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Book Description
In an era where Islamic movements often face misunderstanding and oversimplification, this scholarly exploration offers readers a nuanced examination of one of Turkey's most significant spiritual communities. Joshua D. Hendrick presents a carefully researched analysis of the Hizmet Movement, founded by M. Fethullah Gülen, revealing how this influential Islamic identity community has shaped both Turkey's emergence on the global stage and contemporary discussions about faith-based social engagement.
Through extensive fieldwork spanning fourteen months across Turkey and the United States, Hendrick traces the movement's evolution from its Turkish origins to its international expansion following Gülen's 1998 relocation to America. The author illuminates how followers have established networks encompassing education, cultural dialogue, business ventures, and political engagement, demonstrating the complex ways spiritual communities can influence modern society.
This work challenges readers to reconsider conventional assumptions about Islamic political identity in the twenty-first century. Hendrick argues that the movement represents a "post political" approach to faith-based activism, offering insights into how religious communities navigate between spiritual principles and practical engagement with contemporary political and economic systems.
For those seeking to understand the intersection of spirituality, politics, and cultural transformation, this ethnographic study provides valuable perspectives on how faith communities adapt and influence the societies they inhabit while maintaining their core spiritual commitments.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)
📄 Length: 276 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore SOCIAL SCIENCE
- ✓ Explore General
- ✓ Explore RELIGION
- ✓ Explore Islam
- ✓ Explore SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / General
- ✓ Explore Soziale Bewegung
- ✓ Explore Politics and government
- ✓ Explore Wirtschaft
