Founding Rector of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, met with students from Gaziantep Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez Anatolian Imam Hatip High School. Tarhan offered important advice to young people on their life and career journeys. Stating that information is quickly accessible in this era, Tarhan expressed that artificial intelligence should be used for good, correct, and beneficial purposes. Emphasizing that young people should continuously develop themselves, Tarhan also pointed out that knowledge (ilim) and wisdom (irfan) should coexist in education. Underlining that success cannot be achieved without embracing challenges, and that development begins by facing difficulties, Tarhan stated that difficulties are opportunities for growth.
The conference, held at the Üsküdar University NP Health Campus İbni Sina Auditorium, was attended by students and educators, primarily Üsküdar University Founding Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel, and Sadık Paksoy, Manager of the Health, Culture, and Sports Department.
The moderation of the conference was undertaken by Sadık Paksoy, Manager of the Health, Culture, and Sports Department.
Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak: “Deeply understanding information and using it correctly requires more effort”
Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak delivered a greeting speech to the students from Gaziantep. Koçak said; “You are in a special educational environment where you have the opportunity to learn religious sciences and natural sciences together and evaluate these two fields collectively. In this sense, I congratulate you. This situation also brings with it a great responsibility. Because you have to be good for the values you represent. By 'good' here, I mean that you should train yourselves in the best way, continuously develop yourselves, and emerge into society as well-equipped individuals. You should embark on life as self-confident, strong personalities. Of course, you are a little more fortunate. Because your access to information is fast and easy. You have guiding teachers, reference books, and technological means at your side. However, with these advantages, your competition is also more difficult. In today's world, accessing information has become easier, but deeply understanding information and using it correctly requires more effort. May this difficulty not discourage you; on the contrary, may it give you strength. Perhaps today you are in student desks, but hopefully, years later, you will sit on these podiums, and you will speak. Your efforts today will determine tomorrow's success. I wholeheartedly congratulate both you and your esteemed teachers who have educated you.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The most logical among belief systems is the belief in tawhid”
Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that positive psychology education can be integrated into lessons, began his words by saying; “If there is a need somewhere and a remedy exists, a solution will be found sooner or later. Imam Ghazali Hazretleri, the star of the 10th century, was like the sun of that era, illuminating his time. If we now turn to that era and try to find solutions for today by taking his teachings only as footnotes, it would not be a valid method. Instead, let's bring Imam Ghazali Hazretleri to today. Let's act by thinking about what he would say under today's conditions. If we do so, we can build a bridge between the past and the future. Today, positive psychology and multiple intelligence applications are entirely derived from Eastern wisdom, Anatolian enlightenment, and Rumi. They have systematized these, created a methodology, and called it ‘positive psychology’. Currently, values education is usually given as a conference or a separate lesson. This creates a thought in young people, 'What good will this do me?' and closes them off to learning. However, this education can be integrated into all lessons, from mathematics to physics, in project high schools and science high schools. It is now emerging that positive sciences and religious sciences draw from the same truth. Our mathematical mind also tells us this. There are four ways to reach the truth. The first is experimentation and observation, the second is reasoning, the third is rational intuition, and the fourth is rational belief. Rational belief is a belief consistent with reason. Currently, there are nearly 4,300 religions in the world, and they all claim to be the most correct. The most logical among these belief systems is the belief in tawhid (oneness of God). At this point where science has arrived, explaining this is now much easier.”
“Young people are currently experiencing a shift in belief”
Referring to the global shift in belief, Tarhan said; “Young people are currently experiencing a shift in belief. Young people studying at Imam Hatip are fortunate in this regard. Because they are raised with a foundation against the global shifts in belief. However, after entering social life and graduating, especially when they start to take part in different environments, what answers they will give to the questions they face becomes important. There is a beautiful saying, 'A one-winged bird cannot fly; knowledge (ilim) and wisdom (irfan) must unite.' That is, material accumulation and spiritual accumulation must be gained simultaneously. There is a need for this in today's world. There are two great dangers awaiting young people. One is egoism, meaning self-centeredness, and the other is secularism, meaning worldliness. One is related to belief, the other to social life. Under the influence of secularism, people in this era live forgetting the afterlife. Never in human history has there been a period where God and the afterlife were forgotten so much. This situation is also called a sign of the end times. We are truly in such a period. I say that a young person who fulfills their basic religious duties, performs their obligatory acts, and avoids major sins is almost like a saint of old times in this era. Because achieving this today is as difficult as holding fire in one's palm. Indeed, it is said, 'In the end times, faith is like holding fire in one's palm.' We are precisely in that time.”
“It is in our hands to use it positively”
Speaking about the transformation brought by artificial intelligence, Tarhan said; “Artificial intelligence and the internet are causing a transformation as great as the impact of the printing press and electricity. Moreover, this transformation is spreading very rapidly. Like all technology, artificial intelligence itself is neutral. It is in our hands to use it positively. When used to convey truth and provide benefit, it offers great opportunities. In psychology, this is called self-transcendence. For many years, the highest stage in Maslow's hierarchy of psychosocial needs was considered self-actualization. However, after Maslow's death, a new stage was added in a study published in 2017: Self-transcendence. This is actually humanity's most fundamental spiritual need. The capitalist system does not adopt this approach because the system constantly says 'consume'. The more you consume, the more is earned. This forms the basis of a selfish global ethic and popular culture. That is why the widespread egoism in this era is also considered one of the signs of the end times.”
“Today’s stony paths are the internet and artificial intelligence”
Stating that accountability is also important alongside good intention, Tarhan said; “Jesus Christ emerged in Palestine and globalized in Rome. I researched why this happened. The Roman Empire had famous stony roads. The saying 'All roads lead to Rome' comes from this. At that time, social, economic, commercial, and military mobility was provided through these roads. The followers of Jesus Christ spread their messages using these roads. They started with only eleven people but became a universal religion thanks to those roads. What they did was to convey the truth and await the outcome from God. If it didn't work, they tried again, but they never gave up. Today's stony paths are the internet and artificial intelligence. If we have an ideal, we need to convey the truth using these paths. What protects a person is not only their good intention but also their accountability. Indeed, the word 'yevmiddin' in Surah Al-Fatiha means 'Day of Judgment'. If we do not forget our accountability, technology becomes a tool for us, not an end. However, those who fall into the trap of technology are those who see it as an end, not a means.”
“Development begins when we face challenges”
Stating that development begins when facing difficulties, Tarhan said; “When we look at the life of Rumi (Hz. Mevlana), we see three things together: Idealism, realism, and activism. When these three come together, a person can work both productively and in a balanced way. During Rumi's time, there was a very renowned figure named Sheikh Keramettin. Wealthy people would send their children to him. Well-trained, disciplined students were around him. To Rumi, however, came people whom society considered difficult: those from the streets, those with tough dispositions, those excluded by society… One day, Sheikh Keramettin said to Rumi, 'Only vagrants come to you. Why don't you try to educate proper people like me?' Rumi replied, 'I believe that Allah's pleasure lies in overcoming difficulties.' Because truly dealing with what is difficult develops one's abilities. Everyone can do what is easy, but embracing challenges transforms a person. Sheikh Keramettin could not grasp the spirit of the time because he remained in a comfortable system, but Rumi opened a new era because he chose the difficult path. Those who stay in their comfort zone cannot take big steps. Development begins when we face challenges. Your peace of mind might be disturbed during this process, but in the end, you can reach much higher goals.”
Three major problems that collapse societies!
Stating that there can be no social transformation without mental transformation, Tarhan said; “One of the biggest diseases of our time is laziness. The comfort offered by the modern age leads people to inactivity. Western societies are also facing this disease. We tembellik tuzağına düşmezsek onları geçebiliriz. If we do not fall into the trap of laziness, we can surpass them. One of the biggest factors that lead people to laziness in this era is indifference (nemelazımcılık). That is, seeing something and not caring. The mentality of 'Let the snake that doesn't bite me live a thousand years' collapses not only individuals but also societies. There are three major problems that collapse societies: First, corruption, second, lawlessness, and third, poverty. I use the acronym Y-H-Y to remember these three [Yolsuzluk, Hukuksuzluk, Yoksulluk]. If the powerful oppress the weak, if corruption spreads, if justice is undermined, if people become impoverished, and if society says 'what does it matter to me' to all this, then the end of a state begins. These three diseases are the result of social policies, not economic policies. Social transformation also begins with mental transformation.”
“Success does not come without embracing challenges”
Underlining the need to abandon prejudices, Tarhan concluded his words by saying; “Our biggest obstacle that makes us lazy and distracts us from our goals is our prejudices. Thoughts like 'What does it matter to me?', 'It won't happen anyway,' or 'Who am I?' trap us in our comfort zone. The moment we overcome our prejudices, we actually overcome ourselves. This is not an easy path. Success does not come without embracing challenges. One must progress by falling and getting up. Obstacles will appear, stones will be laid. These obstacles are not barriers but whips. They are opportunities that develop us. In psychology, this is called developmental trauma. A difficult event you experience, if it doesn't destroy you, strengthens you. Just approach it with the right perspective. When you look at all the success stories in history, the common point is always the same: not giving up in the face of difficulties and walking towards the goal with faith.”
A group photo was taken after the conference concluded.
They got to know Üsküdar University closely…
At the end of the program, students had the opportunity to learn more about Üsküdar University's vision and the opportunities it offers.
Students received detailed information about the university's academic programs, laboratory facilities, R&D activities, and student support services, and also learned about its social and cultural activities.