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June 1, 2009

Lecture at Boston University on 'Brave New Turkey'

I gave a lecture titled "Brave New Turkey: Yes We Can!" at Boston University on April 15. From this link you can watch the full lecture, including the questions & answers session at the end.

The speech apparently raised some controversy in some blogs, most notably in Dr. Jenny White's (must-see) "Kamil Pasha," here and here. Not a big surprise: Turkey is a country of controversies, and Turks within different political camps are often very harsh against each other. But just to set the record strait in the face of some ad hominem attacks, let me reiterate this: I am not a follower of any Islamic community (cemaat), order (tarikat), or any other religious or political group. (That's why my Facebook profile notes I am a "freelance Muslim.") I even don't have the slightest sympathy with some of the groups mentioned in those blog debates - such as the one led by Adnan Oktar.

I am not a "creationist," too, because I think that term implies an effort to manipulate science according to religious belief, something which I find wrong. (I just think manipulating science according to materialist belief is wrong, too.) I also think biological evolution is an established fact. I just don't think that it is totally random and devoid of meaning and purpose, as evolutionary atheists such as Richard Dawkins claim.

As for the lecture, I suggest seeing it for yourself and making your own judgment. I tried not to make it too boring.

Posted by Mustafa Akyol at 12:44 AM | Comments (6)