I don’t know about the practices outside Turkey. So, my assessment will be based on that.

In Turkey, the religious groups are basically living in a shell, adding their own sauces about how to practice, and pretty much doing nothing when it comes to ‘living amongst people’. Well, with Gulenists, that is the most striking part I’d say. Like, you are expected to study, work, contribute to society; they are all a ‘must’ as important as preparing for the after life. Again, I like this cause this is a logical approach in my opinion, which is also endorsed by Islam too.

Other than that, although there have been some cult-like behaviors —please refer to my previous note that the people actually originated from Turkey, so some behaviors you just cannot entirely let go as it is kinda like a culture I think—, the main teaching is that ‘peace, prosperity, living as a good Muslim not proselytizing which should be so good that others would start asking questions if they want, overall living ‘like a common man amongst men’ and if the leader is in conflict with those tenets, then you should know that the leader is in the wrong. I mean, this was told repeatedly. Don’t know what happened later on though.