Abstract

The reality of multiculturalism, social and religious pluralism, and intercultural tensions and conflicts require new approaches of interaction, education and communication. Fethullah Gülen is one of the most persuasive and influential voices in the Muslim community calling for dialogue as a step to peace. He proposes dialogue as a method to be used in building and establishing a culture of peace among co-religionists, people of different ethnic, racial and cultural backgrounds. He sees dialogue as a framework of mutual acceptance and respect of each other’s identity. This is the first stage of Gülen’s dialogue concept: accepting the others in their own position. The second stage involves respecting the position of the other(s), and the third stage is the concept of sharing values in the context of the other(s). Gülen conviction’s is that humanity ultimately will be led to peace and unity by recognizing and accepting social, cultural, and religious diversity, an exchange of mutual values and union in collaboration.