Üsküdar University Founding Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan made important statements regarding biological sex, sexual identity, and sexual orientation in a talk organized by Bursa Provincial Directorate of National Education for Religious Culture and Ethics teachers. Tarhan noted that children and young people question everything to learn, and stated that old questions should be answered using new methods in these inquiries. Tarhan also emphasized that instead of confronting them and correcting them in this process, they should be taken alongside and progress together. He said that new methods must be found to protect our hearts.
Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, in the online interview, drew attention to the fact that biological identity is innate, while sexual identity is formed through social learning. Tarhan stated; “Recent genetic studies have shown that there is epigenetics, the quantum of genetics. Epigenetics means the environment modifying the gene. The gene comes differently from birth, but environmental exposures and experiences cause genetic polymorphism in genes. For example, if a boy grows up among his sisters and aunts, he takes their behavior as an example, models it, and by repeating it, can make changes in his genes. Biological identity is innate, while sexual identity is something that develops later through social learning. What does this mean? Something that develops later is not fate.”
“Innovation and Unity are Needed in Methodology”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan mentioned that Islam needs a Renaissance, not a reformation. Tarhan stated; “Children were raised with concepts of shame, sin, and prohibition. These are our traditional cultural child-rearing methods that have existed for centuries. This was valid and correct for a hundred years. We protected a child from evil with shame, prohibition, and sin. Because there were social norms, like neighborhood pressure, but that is gone. Secondly, there were family norms. Every family had its values and bonds, and that has also been shaken; now the internet is the open door of the house, everything comes in. Many social norms, family norms, and protectors of the family have disintegrated. Because these situations protecting the family have disintegrated, if you raise them with old methods and give new answers to old questions, we lose these children. The essence is the same, but innovation and unity are needed in methodology. That is why Islam does not need reform; it needs a renaissance.”
“Currently, We Are Living the Umayyad Morality of Islam”
Tarhan, addressing the need to discover and bring forth the prophetic morality at the core of Islam in this era, said; “In this era, we need to return to the prophetic morality of Islam. We are currently living the Umayyad morality of Islam. It might sound a bit harsh, but I think it has merged with patriarchal culture; we are living the Umayyad morality. Umayyad morality involves oppression, threats, intimidation, and suppression. There is even racism in it. Therefore, in this era, we need to discover and bring forth the prophetic morality at the core of Islam. Otherwise, our children will be lost, no kidding. It could be sexual identity, atheism, deism, or something else; they will leave. That is why we need to present this with new methods, because the truth is beautiful, its essence is beautiful, but we need to convey it to our children in a way appropriate for this time. This is not very difficult. We used to protect our children by conveying the form of Islam. With 'wardrobe Islam' (superficial adherence), our most sensitive organ according to Islam is our heart. To prevent our hearts from getting polluted. For this, very sharp boundaries were set between men and women, but these boundaries have disappeared in this era. So what will we do? To protect our hearts, we will find other methods.”
“Instead of Correcting Children, We Need to Take Them Alongside and Progress Together”
Tarhan stated that an individual questions all sexual, social, and cultural identities, and creates their own identity after questioning. Tarhan stated; “Men and women are equal in opportunities, but not biologically equal. I wrote this with evidence in my book 'Female Psychology.' Everything I say is evidence-based. Bıologically not equal, but equal in rights and opportunities. No one can object to this. Currently, this is a situation where this global ideology is tricking us into making mistakes, but ultimately, we need to protect ourselves, our children, and our loved ones by becoming aware. Adolescence, the 9th-grade period, 15 years old, is the full adolescent period. A child asks questions like 'Who am I, where should I belong, why?' and within belonging, sexual identity, social identity, cultural identity all fall. The individual questions all these identities. After questioning, they form their own identity. In fact, young people questioning this does not show that they are deists or atheists. It only shows that they are curious and questioning, meaning they are in search. In such a situation, these young people are searching, asking questions, so when we treat them as an opposing side in these inquiries, we lose them. We lose them when we treat them as an opposing side; instead of confronting and correcting those children, we need to take them alongside and progress together.”