The event “Environment, Religion, and Culture in the Context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” was organized by the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir, a faculty member of the Philosophy department at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, participated in the online event. Özdemir emphasized that the most important environmental problem is selfishness, greed, and not thinking of others, stressing the need for individuals to question themselves in an existential sense.
The event was moderated by Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Yazıcı, Head of the Philosophy Department. In addition to students from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, academics also attended the event.
“Religions and cultures are our identity”
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir, a faculty member of the Philosophy department at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, emphasized that sustainable development has long been on the world's agenda; “The debate between secularism and religion, which we observe in our country and in different parts of the world, has emerged. Although some say we can solve everything with science and technology, our document was accepted because statistics showed that an understanding emerged that without taking religion and culture into account, due to their principles related to our identity, personality, and existence, environmental or sustainable development issues cannot be addressed.” he stated.
“We need to question ourselves in an existential sense”
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir, drawing attention to selfishness, greed, and not thinking of others as the most significant environmental problem, said; “To achieve the 17 goals, we need the rule of law, democracy, and good governance. There must be facilitating environments at international levels. Because we cannot do some things on our own. For example, in America, it is being discussed that the best minds should come with these incoming migrations. Social development and environmental protection, eradication of poverty and hunger. The most important environmental problem is selfishness, greed, and not thinking of others. The solution is to culturally change ourselves. What is our meaning? What is the meaning of life? We need to question ourselves in an existential sense. I believe the usual approach of secular science is to marginalize religion. Even openly disapproving, not expecting anything from the religious or at least from religious thinkers,” he stated.
“We need a holistic understanding for religiosity”
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir underlined the need for a holistic understanding of religiosity. Özdemir said; “We need a holistic understanding for religiosity. Both religion and science, and culture. We need many perspectives such as anthropology, philosophy, critical thinking, and eco-feminism. A religious person who does not show the care, love, and compassion that Yunus Emre, Mevlâna, and Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli showed to all living beings and animals is not very meaningful to me. According to me, religiosity that does not embody Yunus Emre’s understanding of ‘I love the created, for the sake of the Creator’ and does not concern itself with endangered animals, plants, polluted seas, waters, consciences, hearts, or address inequality and poverty in society, is not true religiosity. Other names can be given. Everyone needs to undergo a transformation.”
“I have seen many atheists who are very moral and honest”
Özdemir, pointing out that morality is always the important thing, said; “I have seen many atheists. Very moral, honest. I have seen atheists who donate a part of their salary to provide scholarships for financially struggling students in different parts of the world for their education. Doing good, never having lied throughout their lives, meaning they are morally impeccable. An evolutionist, a scientist, says the same for religious people,” he stated.
The event concluded after answering questions from students.