated once...
Too Good to Be True
Dec 05, 2013
Pacifica Blogs
Dialogue, Fethullah Gulen, Hizmet Movement, Rumi Forum
Emre Celik When was the last time you heard that? I’ve heard it a few times — here’s the story. I am now in my fifth year in Washington, D.C., having immigrated from Australia. Here...
Hanukkah 2013: Dates, Rituals, History And How-Tos For Celebrating The Festival Of Lights
Dec 02, 2013
Pacifica Blogs
Hanukkah, Jewish, Thanksgiving
Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is celebrated for eight days beginning at sundown on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013. On the Hebrew calendar, the dates are 25 Kislev to 2 Tevet in the year...
Intercultural Affairs Council Augments Campus Dialogue
Dec 02, 2013
Pacifica Blogs
Dialogue, Intercultural Dialogue
By Nicole NG Five years after its creation, the Intercultural Affairs Council has been staying true to its purpose of creating open and inclusive campus dialogue. Created in 2008, the IAC strives to...
