FARMINGTON – Depictions of Islamic fundamentalists as terrorists have become omnipresent since the attacks of 9/11. For some people, merely the world “Islam” instills fear.

University of Maine at Farmington faculty members hope two public talks being given by a professor of religion, Sinansi Gunduz, of Turkey’s Istanbul University, might help change that. If nothing else, it might spark some interfaith dialogue.

“Nobody’s talking too much these days,” UMF religion Professor Jennifer Reid said Wednesday.

“I think that the problem right now is that we don’t have an opportunity to really see how multifaceted the Islamic world is, and that most of the Islamic world is not interested in violence.”

Reid, along with economics Professor Shahrokh (Waleck) Dalpour is organizing the talks, which will focus on Turkey’s particular brand of Islam.

Turkey, in the 21st century, is the only successful secular Muslim democracy in the world.

Sinasi Gunduz (pronounded Shi-NA-si Gun-does), a professor of religious history – particularly as it relates to Turkey – will discuss Turkish Islam next week at UMF.

The first talk, to be held in UMF’s North Dining Hall at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18, will discuss religions in Turkey, which is a multi-ethnic, multireligious state. The second, at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday in Thomas Auditorium, will discuss the characteristics of Islam in Turkey and how a Muslim majority lives in a secular state.

“It’s a society as secular as America claims to be,” Reid said of Turkey. “My intention in bringing (Gunduz) here now is exactly that – to let people know there might be more to modern Islam that we think. It’s not as cut and dry as people think.”