Reasoned emotions: Fethullah Gülen’s charisma between rationality and transcendence

Abstract This article explores the complex interplay between emotion and rationality in the charismatic relationship between Fethullah Gülen and his followers. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted with the Hizmet community in various cultural contexts, particularly in Gülen’s compound in Pennsylvania, the study analyzes followers’ emotional dispositions and how they articulate their affective attachment to their charismatic leader. The article demonstrates that Gülen’s charisma is experienced by his followers as both mystical and rational, as a blend of extraordinary moral virtues, religious and secular knowledge, and transcendence. Ethnographic examples illustrate how his followers rationalize their devotion as they navigate tensions between emotional rapture and logical reasoning. The analysis highlights the relational nature of charisma and its capacity to adapt the Islamic tradition to modern challenges, while emphasizing the role of shared narratives and practices in sustaining communal belonging and spiritual commitment. Ultimately, this study underscores the importance of understanding religious charisma as a dynamic, relational phenomenon that is shaped by cultural and social contexts.