A Dialogue of Civilizations [Paperback]

Jill Carroll (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 21, 2007

Fethullah Glen is a Turkish intellectual, scholar, and activist whose influence over a new Islamic intellectual, social, and spiritual revival is revealed in this insightful book. Readers will gain a fuller understanding of where Glen stands on issues of inherent human value and dignity, freedom of thought, education and taking responsibility for creating society and the world. In addition, readers will also see how different perspectives across time, geography, and worldview can still find points on which to engage in dialogue and find a deep resonance.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Writer Carroll states in the introduction that prior to a trip she made late in 2004 she was unaware that the organizers of the Institute for Interfaith Dialog based in Houston, Texas as well as the organizers of the trip itself were members of a community of people inspired by the notions of Fethullh Gulen, a Turkish Islamic scholar. Reading further we find Carroll's intent in this book is to 'place the ideas of Fethullh Gulen into the context of the larger humanities. Chapter titles are 1: Gulen and Kant on Inherent Human Value and Moral Dignity, 2: Gulen and Mill on Freedom, 3: Gulen, Confucius, and Plato on the Human Ideal, 4: Gulen, Confucius, and Plato on Education, 5: Gulen and Sartre on Responsibility. Kant's belief was that humans have inherent value, Gulen spoke of the transcendent value of human beings. Mills' assertions that the tyranny of the majority must be met head long was presented from his viewpoint of the nineteenth century Briton. Gulen avows that 'freedom allows people to do whatever they want, provided they do not harm others and they remain wholly devoted to the truth.' A Dialogue of Civilizations: Gulen's Islamic Ideals and Humanistic Discourse presents the query 'what is the level of resonance between Islam and the West?' That the twenty-first century has become an episode of heretofore unnoticed quandary is obvious. Up until 9-1-1 few worldwide really gave much thought to anything other than their own viewpoint. Writer Carroll finds significance can be gleaned an awareness of the theoretically divergent views of Gulen, Turkish Muslim scholar and those of Immanuel Kant, Confucius, Plato, John Stuart Mill, and Jean Paul Sartre regarding critical hypothesis including intrinsic ethical pride, creature significance, learning, autonomy, and accountability. The reader may be surprised to find out these figures who are separated by centuries in time, as well as oceans or continents have a propensity toward speaking the same language.

Writer Carroll's attentive writing style has produced a judicious and timely work, she is knowledgeable, presents her thesis in readable manner and holds reader interest. Not for everyone, if you are looking for a lighthearted, 'story' book for a quick afternoon read A Dialogue of Civilizations: Gulen's Islamic Ideals and Humanistic Discourse is not that book. If you would like to learn a little more about Gulen and his notions of education and dialog then A Dialogue of Civilizations: Gulen's Islamic Ideals and Humanistic Discourse will prove an eye-opening read.

Educational read, happy to recommend for those who are hoping to learn something of an interesting thesis. -- Midwest Book Review

From the Back Cover

This book is magnificently successful in demonstrating the compatibility of Western humanistic and the religious Islamic dialogue of Fethullah Gulen without removing from the sight the divine inspiration of the latter's thinking. In a Western world emotionally held intellectual hostage by "The War on Terror" and its assumption of Islamic culpability, it cuts to the contrary heart of the matter. The reader is left with the conclusion that Islam and the West are two civilizations whose core ideas can be the subject of a mutually informing intellectual dialogue."

--Louis Cantori University of Maryland

"I particularly enjoyed Dr. Carroll's inclusion of Gulen's thoughts on human beings "possessing value higher even than angels" - thoughts also developed in the writings of the Apostle Paul and Saint Gregory Palamas. This book will be of great benefit in acknowledging the common dignity of all human beings." --Rev. Alexei Smith, Archdiocese of Los Angeles

"In this brilliant and timely book Dr. Jill Carroll describes effectively not only the need for dialogue, she also shows us the critical way forward. In the spirit of Rumi Dr. Jill Carroll invites all to come to the table to discuss the truth about ourselves and our world."

-- David B. Capes Houston Baptist University

"I feel quite comfortable recommending this book to others. It has sent me back to the writings of F. Gulen himself so that I may take in his message of peace and love."

--Richard Penaskovic, Auburn University

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Tughra Books (April 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597841102
• ISBN-13: 978-1597841108
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,050,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasantly surprising, May 2, 2007

By 

Michael Summers (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Dialogue of Civilizations (Paperback)

The author finds resonances among the views of a prominent Turkish Muslim scholar and those of Confucius, Plato, Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, and Jean Paul Sartre on crucial themes such as inherent human value, moral dignity, freedom, education and responsibility. It is amazing to see those resonances among these significant figures who are seperated by oceans or continents in space and centuries in time. The author must especially be commended for her bringing into dialogue of a 20th century atheist French philosopher (Sartre) and a contemporary, very devout Muslim thinker on the issue of responsibility. A must read for those who do not buy into the thesis (prescription?) of the clash of civilizations. The foreword by Prof. Akbar Ahmed is a gem by itself.

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Necessity of Dialogue, May 4, 2007

By 

Ryan R. Wiley (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Dialogue of Civilizations (Paperback)

Dr. Jill Carroll's subject is Fethullah Gulen, the Sufi leader who has supplied the spiritual architecture for a civil movement rapidly changing the landscape of many countries. She situates Gulen within the broader humanistic discourse on key questions of liberty, tolerance, education and "the good." Dr. Carroll has a unique way of taking complicated questions and putting them on the bottom shelf so anyone can reach them. I know of no one more competent, more compassionate to guide us through these crucial questions.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars dialogue of civilizations, May 16, 2007

By 

MIKE ROSENBERG "MIKE" (LA, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Dialogue of Civilizations (Paperback)

In a time when "religion" is perceived as the origin of intercultural and inter-religious conflicts, Dr JILL Carol articulates in a concise and a coherent way how a devout Turkish Muslim scholar, Fethullah Gulen, can carry and convey the message of basic universal human values , such as, moral dignity, freedom, inherent human value, education and responsibility. She underlines remarkable similarities between the views of Gulen, and those of Confucius, Plato, Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, and Jean Paul Sartre.
A smooth and enjoyable read. Not one of those scholarly written, tedious books which bore you after a couple of pages.