‘Young People Will Not Credit Deism After This Definition of Mine’

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President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş has joined the debate about a workshop’s finding that “young people have started to lean towards deism”, which has come to the agenda of Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

Answering to a question about this subject on TRT Haber (TRT News), Erbaş said that “this matter is being exaggerated” and added that the debate is “a propaganda of the West”.

“It means to deny the prophet”

Stating that deism isn’t discussed plainly and in case it is explained that deism means to deny the prophet, people will stay away from deism, Erbaş said:

“I believe that this is a plan trying to create a space by propagandizing for the West by fancying up some issues which people don’t know much about. Deism is to deny the prophet. Which Muslim can remain Muslim after denying the prophet? If you tell a Muslim youngster ‘Why do you accept a belief that denies the prophet?’, you see him or her answering ‘Is that what deism means?’. That’s why, they should speak plainly and explain what deism means to our nation”.

The workshop declaration which sparked the debate

In the final declaration of the workshop, which was organized by Konya Provincial National Education Directorate in cooperation with İKDAM Education Association and International Pioneer Educators Association, about “Youth and Belief” in which 50 teachers from Education of Religion and Ethics and Religious Vocational High School Occupational Course, it was stated that the young people have leaned towards deism. (ŞA/TK)