Andy Yilmaz

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  Andy commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  The Toolbelt and Universal Design - Education For Everyone

  We are not only composed of body and mind. Every one of us has a sprit that needs satisfaction.  Without this, we cannot find true happiness and perfection.  Spiritual satisfaction is possible by knowledge of God and belief in him.  It is maybe unfortunate that we search for this in hard times and lack an important requirement for happiness in good times.   There are two extremes related to

  
  

  A Turkish scholar Fethullah Gulen (http://www.guleninstitute.org/index.php/Biography.html ) who was voted worlds No 1 thinker (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/23/turkey.islam ) by the readers of Foreign Policy says, “The future of every individual is closely related to the impressions and influences experienced during childhood and youth.  If children and young people are brought up in a climate where their enthusiasm is stimulated with higher feelings, they will have rigorous minds and display good morals and virtues.”

  
  

  In another article (http://fethullahgulenconference.org/houston/read.php?p=fethullah-gulen-philosophy-of-education-activities-of-movement ) I came across that was published in a conference, Gulen says: “The first school in which we receive the necessary education to be perfected is the home. The home is vital to the raising of a healthy generation and ensuring a healthy social structure. . . . Children can receive a good education at home only if there is a healthy family life. . . . A dysfunctional family life increasingly reflects upon the child’s spirit, and therefore upon society.”

  
  

  I think, family and moral values play a major role in the health of not only individuals but also the society. 

  
  

  I should also mention the book I once read by Jill Carroll on A Dialog of Civilizations (http://www.rambles.net/carroll_dialog07.html) where Carroll researches Gulen`s philosophy on Love of Faith, Love of other people and love of freedom.

  
  

  We mostly focus on our mind and ignore heart.  Our minds can be illuminated by science and knowledge and the light of the heart is faith and virtue.  Combination of a satisfied mind and heart would yield happiness and prosperity.  Faith rescues science from materialism from being a factor that is as harmful as it is beneficial from both material and spiritual perspective.   As faithful and educated we are, our lives would be full of surprises, because our minds would be clear and our hearts would have pure love.