Üsküdar Üniversitesi Postcolonial Studies Application and Research Center (PAMER), Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP), and Ukraine Ternopil National Pedagogical University, Department of Philosophy, jointly organized a training program titled “Ukraine-Turkey: Innovative Approaches in the Analysis of Social Processes”. Within the scope of the five-day program, panels on various topics, practical courses, and cultural tours were held. Academics from Ukraine participated in the training, where social processes were evaluated from postcolonial and philosophical perspectives. Throughout the program, significant places such as Hagia Sophia, Süleymaniye, and Çamlıca were visited, and a meaningful commemoration was held at the July 15 Martyrs' Monument and Museum. The Ukrainian delegation also visited Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan.
The training program, held in the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP) hall, was attended by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Postcolonial Studies Application and Research Center (PAMER) Director Faculty Member Dr. Fehmi Ağca, Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP) President Prof. Dr. Niyazi Beki, RİNAP Vice President Sadık Paksoy, Board Members Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir, Prof. Dr. İlham Miraç, Faculty Member Dr. Nafi Yalçın, as well as Head of Philosophy Department at Ukraine Ternopil National Pedagogical University Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natalia Morska, and Philosophy Department Faculty Members Assoc. Prof. Dr. Liubov Kondratiuk and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Galina Poperechna.
Visit to Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan
The delegation from Ukraine Ternopil National Pedagogical University also visited Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, in the Senate Hall. Prof. Dr. Tarhan expressed his satisfaction with the visit and wished for the organized training to be fruitful for academic relations between the two countries.
“The spread of this understanding among young people gives me hope”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, speaking about Risale-i Nur, said; “When I first read Risale-i Nur, I experienced that classic saying, ‘I read a book, my life changed.’ As someone with a medical background, raised with positive sciences, I couldn't find answers to many questions in my mind. With Risale-i Nur, I saw explanations through reason and logic on topics such as monotheism (tawhid), the afterlife, and resurrection after death. This showed me that a rational belief system could be possible. Said Nursi explains that Allah can be reached through reason. One of its most impressive aspects is that he initiated a book-centered movement, not a personality-centered one. He says, ‘Not me, read the books, find the truth.’ I also transformed these thoughts into books such as ‘Journey from Mind to Heart’ and ‘Bediüzzaman: The Conscience of the Age.’ We also have a student club with this name at our university. The spread of this understanding among young people gives me hope,” he stated.
“The solution lies in protective mental health and strong faith”
Tarhan, stating that Said Nursi grounded the truths in the Quran through reason, said; “I am currently working on a book about 'Risale for the Sick'. I am analyzing it from a psychiatric perspective. The narrative style there closely aligns with Viktor Frankl's logotherapy approach. When humans lose meaning, their resistance to life also diminishes. Just like Frankl's book 'Man's Search for Meaning,' shaped by his experiences in the Holocaust, Said Nursi, in this treatise, explains the effect of finding meaning in the face of calamities and illnesses on mental health. Our esteemed professor Ayhan Songar's comment, ‘This book makes one love illness,’ is also very accurate. In today's world, problems like depression, addiction, and suicide have increased. The solution lies in protective mental health and strong faith. Our brain's algorithm is also programmed to connect with Allah. Said Nursi's greatest revolution was grounding the truths in the Quran through reason. This approach, which he called the 'method of verification (tahkik)', advocates grounding faith through research and contemplation. What is most needed for the people of this era is a faith kneaded with reason,” he stated.
“Said Nursi proposes a meaning-based life”
Tarhan, stating that the heartfelt connection with Allah is forgotten today, said; “One of Said Nursi's narratives that interests me the most is the two-traveler metaphor in the first word. One embarks on a lawless journey saying, ‘I am accountable to no one,’ while the other acts responsibly saying, ‘Such an orderly country cannot be ownerless.’ The traveler who abides by the rules overcomes the difficulties encountered, while the other suffers harm. This is a very powerful representation of worldly life. A smart person obeys the rules because it is for their benefit. Said Nursi proposes a meaning-based life against the modernist understanding that 'what one likes is good.' We also see the same approach in the eighth word, ‘He who sees beautifully thinks beautifully, and he who thinks beautifully enjoys his life.’ These narratives, which change one's perspective on life, are also very valuable for psychological resilience. Today, many people, although engaged in religious practices, have forgotten to establish a heartfelt connection with Allah. The perspective put forth by Said Nursi reminds us of the essence of religion again,” he said.
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir: “We must translate ancient wisdom sources into our era”
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir, Head of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Environmental Ethics Platform and Faculty Member of the Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, delivered a speech titled “Innovative Approaches in the Analysis of Social Processes: The Example of Globalization and Deep Ecology.” Özdemir said; “Ibn Arabî’s understanding of existence as a whole, Mevlânâ’s deep love for nature, and Said Nursî’s approach of reading nature like a book tell us this: ‘Humans are not the masters of nature but beings who should establish a meaningful, responsible, and compassionate relationship with it.’ This ancient wisdom, in the face of ecological crises, offers us not only solutions but also a deep understanding that is not merely material but also spiritual and relational, and proposes establishing a love-based, rather than rights-based, relationship with nature. Therefore, what we need to do today is to re-read these ancient sources of wisdom, translate them into our era, and most importantly, integrate them into our lives,” he stated.
Prof. Dr. İlham Miraç: “We will try to understand the social, cultural, pedagogical, and philosophical dimensions of transformations”
Prof. Dr. İlham Miraç, a RİNAP Board Member at Üsküdar Üniversitesi and Program Coordinator, provided information about the program. Miraç stated; “The program is not only an academic activity but also a platform of friendship and cooperation where two countries, Ukraine and Turkey, two universities, Ternopil National Pedagogical University and Üsküdar Üniversitesi, and many different experiences come together to analyze the social transformations of our age and try to develop innovative approaches for the future. Within the scope of the program, guest academics aim to increase mutual interaction and develop a more holistic analysis in terms of pedagogical, philosophical, and social processes. Our program is not limited to evaluating only political developments; we will also try to understand together the social, cultural, pedagogical, and philosophical dimensions of these transformations. Each of these social processes creates moral, spiritual, cultural, and pedagogical effects at both individual and societal levels. Academically analyzing these and producing solutions within our training program will be a very valuable contribution,” he said.
At the end of the visit, Tarhan signed his books for the academics. The Ukrainian delegation also presented Tarhan with gifts reflecting their own culture.
Ukrainian Philosophy associate professors pointed out that their lives changed after reading a book.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natalia Morska: “Our department is interested in both humanities and social sciences”
Speaking at the opening of the training program, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natalia Morska, Head of the Philosophy Department at Ukraine Ternopil National Pedagogical University, spoke about the versatile structure of the department. Morska said; “Our department is interested in both humanities and social sciences. We have fields such as philosophy, ethics, aesthetics, sociology, and political science. We also conduct studies on topics such as philosophy of education, philosophy of law, and philosophy of culture.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Galina Poperechna: “We are conducting studies with our students”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Galina Poperechna, Faculty Member of the Philosophy Department at Ukraine Ternopil National Pedagogical University, speaking about the establishment process of the “Analysis of Social Processes” program, stated that she personally focuses on philosophical anthropology, values, and relations between Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox cultures, and that they developed new academic programs at undergraduate and graduate levels in 2017-2018. Poperechna said; “We conduct studies with our students. We write articles with them, and publish papers after joint conferences.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Liubov Kondratiuk: “It was very important to feel the atmosphere of peace”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Liubov Kondratiuk stated that being in Turkey was meaningful for them; “We are going through difficult times, there is much pain and suffering. Despite everything, being here, communicating, and feeling the atmosphere of peace was very important.”
Following the introductory session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natalia Morska gave a presentation introducing Ukraine Ternopil National Pedagogical University to the participants.
Theoretical and practical training presented together
On the first day of the program, a panel titled “Public Political Process Analytics from a Postcolonial Perspective” was organized under the leadership of Faculty Member Dr. Fehmi Ağca and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natalia Morska. Following the panel, participants visited Hagia Sophia and Sultan Ahmet Mosque.
On the second day of the training, a panel titled “Innovative Approaches in the Analysis of Social Processes” was held under the moderation of Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Liubov Kondratiuk. Practical lessons were conducted at Süleymaniye and Beyazıt Libraries.
On the third day, a panel titled “Analysis of Spiritual Social Processes and Innovative Approaches: Value System; Harmony of Human, Nature, and Creator, Religious Values; Traditions and Experiences” was held with the participation of Prof. Dr. İlham Miraç and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natalia Morska. Following the panel, Mihrimah Mosque, Valide-i Cedid Mosque, and Valide-i Atik Mosque were visited.
On the fourth day, Çamlıca Mosque and Museum were visited as part of the practical lessons.
On the fifth day, a panel titled “Holistic Perspective as Methods of Understanding the World” was held with the contributions of Sadık Paksoy and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Galina Poperechna.
The spirit of July 15 was not forgotten
Within the scope of the program, participants visited the July 15 Martyrs' Monument and Museum to commemorate the martyrs.