Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that science and religion should be taught in a synthesis, saying, “In the minds of young people, these two sources should be seen not as alternatives to each other, but as complementary to each other. We cannot build morality and character without addressing their questions about faith.” Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also emphasized the importance of belief in an external power and a creator in the search for meaning in life.
The IV. International Congress on Creation in the Light of Sciences, hosted by Kütahya Dumlupınar University, brings together expert speakers from Turkey and around the world. The congress is attended by 83 scientists from 33 different universities, including 30 from Turkey and three universities from the Netherlands, Canada, and America. Some participants attended the congress, held at Kütahya Dumlupınar University Faculty of Fine Arts Ahmet Yakupoğlu Amphi, online within the scope of pandemic measures.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “We cannot progress unless we question why we haven't produced an Ibn-i Sina for 500 years”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stated that he wanted to challenge conventional wisdom in his speech titled “Existential Crisis in Old Age,” which he delivered online, and said that the speech of Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş, President of Religious Affairs, who spoke before him, was remarkable.
Tarhan stated that the speakers talked about Islamic scientists and scholars and their contributions to civilization, adding, “But we haven't produced an Ibn-i Sina for 500 years. We cannot progress unless we question this. Therefore, we need to question why we haven't produced one. We need to be able to self-criticize. The Director General of Religious Education spoke about very valuable studies on religious and moral education, but why does this not resonate with young people? Our President of Religious Affairs said that the ideas emerging from here should resonate with young people. Young people today don't want to learn how to pray. They ask why they should pray. We need to answer these questions. We have now opened an alternative field of science. We see that the existential ideas presented by materialist systems and related to the existence of sciences are exhausted and cannot provide answers. In such a situation regarding creation, we need to provide material for science. I believe it is the duty of this congress to provide this material.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Lessons need to be learned from the past”
Tarhan also stated that lessons should be learned from the past regarding the distinction between religion and science, saying, “The perception that religion is a separate field and science is a separate field led to the upbringing of two types of people in the late Ottoman period. The madrasa exalted religion, while the school exalted positive sciences. Because the people of the school captured the spirit of the time, despite Abdülhamit's many services, construction activities, creation of a strong army, and saving the treasury from bankruptcy, the young people raised during 11 years of war overthrew him. The second generation overthrew the Ottoman Empire. This means we must not repeat the mistakes made in that generation. In the minds of young people, these two sources should be seen not as alternatives to each other, but as complementary to each other. Hearing this from the President of Religious Affairs is very valuable. Because many of our theology professors do not think like our President of Religious Affairs on this matter. They say that the subject of Kalam is discussed among the elite; they do not think that these issues should be explained to young people and the public. However, we cannot build morality and character without addressing questions about faith. It is necessary to solve people's fundamental questions of faith. If we try to produce solutions without finding answers to questions about creation and existence such as 'Why do I exist, what is the meaning of life?', we will lose today's youth and cause a loss of time and energy.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The verses of the book of the universe are the path to truth”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that there are four paths that lead people to truth: “One is experiment and observation. The second is reasoning methods. The third is rationalist influence. The fourth is beliefs. Experiment and observation are currently used as scientific methodology. The speakers here touched upon a very good point. We need to find and extract verses in three areas. The verses of the Quran, the verses of the book of the universe, are the path that leads us to truth. Evidence in science also leads us to truth. All of these are science. When we say science, we currently have an education system that does not accept religious knowledge as science in our mental map outside of religion. In schools, there is an understanding that teaches students that religion is good and beneficial but contrary to science, thus not seeing religion as a science. Unless this understanding changes in our education system, all the moral and character-building education we provide here will remain in the air. Because for people to register information in their brains, they need to prove it through these four ways.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Existential awareness is important for solving problems in old age”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that existential awareness is important for finding solutions to problems in old age, saying, “If we synthesize religion and science, we will read the book of the universe correctly. We will interpret events more accurately. That is why I found the statement of the President of Religious Affairs important. Currently, two important sources that lead us to Allah are mentioned. The first source is the Quran. The second is our Prophet (PBUH). The third source is the book of the universe. Until now, we have not used the book of the universe as a sourcebook in religious literature. The book of the universe is also one of the paths that lead to Allah. When one reads this, one can find peace there. In this way, one grasps the comforting power of life for peace and serenity.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The belief in Tawhid is the closest belief system to reason”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan emphasized the importance of deep human wisdom, stating, “Existence is the result of an external will. When you leave your existence to chance, it is impossible to escape depression. But if one believes that life is dependent on an external will and with the belief in Tawhid. Because the belief in Tawhid is the closest belief system to reason. Other nature religions and beliefs that glorify mysticism do not convince the Western mind. Humanity's mission in life is to mature its soul. This happens by being a good person. Being a good person is paying the rent for our existence. Virtue is not just virtue. As a solution, the correct conception of Allah needs to be taught. That is, if one does not know the concept of the conception of Allah well, the conception of Allah, which is the teaching of the church, is mistaken for scientific. However, the correct conception of Allah is the conception of Allah defined by Tawhid. This means being able to abandon this world not physically but spiritually. Secularism currently tells us to live as if there is only this world. We believe in Allah but cannot trust Him. This means there is something wrong with our faith. The scientific world has deified causes. Causes were written texts; they were not alive. We should not deify them. It is important to know the attributes of Allah, but the lack of true knowledge of Allah must also be acknowledged. The inner peace brought by true faith must be felt.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “There are many Muslims but few believers”
Tarhan stated that there is a process of people becoming more religious in old age, saying, “Righteous people in old age immediately become religious. They discover Allah. Therefore, we need to use digital platforms to explain truths to humanity. We need to take a stand against fake religiosity and hidden polytheism. Currently, there are many Muslims in the world, but few true believers. We need to produce solutions for true believers to emerge.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Belief in a Creator is very important”
Tarhan also noted the importance of belief in an external power and a creator in the search for meaning in life, stating, “If this is absent, everything goes to waste. If a person believes in and can take refuge in an external power and a creator, and if there is this strong faith, if there is the comforting power of religion, the person feels as if all their questions have been answered, all their needs met, all their desires fulfilled, and as if they have integrated with the entire universe, and during this time, happiness hormones are secreted into the brain. Modernism, instead of connecting us to the Creator, connects us to money, to temporary things we cannot control.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The meaning given to death needs to change”
Touching upon the psychology of aging, Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that the meaning given to death should be changed during the aging period, saying, “People have many achievements in youth. But there are illnesses. When one ages, there is fear of death, loneliness, inadequacy, and powerlessness. We do not say psychology of old age; we say psychology of aging. Because a person starts aging from the moment they are born, and programmed cell deaths exist in a person's genetic structure. Death is an inevitable reality. When a certain time comes, every cell ends itself. Therefore, it is very important not to see death as an enemy, but to change the meaning given to death.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The pandemic could accelerate the spiritual crisis in the West”
Tarhan stated that despite its technological success and material prosperity, the Western world is currently in a poor spiritual state, adding, “Especially after Covid-19, it has fallen into an even more difficult situation. The civilization crisis of the West will begin to collapse. I believe this pandemic will accelerate the spiritual crisis in Western civilization. They will begin to investigate the reasons for this. This will give us an opportunity to offer alternatives. Official statements regarding the mental health pandemic have begun. Many diseases, including depression, will peak.”
The congress, which started with Quran recitation and a Sufi music concert, featured opening speeches by Prof. Dr. Şahmurat Arık, Director of the Graduate Education Institute, and Prof. Dr. Kazım Uysal, Rector of Dumlupınar University.
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş, President of Religious Affairs, said that he believed the congress would provide answers to questions humanity is seeking, as well as presentations that would broaden the horizons of young people in particular. Erbaş noted that it is essential to combat the understanding that opposes religion.
Kütahya Provincial Mufti Hüseyin Demirtaş, Kütahya Mayor Prof. Dr. Alim Işık, MHP Kütahya Deputy Ahmet Erbaş, Ak Parti Kütahya Deputy Ceyda Çetin Erenler, and Kütahya Governor Ali Çelik delivered opening speeches at the congress, where Nazif Yılmaz, Director General of Religious Education at the Ministry of National Education, gave a speech titled “The Past and Future of Religious and Moral Education.”