Dr. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya, who carries out studies at Harvard University, explained...

Üsküdar University Institute for Sufi Studies, Asst. Prof. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya continues her academic studies at Harvard University, one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Yalçınkaya, who has been working on a postdoctoral research project at Harvard University's Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES) for the last two years, said that we have entered a period in which the definition of human beings will be redefined. Pointing out that even the terminology on this subject has changed, Yalçınkaya said that humanity is moving towards a period where it will need spirituality, morality and religion the most.

Üsküdar University Institute for Sufi Studies, Asst. Prof. Prof. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya continues her academic studies at Harvard University, one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

It is of great importance in terms of the international representation of Üsküdar University

Stating that academic activities at Harvard University are of great importance in terms of representing Üsküdar University in the international academic arena, Asst. Prof. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya expressed that "I would like to say that I have met many researchers who have various scientific collaborations with our university in the scientific meetings I attended in the USA. I had the opportunity to meet various researchers who participated in congresses and symposiums organized by Üsküdar University, whose articles were published in our academic journals or who had scientific contacts with the academic staff of our university. Especially at the AAR (Religious Studies) congress held in Denver, which I attended in 2022, I attracted great attention because I am a researcher from the Institute for Sufi Studies at Üsküdar University. These experiences have enabled me to see the strong position and sphere of influence of our university in academic networks in Türkiye and abroad in a concrete way. I have witnessed that the international studies we organize within our university, well-known names and the network of relations play an important role in the spread of this influence, as well as our academic publications."

The academic relationship with Harvard has been going on for more than a decade

Stating that the academic relationship with Harvard University has been going on for more than ten years, Asst. Prof. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya continued her as follows:

"The desire to examine the science of Sufism from a historical perspective led me to take graduate courses in the field of Humanities and Religious Studies as of 2013, in addition to my studies at Istanbul University at that time. Also, during this time, I participated in Sufi text reading courses at the doctoral level and found scientific studies focusing on the relationship between the historical context and the text. Meeting Dr. Cemal Kafadar, director of the Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES) and a professor in the Department of History, was an important turning point in this process. Under the guidance of Dr. Kafadar, I had the opportunity to write a part of my doctoral thesis in the Harvard library, and during this process, I made presentations for my thesis at the relevant center. Thus, the support I received from my Institute and University to continue some of my doctoral studies, which I started in Türkiye, in the United States, was effective in my ability to project my research after my doctorate. When this support is combined with all other fields, you are included in the science circles of the world's leading universities on behalf of your University, which provides mutual benefit on the one hand, and on the other hand, offers opportunities for sharing and competition to be carried out under fairer conditions."

"I was accepted as a visiting researcher at the Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies"

Reminding that in 2022, she was accepted as a visiting researcher at the Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies for her postdoctoral research. Prof. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya stated that "For the last two years, I have been working to produce academic publications and make presentations at scientific conferences within the scope of the project I have been carrying out here. Harvard's rich resources and intellectual atmosphere enabled me to conduct in-depth research on the place and importance of Sufi thought in shaping historical processes."

"This project examines the role of Sufi thought in Türkiye during the late Ottoman Empire and the early Republican period"

Asst. Prof. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya gave information about her work and continued her remarks as follows: "For the last two years, I have been working on my postdoctoral research project at Harvard University Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES). This project examines the role of Sufi thought in Türkiye during the late Ottoman Empire and the early Republican period. In particular, the bridge of continuity established by Sufi thinkers between tradition and contemporary thought in the modernization process is important at this point. To shed light on these questions, under the supervision of Prof. Cemal Kafadar, I analyze in depth the works and practices of important Sufi figures such as Ken'ân Rifâî (d. 1950), Ahmet Avni Konuk (d. 1936) and Tâhirülmevlevî (d. 1951), who are among the last Sufi bureaucrats of the Ottoman period. This research, which focuses on the socio-cultural influences of Sufi authors in the transition period and the cultural synthesis that continues, also aims to provide a new perspective to the historiography of the relevant period."

“A qualified audience that follows Üsküdar University's scientific studies in this field"

Pointing out that the most important advantage of being a visiting researcher at Harvard University is access to extensive library resources and interacting with international academic circles, Asst. Prof. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya made the following remarks:

"Indeed, while the researcher has easy access to resources in the field, I also had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with many international researchers with different scientific perspectives, which enriches the scope and content of scientific studies. In my opinion, one of the most important aspects of conducting research abroad is the opportunity to introduce and represent the scientific tradition you belong to in this academic environment in the best way possible. During this period, I made various academic presentations to understand and promote the Seljuk and Ottoman scientific/irfânî heritage. In addition, it has been a great source of happiness and pride for me to come together with a qualified audience that follows the scientific studies of Üsküdar University in this field in the scientific meetings I have participated in as a participant.

"I was contacted by the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA)"

Emphasizing that congresses are of great importance in terms of international researchers and the expansion of academic networks, Asst. Prof. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya made the following remarks:

"Especially at Üsküdar University, under the leadership of our President Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, the International Positive Psychology Congress, which started and is held every year, is very valuable in this sense. As a matter of fact, after I presented a paper titled 'Resilience from the Perspective of Sufism' at the 2017 congress, I was contacted by the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA). They were intrigued. Then, they were interested in my article titled 'Ways to get rid of sadness and reach happiness according to Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi' published in our university's Psikohayat magazine. I was contacted by the IPPA's 'Spirituality' unit. After these contacts, I had the opportunity to address an international audience as part of the association's scientific talks series, and this speech attracted a lot of attention. In my opinion, the scientific knowledge, academic and semi-academic publications and branded names reached by Üsküdar University's stable and comprehensive studies in the field of Positive Psychology, as well as the universal appeal of Rumi's spirituality-based understanding of happiness, play an important role in this interest."

Globally, interest in spiritual values is increasing day by day

Stating that the interest in spiritual values in the global sense is increasing day by day, Asst. Prof. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya stated the following remarks:

"At this point, positive psychology stands out as a discipline that emphasizes the importance of spiritual values to increase the happiness of individuals. In this context, our university's studies in the field of Positive Psychology enrich the literature on the relationship between values and well-being with approaches brought from Anatolian wisdom. Prof. Nevzat Tarhan's studies on Rumi Therapy and Yunus Therapy are an important guide on how the relevant literature can be reflected in positive psychology-based therapies. On the other hand, many master's and doctoral studies conducted at the Institute for Sufi Studies at Üsküdar University focus on tracing spiritual and moral values in Sufi literature in general and Ottoman cultural heritage in particular, and the scientific principles they will offer to changing life and human beings. These studies scientifically reveal the relationship between spiritual values and happiness with art, literature and culture. Especially in this period when spiritual pursuits are increasing in the West, I think that such interdisciplinary studies offered by our university are of great importance in terms of scientific evaluation and dissemination of spiritual heritage."

"There is a relative lack of interest in the rich spiritual and intellectual accumulation revealed in the Seljuk and Ottoman periods"

Stating that the West generally tends to turn to Far Eastern philosophies in its search for spirituality and wisdom, Asst. Prof. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya said that "This may also mean that the Islamic thought tradition and Sufi accumulation are not scientifically examined and presented to international academic circles. There are not enough English-language publications to reveal these relationships. It is certain that this heritage needs to be promoted more through scientific publications and academic studies. These studies are of a nature that will enrich many scientific questions and gaps in the international literature with new approaches. It should be seen that the current initiatives and approaches of our university offer new and in-depth approaches that will push the boundaries of the discourses on 'human' to date. Our university has very important studies to present to the scientific world in this field."

"A period has been entered in which the definition of man will be redefined"

Asst. Prof. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya stated that it is necessary to act knowing that technology is not just a tool, but directly affects the way people think and put it into practice, and concluded her remarks as follows:

"At this stage where 'artificial intelligence' is becoming widespread in every field, we must make a special effort to keep people 'human'. In no period of history has man been left under such a threat. A period has been entered in which the definition of man will be redefined. Even the terminology in this regard is changing. Humanity is moving towards a period in which it will need spirituality, morality and, in my opinion, religion the most. For this reason, it is very valuable that all fields of science can produce together. Social sciences and humanities must work in an interdisciplinary manner. In conclusion, I would like to say that the boundaries between disciplines must be overcome."

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)