Skip to main content

Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

Subscribe to The Fountain Magazine

Articles

Editorial: Math, the Internet, Peace

31 August 2015 | The Fountain | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

Around the northern hemisphere, most schools are about to begin their fall semesters. As parents send their kids out the door into the world, they have numerous concerns, one of which has to do with figures: math. As one of the foundations of knowledge, math is an integral part of all educational c…

The Human Being and Endless Blessings

31 August 2015 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

Every moment in life is composed of certain opportunities to obtain new treasures. It is up to every person to take advantage of these opportunities. They can choose to honor their humanity and live in enlightenment, or pass up these opportunities and be left in the dark. First and foremost, life…

Scientific Skepticism vs. Religious Faith

31 August 2015 | Mesut Sahin | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

In the positive sciences, the scientific pursuit requires a unique set of personal qualities. A good scientist should verify the source of each piece of new information before using it to build a scientific theory. Those sources need to be reviewed with a critical mind to ensure that the reported r…

The Impeccable Digestive Tract

31 August 2015 | Brian Turk | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

Almost every single system in the human body works without rest, even during sleep. The mechanism is set, the gears are in place, and all the components are in order. The only thing the body needs to get going is energy! This energy is distributed via our blood. Our arteries and veins slip through…

How To Listen To Your Life

31 August 2015 | Humayun Mujahid | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

All the inspirational material we find around us—poetry, fiery speeches, wise quotes—warns us never to feel down or disappointed. They claim that by keeping our morale constantly up, we can pursue whatever we want to and, one fine day, will reach our goal. To this, we can respond with an emphatic…

Where Is the Virtual World Taking Human Relationships?

31 August 2015 | Onyeagolu Tochukwu | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

Humanity is now facing one of its greatest ailments - and it threatens to overwhelm us. Though terminal diseases like AIDS, cancer, and other pathologies have defied the expertise of medical experts, they can't compare with this emerging sickness. Centuries ago, Shakespeare saw this coming. Macbet…

Green Faith

31 August 2015 | John N. Dorner | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

Dialogue is about authentic expression as to who I am, who we are. It is about listening to one another and learning from one another in a spirit of love, respect, and dialogue. This mission helps us achieve peace and harmony with one another as we discover and respect not only our differences, but…

Old Man

31 August 2015 | Chris Roe | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

By your side There is peace, A quiet place Of beauty and realisation, Where wisdom Seeks reason and understanding, Where myth is laid to rest By the reality of knowledge. By your side there is hope That arrogance and greed Will not destroy, That selfless love Will prevail. By your side, Life is sac…

Universe Is Filled With Life

31 August 2015 | Allen S. Maller | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

During Medieval times almost all Christian theologians accepted the Ptolemaic, earth-centered Greek view of the universe as an absolute universal truth. The Catholic Inquisition punished those who dared to voice other ideas. Looking back, I'm not sure why they believed that the rarity of life in o…

Black Cumin: A Prophetic Medicine

31 August 2015 | Ali Fethi Toprak | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

Studies on the curative aspects of black cumin (Nigella Sativa) has seen an exponential growth in recent years. A single search of black cumin or Nigella Sativa at the database of the National Institutes of Health returns about 400 scientific publications, and more have been published every year on…

Clash of Wills

31 August 2015 | Hakan Yesilova | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

The histories of nations are shaped by countless stories, both real and fictional; in most cases, the line between the two blurs. Having been exposed to the same discourse over the years, many of us do not even feel the need to find out the proportion of truth vs. exaggeration in these stories. It…

There Is News From Space!

31 August 2015 | Nuh Ozdin | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

67P is a comet located around 500 billion kilometers away from the Earth. Discovered in 1969 and named after its discoverers Churyumov-Gerasimenko, 67P has a position in between the orbits of Earth and Jupiter. It revolves with a speed of 140 thousand kilometers per hour and completes a tour around…

Hikma (Wisdom)

31 August 2015 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

Hikma (wisdom), meaning knowledge, the understanding of Divine commandments, philosophy, the real reasons for the existence of events and of things, and grasping the goals and benefits in religion, has been interpreted by the exacting scholars of truth as being able to combine useful knowledge and…

Civil Rights, the Hizmet Movement, and the Liberative Power of Education

31 August 2015 | Scott C. Alexander | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

One of the foundational principles of the teachings of M. Fethullah Gulen, and thus one of the animating principles of the Hizmet movement, is the notion that education is one of the primary means by which the human person becomes most authentically human and thus reaches her or his full potential…

Why Math Education?

31 August 2015 | Bruce J. Parker | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

In this article, we will discuss why math education is a very crucial component of the core K-12 and college curricula. We will underline the controversial aspects of the topic which have been discussed for many years, and try to answer the arguments of both sides by outlining the importance of mat…

Mathematics: On the Path to Wisdom

31 August 2015 | Asim Guvenalp | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

Throughout history, mathematics has meant different things to different people. According to the sixteenth century scientist and philosopher, Galileo Galilei, God created the cosmos in the language of mathematics. The ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, ordered, "Let no one ignorant of geometry enter…

Sculpture of the Carpenter

31 August 2015 | Sumayya B. Sharaf | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

As always, on the eve of his birthday, he planned a new sculpture in his mind. He brought the right books to get inspired, he opened the garage door to hear birds chirping, and he breathed deep the fresh morning dew. Was it possible to carve out the soul by adding a new shape to a mold of clay? "Ye…

Immunological Memory

31 August 2015 | Omer Arifagaoglu | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

When we hear the word "memory," brain cells generally come to mind. However, our lymph cells, which are generated from the immune system, also possess memories. Our brain is blessed with the ability to store everything it hears, sees, or touches in its memory. Just like the brain stores everything…

A History of Sufism for Western Readers

31 August 2015 | Sait Yavuz | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

Among the general Western public, Sufism has often been confused with the mystical traditions of the Far East, and thus considered an independent religion without ties to Islam. However, the term Sufism has widely been defined as Islamic mysticism that prescribes a true love of God which can only b…

The Attributes of Virtuous People

31 August 2015 | M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 107 (September - October 2015)

How can one make virtue his or her nature? To be able to lead a virtuous life, especially one that is extremely careful about moral values and worship, it is important to develop a character of seriousness, dignity, prudence, and contentment; and we must ensure that we graft these traits onto our…

Most Read in 2023

Climate Change and Our Health

Climate Change and Our Health

Fatih Demirci | Issue 151 (Jan - Feb 2023)

Physiological Effects of Music

Physiological Effects of Music

Sinem Akbulak | Issue 151 (Jan - Feb 2023)

Dunning-Kruger Effect: Audacity Born Out of Ignorance

Dunning-Kruger Effect: Audacity Born Out of Ignorance

Fatma Gunduz | Issue 152 (Mar - Apr 2023)

What Happens After Death?

What Happens After Death?

Betul Gul | Issue 152 (Mar - Apr 2023)

Imbalance in Bowel Movement: Diarrhea and Constipation

Imbalance in Bowel Movement

Naim Yilmaz | Issue 151 (Jan - Feb 2023)

Magic Squares

Most Magically Magical Magic Squares

Hakan Oztunc | Issue 152 (Mar - Apr 2023)

You Are the Placebo

You Are the Placebo

Adam Sahin | Issue 153 (May - Jun 2023)

Our World of Faith or, Being Cool and Peaceful in the Fire

Our World of Faith or, Being Cool and Peaceful in the Fire

M. Fethullah Gulen | Issue 151 (Jan - Feb 2023)