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Sunday, October 24, 2010
ISTANBUL - Daily News with Radikal
Turkeys religious functionaries should elect their own autonomous governing body to avoid conflict with the secular state, the head of the Religious Affairs Directorate says. Though Islam is the directorates true religion, he adds, it does not seek to meddle in politics, harm the principle of secularism or keep other groups from practicing their beliefs
Ali Bardakoğlu, the head of the countrys Religious Affairs Directorate. DAILY NEWS photo, Selahattin SÖNMEZ
Ali Bardakoğlu, the head of the countrys Religious Affairs Directorate. DAILY NEWS photo, Selahattin SÖNMEZ
Turkeys highest religious authority requires autonomy in order to continue to exist within an officially secular state government, its top official has said.
The solution is to allow the religious institution to be autonomous. Turkey is ready for that, Professor Ali Bardakoğlu, the head of the countrys Religious Affairs Directorate, told daily Radikals Ahmet İnsel, an atheist, in an interview published in the papers Saturday and Sunday editions.
In making his case, Bardakoğlu used the example of the judiciary electing its own top representatives through the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors, or HSYK. Our religious functionaries are as trustworthy as judges, he said. For me, there is no risk factor in all of our religious functionaries electing their own organization [and] director.
In the interview, Bardakoğlu also defended the directorate against the commonly voiced criticism that it was an institution of Sunni Muslims, the main branch of Islam adhered to in Turkey. We do not prevent different belief groups from practicing their own beliefs and rituals, he said, adding that the directorate operated on basic moral and religious principles.
Bardakoğlu said, however, that it would be against the directorates nature to treat all religions in the same way.
For [the Religious Affairs Directorate], Islam is the true religion; other religions are true for others, he said. It would be ridiculous to ask the Vatican to be equally close to all religions.
Though the directorate has a separate mission from the secular government, he said it considered the principle of secularity to be very important and avoided any actions or statements that would hurt that principle.
The head of the Religious Affairs Directorate also said that the space to designate a persons religion should be removed from national identification papers, saying a person does not become a member of religion just because it is written down and that the practice fueled separation in society. This is important and I am saying it for the first time, he said.
[HHH] Historical basis
Founded in 1924, at the same time as the General Staff, the Religious Affairs Directorate is a state institution affiliated with the Prime Ministry that directs more than 100,000 religious functionaries. The law pertaining to the institution says that the directorate was founded to run affairs related to the worship and moral principles of the religion of Islam, enlighten society about religion and manage worship locations. The existence of such a body within a state that is secular according to its Constitution has been a subject of debate for years.
When asked whether having such a state institution conflicted with the principle of a secular state, Bardakoğlu said, We cannot understand the present state of a country without knowing its history.
The position of sheikh al-Islam, or superior authority in the issues of Islam, was economically autonomous in the Ottoman era and had foundations affiliated with it, he said, adding that the figure coordinated and inspected the empires religious communities.
After 1924, the money transfer with the community was cut. The will that founded the Republic did this knowingly, he said. Therefore, it prevented inequality between people who offered the same service. The point [the Religious Affairs Directorate] is at today is, in a way, a result of the shape we ourselves gave to it.
The directorates stance should be discussed and changed, Bardakoğlu said, arguing that even today it is not completely a state institution, but, as he described it, the most civil institution of civil society.
When asked to explain this, he said the directorates religious functionaries were not civil servants who placed themselves above the people because they did not force their religion on people and did not intervene in politics.
We do not manage or lead the Mevlevis semah [whirling ritual]. We do not manage the cem rituals of Alevis and Bektaşis, Bardakoğlu said, adding that the directorate did not have a Pan-Islamist expansion policy and did not alienate Jews and Christians.
We accept people as they are, he said, adding that their religions are also true religions.
When asked about a directorate publication in 2005 called Christianity Propaganda and Missionary Actions, Bardakoğlu said the body had moved past those things.
[However], we do not find it right that countries conduct expansionism and even secret colonialism actions by using missionaries, he said.
The Alevi issue
On the matter of Alevis, members of a community many see as a liberal sect of Islam who pray in a different manner from Turkeys Sunni majority, consume alcohol and do not fast, Bardakoğlu said the focus should be on similarities rather than differences.
The principle should be this: The one who does, does. The one who does not, does not, he said. We should create an area of freedom without interfering with or pressuring each other.
Bardakoğlu, said, however, that it was not possible for the directorate to define the Alevis cemevi (ceremony houses) as places of worship.
He said he supported Alevis right to do whatever they wish but could not agree with their claim that their cem was the equivalent of namaz (Muslim prayer).
Asked what would happen if Alevis wanted to be called Alevis, not Muslims, Bardakoğlu said if Alevism began being perceived as a separate religion, subsequent generations would suffer for it.
We tell the true information, he said. [They] see themselves as [Muslims] or do not. [Its their] choice.
On the subject on evolution, Bardakoğlu said it could be taught in schools, but as a theory rather than scientific fact. Classes should deal with evolutionary theory and Darwinism not as an ideology but as a way that some people think.
Evolutionary theory [and religion] should never be pitted against each other, he said.
According to Bardakoğlu, a religious person always prefers religious knowledge over scientific knowledge when they are in conflict, but Islam has never blocked the path of science and progress.
The purpose of religious knowledge is not making sure you produce more electricity or get better [medical] treatment, he said. It is to make a wide and metaphysical explanation of what goes on in this limited area of ours.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
ISTANBUL - Daily News with Radikal
Turkeys religious functionaries should elect their own autonomous governing body to avoid conflict with the secular state, the head of the Religious Affairs Directorate says. Though Islam is the directorates true religion, he adds, it does not seek to meddle in politics, harm the principle of secularism or keep other groups from practicing their beliefs
Ali Bardakoğlu, the head of the countrys Religious Affairs Directorate. DAILY NEWS photo, Selahattin SÖNMEZ
Ali Bardakoğlu, the head of the countrys Religious Affairs Directorate. DAILY NEWS photo, Selahattin SÖNMEZ
Turkeys highest religious authority requires autonomy in order to continue to exist within an officially secular state government, its top official has said.
The solution is to allow the religious institution to be autonomous. Turkey is ready for that, Professor Ali Bardakoğlu, the head of the countrys Religious Affairs Directorate, told daily Radikals Ahmet İnsel, an atheist, in an interview published in the papers Saturday and Sunday editions.
In making his case, Bardakoğlu used the example of the judiciary electing its own top representatives through the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors, or HSYK. Our religious functionaries are as trustworthy as judges, he said. For me, there is no risk factor in all of our religious functionaries electing their own organization [and] director.
In the interview, Bardakoğlu also defended the directorate against the commonly voiced criticism that it was an institution of Sunni Muslims, the main branch of Islam adhered to in Turkey. We do not prevent different belief groups from practicing their own beliefs and rituals, he said, adding that the directorate operated on basic moral and religious principles.
Bardakoğlu said, however, that it would be against the directorates nature to treat all religions in the same way.
For [the Religious Affairs Directorate], Islam is the true religion; other religions are true for others, he said. It would be ridiculous to ask the Vatican to be equally close to all religions.
Though the directorate has a separate mission from the secular government, he said it considered the principle of secularity to be very important and avoided any actions or statements that would hurt that principle.
The head of the Religious Affairs Directorate also said that the space to designate a persons religion should be removed from national identification papers, saying a person does not become a member of religion just because it is written down and that the practice fueled separation in society. This is important and I am saying it for the first time, he said.
[HHH] Historical basis
Founded in 1924, at the same time as the General Staff, the Religious Affairs Directorate is a state institution affiliated with the Prime Ministry that directs more than 100,000 religious functionaries. The law pertaining to the institution says that the directorate was founded to run affairs related to the worship and moral principles of the religion of Islam, enlighten society about religion and manage worship locations. The existence of such a body within a state that is secular according to its Constitution has been a subject of debate for years.
When asked whether having such a state institution conflicted with the principle of a secular state, Bardakoğlu said, We cannot understand the present state of a country without knowing its history.
The position of sheikh al-Islam, or superior authority in the issues of Islam, was economically autonomous in the Ottoman era and had foundations affiliated with it, he said, adding that the figure coordinated and inspected the empires religious communities.
After 1924, the money transfer with the community was cut. The will that founded the Republic did this knowingly, he said. Therefore, it prevented inequality between people who offered the same service. The point [the Religious Affairs Directorate] is at today is, in a way, a result of the shape we ourselves gave to it.
The directorates stance should be discussed and changed, Bardakoğlu said, arguing that even today it is not completely a state institution, but, as he described it, the most civil institution of civil society.
When asked to explain this, he said the directorates religious functionaries were not civil servants who placed themselves above the people because they did not force their religion on people and did not intervene in politics.
We do not manage or lead the Mevlevis semah [whirling ritual]. We do not manage the cem rituals of Alevis and Bektaşis, Bardakoğlu said, adding that the directorate did not have a Pan-Islamist expansion policy and did not alienate Jews and Christians.
We accept people as they are, he said, adding that their religions are also true religions.
When asked about a directorate publication in 2005 called Christianity Propaganda and Missionary Actions, Bardakoğlu said the body had moved past those things.
[However], we do not find it right that countries conduct expansionism and even secret colonialism actions by using missionaries, he said.
The Alevi issue
On the matter of Alevis, members of a community many see as a liberal sect of Islam who pray in a different manner from Turkeys Sunni majority, consume alcohol and do not fast, Bardakoğlu said the focus should be on similarities rather than differences.
The principle should be this: The one who does, does. The one who does not, does not, he said. We should create an area of freedom without interfering with or pressuring each other.
Bardakoğlu, said, however, that it was not possible for the directorate to define the Alevis cemevi (ceremony houses) as places of worship.
He said he supported Alevis right to do whatever they wish but could not agree with their claim that their cem was the equivalent of namaz (Muslim prayer).
Asked what would happen if Alevis wanted to be called Alevis, not Muslims, Bardakoğlu said if Alevism began being perceived as a separate religion, subsequent generations would suffer for it.
We tell the true information, he said. [They] see themselves as [Muslims] or do not. [Its their] choice.
On the subject on evolution, Bardakoğlu said it could be taught in schools, but as a theory rather than scientific fact. Classes should deal with evolutionary theory and Darwinism not as an ideology but as a way that some people think.
Evolutionary theory [and religion] should never be pitted against each other, he said.
According to Bardakoğlu, a religious person always prefers religious knowledge over scientific knowledge when they are in conflict, but Islam has never blocked the path of science and progress.
The purpose of religious knowledge is not making sure you produce more electricity or get better [medical] treatment, he said. It is to make a wide and metaphysical explanation of what goes on in this limited area of ours.
