[Fill in the blank] Dialogue Society

Members and sympathizers of the Gulen Movement are very insistent on describing it as "loosely organized" and "decentralized;" it is claimed that Gulenist entities are all "independent" and "locally run" initiatives.  Striking similarities in the programs and websites of Gulenist dialog and cultural organizations across the United States (and indeed across the world) suggest quite the contrary.

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Texas, England, Manitoba

Here is text that appears in nearly identical form on websites of Gulenist organizations in five different states, as well as Manitoba, Canada, and Great Britain.

Note in particular that on the website of the Rumi Foundation in Cleveland, where the text is clearly copied from the Niagara Foundation in Chicago, someone forgot to change the word "Chicagoans" to "Clevelanders."


Holy Dove Foundation, Indiana

"The Holy Dove Foundation organizes dialogue trips to Turkey as yet another means of building bridges and strengthening friendships between the Muslim world and the West. Though hailing from different religious backgrounds, we find common ground through our travels in which we share the same dining table. Hoosiers are presented with the opportunity to network with new, and God willing, lifelong friends as a way of strengthening even further our commitment to a global ethic of dialogue and mutual understanding."

Niagara Foundation, Chicago

"Niagara Foundation organizes dialogue trips to Turkey as yet another means of building bridges and strengthening friendships between the East world and the West. Though hailing from different religious backgrounds, we find common ground through our travels in which we share the same dining table.  Chicagoans are presented with the opportunity to network with new, and God willing, lifelong friends as a way of strengthening even further our commitment to a global ethic of dialogue and mutual understanding."

Iowa Dialog Center, Iowa

"Iowa Dialog Center organizes dialogue trips to Turkey as yet another means of building bridges and strengthening friendships between the East world and the West. Though hailing from different religious backgrounds, we find common ground through our travels in which we share the same dining table. Iowans are presented with the opportunity to network with new, and God willing, lifelong friends as a way of strengthening even further our commitment to a global ethic of dialogue and mutual understanding."

Rumi Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio

"Rumi Foundation of Cleveland organizes dialogue trips to Turkey as yet another means of building bridges and strengthening friendships between the East world and the West. Though hailing from different religious backgrounds, we find common ground through our travels in which we share the same dining table. Chicagoans are presented with the opportunity to network with new, and God willing, lifelong friends as a way of strengthening even further our commitment to a global ethic of dialogue and mutual understanding."

Institute of Interfaith Dialog, Raindrop Turkish House, Texas

"The Institute of Interfaith Dialog together with the Raindrop Turkish House organizes dialogue trips to Turkey as means of building bridges and strengthening friendships between Turkey and the West.  Though hailing from different ethnic backgrounds, we find common ground through our travels in which we share the same dining table. Americans are presented with the opportunity to network with new and lifelong friends as a way of strengthening even further our commitment to a global ethic of dialogue and mutual understanding."
 
Fellowship Dialogue Society, England

"Fellowship Dialogue Society organizes Intercultural dialogue trips to Turkey as yet another means of building bridges and strengthening friendships between the Muslim world and the West.  Though hailing from different religious backgrounds, we find common ground through our travels in which we share the same dining table.  British are presented with the opportunity to network with new, and God willing, lifelong friends as a way of strengthening even further our commitment to a global ethic of dialogue and mutual understanding."

Manitoba Fellowship Organization, Canada

"Manitoba Fellowship Organization will organize dialogue trips to Turkey as yet another means of building bridges and strengthening friendships between the Muslim world and the West ......
Though hailing from different religious backgrounds, we will find common ground through our travels in which we will share the same dining table. Winnipegers will be presented with the opportunity to network with new, and God willing, lifelong friends as a way of strengthening even further our commitment to a global ethic of dialogue and mutual understanding."



California and Utah

The following texts describing a series of planned events, quoted from the websites of two Gulenist nonprofits in separate states, the Pacifica Institute in California and the Multicultural Arch Foundation in Utah, are essentially identical, belying the claim that each Gulenist organization operates independently of the others.

Here is the text that appears on both sites; the only parts that differ are in red:

"[Pacifica Institute]/[Multicultural Arch Foundation] reaffirms its conviction that dialogue will bring about universal peace and the good nature of the human being is going to come to the fore sooner or later so what we need to do in order to reach this hopeful day is to set off on the journey. On this way, each step has to be based on mutual respect and understanding and this is not true only for states and nations, but also for individuals. Leading this dialogue is not a duty that falls only on the shoulders of governments or governmental organs.  In order to light this torch of respect and peace, voluntary services run by civil society and individuals are as important as official ones.

"So, taking up this challenge, to avoid demonizing the other religions, Pacifica Institute announces the state of the Interfaith [Conversations/Lectures] Series. These [conversations/lectures] will be about the role faiths play in our lives. The series will serve as a basis for people to understand each other’s religions, cultures, traditions and will be enriched by each speaker who will elevate us from being ignorant of each other, eliminate misconceptions and teach us the art of living together. We will discuss our faith journeys as a conversation and through the conversation series we will come to understand how people from different backgrounds engage their lives in the present day.

"The series will be on Saturday evenings from [6:00 pm to 8:00 pm/5:00 pm to 7:00 pm].  Light meal will be served during the series. Attendance will only require your RSVP and the event is free of charge."