The Tarhan-İDER Foundation's board of directors and members came together for their traditional iftar dinner. During the iftar program held at the main campus of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, foundation members broke their fast in a warm atmosphere. They experienced the joy of coming together for the 9th time during Ramadan.
This year marked the 9th traditional iftar dinner gathering of the Tarhan-İDER Foundation, which is held regularly every year.
The iftar dinner was held under the presidency of Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi and President of the Tarhan-İDER Foundation.
A. Furkan Tarhan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka, Rector's Advisor; Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak, Vice Rector; Selçuk Uysaler, Secretary General of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, along with the foundation's members and their families, attended the iftar dinner held at the main campus of Üsküdar Üniversitesi.
“The 21st century will be a century where humanity is rebuilt”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, President of the Foundation, who delivered the opening speech of the iftar invitation, said; “Today, as Üsküdar Üniversitesi, we hosted a very important conference. We held the “International Post-Materialist and Holistic Science Conference” on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi's passing. Very important figures in their fields were with us. Bediüzzaman had a project. He had a project to open a university where religious sciences and natural sciences stood together. Confirming its theoretical foundations, a movement called post-materialism began in the world, especially from America. Scientists, in particular, declared that materialism had failed. It was an understanding that disregarded religion. There is a manifesto called post-materialist science, jointly published by professors from Arizona University and Columbia University in New York, concerning its beginning to change. We published it on our website. We also translated and published the book in Turkish. It forms the scientific foundations of the synthesis of religion and science. In the world, the understanding that 'If there is religion, there is no science; if there is science, there is no religion' began to change; this was a very widespread understanding. This understanding is now changing. The evidence that religion and science are not opposites but complementary to each other has increased significantly. For this reason, the 21st century will be a century where humanity is rebuilt.”
“Everyone needs those fundamental ideas in the Risale-i Nur works”
Stating, “We have a duty to lead children to truths,” Tarhan said; “Everyone needs those fundamental ideas in the Risale-i Nur works. Everyone, especially young people, needs to read them. Young people are seriously endangered by the influence of popular culture. They cannot find answers to the questions in their minds. When they cannot find answers, traditional Islam does not provide them, and because it does not, children drift away. For this reason, we have a duty and responsibility to lead them to truths. On this occasion, you will find clues about this in this conference. There were certainly good ideas there. If there are those who have not watched the conference, they can watch it on Üsküdar Üniversitesi Youtube, and I definitely recommend them to watch it.”
“Better days are even closer…”
Speaking about how the visible world is much different, Tarhan said; “The best answer to anti-religious people, to atheists, is to pursue persuasion. It is necessary to proceed with evidence and counter-evidence. The foundations for this have also begun to form. Or rather, it has started to become visible. It was not enough for us to know, it needed to be accepted in the scientific world. For this reason, better days are even closer. If we look at televisions or news, our morale will be dampened, but the reality is not like that. The visible world is much different.”
The program, which began with a recitation of the Holy Quran, ended with prayers.
International Post-Materialist and Holistic Science Conference Video: