Fideology, Trust and Oneness

A talk given by Rev. Dr. Richard Boeke at the “Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative” (GCGI) 10^th Annual International Conference, “Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream: Reclaiming the Moral & Spiritual Roots of Economics & Capitalism”, Waterperry House, Oxford, September 2-5, 2012…

Fideology, Trust and Oneness (PDF, 7 pages)

Bektashi Order of Macedonia welcomed into membership

The IARF has recently welcomed the Bektashi Order of Macedonia as a new member group. It is a branch of the Bektashi Order of Dervishes which has members in 31 countries, with headquarters originally in Turkey, now established in Albania. It is Alevite in character.

The order has its origin in the teachings and life of the 13th century Haji Bektash Veli in Anatolia, in present-day Turkey. In the early 16th century it took its present shape as a Sufi order. It has been closely connected to the Janitsar elite forces of the Ottoman empire, until these were disbanded in 1826. Thus it spread its influence throughout the Balkans. After the prohibition of all Sufi orders in Turkey in 1925, and the consequent shutdown of its historical centre, the order moved to Ankara, until, four years later, the central power was shifted to Albania, where a considerable population of affiliates had been in existence since the 18th century. Right from the start of the communist period, heavy persecution took place, with several of the order’s leaders being executed. When, in 1967, all religious practices were being prohibited, all places of worship in Albania were shut down. The order is now in the process of reestablishing itself.

Though Bektashi dervises render their services to a wide circle of followers, actual membership of the order is through initiation only. Applicants are guided on their spiritual path by a teacher, whose teachings may vary according to the context, be it religious, cultural, or socio-political. It is thus that Bektashiism has incorporated elements of a wide range of religious styles – Sunni, Sufi, Shia, and Christian among them – as well as pre-existent religions, including early Christianity. It is, and has been throughout its history, open to new ideas. Mysticism is eminent in all teachings and practises . Scriptures consist of poetry rather than doctrinal teachings. Music is used as a vehicle to convey teachings. Remarkable is the principle of gender equality in rituals and practises.

The Macedonian branch of the Bektashi order has a reason of its own to be the first among the Alevites to join IARF: in its home country it has no right to exist. Legally, only one person can represent its membership, on a personal basis, since no organization is allowed. Its places of worship have been handed over to a different Muslim organization, largely Sunni in character. Many are now being neglected, put to a different use, or have been levelled to the ground. Supporting groups like these has been one of the aims of IARF right from its founding. It is hoped that membership of IARF will raise their profile and thus improve their chances of being accepted.

Wytske Dijkstra

RFYN statement to UN’s International Year of Youth

“The role of youth in the progress of Afghanistan”

Work by Afghan members of our youth network (‘RFYN’) submitted for: High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on Youth

@ UN Headquarters, New York
25-26 July 2011

RFYN contribution to UN High-Level Meeting (PDF, 3 pages)

Illustrated article “The role of youth in the progress of Afghanistan” by Jafar Askandary (PDF, 5 pages)

March 2012 ToM: Religious violence in Nigeria

Some recent coverage of the rise of Boko Haram in northern Nigeria:

Plus:
Written statement submitted by the Jubilee Campaign to the UN Human Rights Council’s Nineteenth session, March 2012 (Agenda item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention): Advocacy of religious hatred in Nigeria (PDF, 4 pages)

Plus:
A grassroots project in Jos to bring Muslims & Christians together

Thomas Mathew on Obama’s election

Dear Friends,

Peace Greetings.

At last, the whole world has become testimony to change – a change extremely radical and noteworthy.
The world received the news that Mr. Barack Obama had been elected as the President of USA with awe
and appreciation. The Oval house door is now open for the first Afro-American President in the history
of United States of America.

The twenty-first century is looking forward to Change, and the responsibility of the new
visionaries is to bridge a world society divided by politics, war, race, ethnicity, religion and civilization.
The American president, being the head of the most powerful nation in the world, can play a key role in
solving the above problems and leading the world into a more just and peaceful era.

People all around the world feel that Mr. Obama can achieve this. We have many expectations
from him. He is young, enthusiastic, multi-cultural, and religiously liberal. He once stated “Religious
freedom should be protected worldwide, and we need to show that example at home”.

He also voiced support for the Istanbul-based Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, calling on Turkey “to grant
religious freedom to the Fener Greek Patriarchate”.

In his book The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama writes “In our household the Bible, the Koran,
and the Bhagavad-Gita sat on the shelf alongside books of Greek and Norse and African mythology. On
Easter or Christmas Day my mother might drag me to church, just as she dragged me to the Buddhist
temple, the Chinese New Year celebration, the Shinto shrine, and ancient Hawaiian burial sites.”
This is very close to the motto of IARF, “belief with integrity”.
I hope a true believer like him can understand the value of every human life, the miseries of war, and the importance of harmony between the religions.

Though IARF was founded 108 years ago, I can now see our mission carried out by many world
leaders. As an NGO, we are not a party of American politics, but we have a responsibility to play our
role sincerely along with world leaders.

I wish and hope the President-elect Mr. Barack Obama, a promising world leader, practices his
words about the protection of religious freedom around the world. We have a dream which will ensure
the dignity of every human being, and respect his or her fundamental human rights.

With regards,
Thomas Mathew, President
13 November 2008

January 2012 ToM: Resolution 16/18

Resolution 16/18, a measure adopted “by consensus” – without a vote – at the U.N. Human Rights Council – was introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), a coalition of 57 Muslim states.

Formally entitled “combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons based on religion or belief,” it follows in the footsteps of the controversial “Defamation of Religion” resolutions passed by the UN since 1999.

These resolutions, which sought to limit criticism or insult to Islam, lost significant support in recent years as more countries came to recognize the danger they posed to free speech and religious expression.

Resolution 16/18 was hailed as a shift away from these earlier resolutions on “defamation of Islam” (later changed to “defamation of religion”) introduced by the OIC and duly voted through each year at both the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly

Religious Tolerance Resolution Backed by Obama Administration Aligns With Islamic Bloc’s Interests
December 16, 2011

December 2011 ToM: Syrian secularism under transformation

Topic of this month is the demise of secularism in an Arab republic.

http://wwrn.org/articles/36648/

Site of film to which above article refers

November 2011 ToM: The fate of USCIRF

Has the U.S. Senate “chosen to quietly shut down the independent U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom” (USCIRF)?
Do the American people “need to remind their senators of the importance of religious freedom in foreign policy and of USCIRF’s key role”?

Consider this article by Nina Shea.

YouTube

World congress in Birmingham organized by IARF from HANSZIEMEDIA on Vimeo.