RELIGIOUS INFORMATION SEEKING IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY:
A STUDY ON RELIABILITY AND QUALITY CRITERIA OF RELIGIOUS INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET

Abstract

In the information age, internet is one of the most basic sources of information, and this is same in terms of religious information search/acquisition practices. In this direction, the need for acquisition of religious information today is increasingly met by the internet environment together with traditional religious institutions. In context of this need many religious organizations transfer their institutional structures to online environments at the same time and the diversity of religious information in the online environment is increasing day by day. This present situation raises many questions and problems as “what is the criteria of reliability and quality of the information on the internet? how individuals use the internet in the acquisition of religious information process and how these usage habits differ from traditional acquisition of religious information processes? and what is the role of internet as an agency and a medium in this processes?” The comprehensive consideration of such questions and problems at an academic level requires a long-term research process that transcends the boundaries of this work and requires multiple research perspectives. In this respect, this study focuses on the reliability of the religious information on the internet as the first step of the research process and aims to determine the user-oriented quality criteria. In this study, the criteria determined by the method of literature review was used as a functional tool in the evaluation of six internet websites which are mostly clicked in Turkish religious information sources and fiqh category in the light of Alexa data. In this respect, the study has the potential to serve as a concrete outcome, such as increasing the level of awareness of internet users, as well as being an important initiative in identifying the reliability of religious information on the internet. As a result of the study, it has been determined that internet sites providing religious information have significant deficiencies in competence, authority and coverage, and these deficiencies lead to reliability problems.

Keywords: Religious Information, Religious Information Seeking, Internet, Reliability, Quality Criteria

PROCESS OF RELIGIOUS INFORMATION SEEKING ON THE INTERNET AND CRITICAL COMPETENCIES:
AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON THE STUDENTS OF ERCIYES UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION

Abstract

Today, internet is an important resource which is used in information acquisition processes. This also applies to religious practice. Some research findings demonstrate that the internet is among the most frequently used sources in the process of religious information searching / acquiring with traditional sources of information. In this respect, this study focuses on the sources of information and the reliability of these sources in the process of meeting university students' religious knowledge requirements and focuses on the critical competencies of these students in the process of acquiring religious knowledge on the internet. In order to measure the critical competencies of the students in the process of religious information searching, a study based on user-centered criteria for the evaluation of religious / informative web sites, developed by Eken and Aydın (2018), is an empirical study conducted by the students of Erciyes University Faculty of Communication with a simple random sampling technique. According to the results obtained from the study; It can be stated that internet is one of the most basic sources for religious information for university students, but unlike this widespread use, students do not trust the information obtained from the Internet environment and have a moderate level of critical competency compared to the criteria specified in the survey form. This situation is important in terms of demonstrating the necessity of educational processes that will redound critical literacy skills for university students.

Keywords: İnternet, Dini Bilgi Edinme, Üniversite Öğrencileri, Eleştirel Yeterlilikler

THE TWITTER VIEW OF ISLAMOPHOBIC "IDENTITARIAN MOVEMENT"

Abstract

Twitter as one of the fastest opinion generating platforms among social networks, provides a range of appearances concerning the "social" with both positive and negative facets. In social networks, individuals who construct the appearances in question are positioned with various types of topology: the patterns generated as a result of the observation and analysis of structural communities formed as per each other as well as on the contrary to their self, allow the discovery of certain aspects of social reality. We can therefore argue that social media plays an important role in deciding the context of people's reality, particularly when we think that the community in which people live is highly decisive in terms of functionality during the formation of opinions. In this context, the study aimed to investigate the relationship form of Islamophobia profiles through the Twitter representation of the Identitarian Movement and to examine the capacity of identical ideas to affect the formation of opinions in the real world. The data gathered from the accounts of Islamophobic and racist social network actors constitute the starting point of the analysis. Social network analysis based on who is associated with whom and to what extent has been applied along with computer algorithms to better visualize the data gathered meaningfully. As a result, how the members of the sample group of this study interacted in the media and the pattern of appearance of various social groups on Twitter were unveiled. Consequently, the analysis showed that racist actors, who are in intense contact with each other, have distinct capacities that can be interpreted purely on the basis of their network appearances: When these capacities, which align with the resources of the media platform, such as the influencing opinions, the creation of agendas and the coordination of actions in a short period, are coupled with the intellectual profiles of the actors, they represent an important domain of activity.

Keywords: Islamophobia, Twitter, Social Network Analysis

AN ANALYSIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA USE IN
THE CENTRAL AND PROVINCIAL ORGANISATION OF DIRECTORATE OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS

Abstract

This study essentially aims to share the results of a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative research, based mostly on online researches and analysis on print materials, on social media use by the central and provincial organization of Directorate of Religious Affairs. Aiming to disseminate and share their services and activities to wider social sectors over social media, Directorate of Religious Affairs is both interested in the technical/professional nature of social media as well as making inquiries on the state-of-affairs originating from social media practice. Research findings clearly indicate that relevant units of Directorate of Religious Affairs are not so interested in social media. Apart from central use, just a quarter of provincial mufti offices preferred to have an institutional existence on social media. And this is the case mostly with just Facebook and Twitter. Research findings indicate that provincial organization units of directorate of religious affairs are just at the initial stages of social media use. From a general point of view, it is possible to highlight that these initial steps should be endorsed by intensifying social media use as soon as possible.

Keywords: Directorate of Religious Affairs, Provincial Mufti Offices, Social Media, Social Media Use, Communication

ONLINE BELIEF PRACTICES OF GENERATION M IN MODERN VISUAL CULTURE

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the Generation M’s opinions, motivations and approaches on online belief practices within the frame of modern visual cultural and media. How the Internet and social media in the modern visual culture affect the online belief practices of Generation M as the main problem was addressed in the study. Accordingly, how young Muslims especially Generation M express themselves and their beliefs through the Internet and social media, and how symbolic sources of media space are associated with the meanings and practices of belief, spirituality, religion and transcendentality were discussed. The qualitative narrative analysis method was used to interpret the first-hand narratives about Generation M’s perceptions and experiences. Semi-structured interview data collection techniques as well as a cyberethnographic observation as a supportive element were used and the questionnaire was answered by 20 participants who were selected through purposive typical case and snowball sampling technique. In conclusion, it has been revealed that the Internet and social media which can be described as value-laden tools due to both their cultural determinations and technical features has a significant effect on the formation of young Muslims’ online belief practices. It can be stated that this effect has a secularizing feature since it subjects the content/principle of religious-like practices to the secular (secularizing) nature of modern visual culture. This indicates that although a part of the online belief practices of young Muslims presents a religious image, it may be inherent to a secular understanding.

Keywords: Sociology of Religion, Visual Culture, Generation M, Media and Religion, Online Religion

A QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVEL OF RELIGIOUS ORIENTATION AND RELIGIOUS SHARING ATTITUDE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: THE EXAMPLE OF ERCIYES UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF THEOLOGY STUDENTS

Abstract

This research deals with the relationship between the level of religious orientation and religious sharing attitude on social media. Religious orientation, which is examined in many disciplines of social sciences, especially religious sciences, is defined as the individual’s way of applying his religious beliefs and religious values and putting them into practice. Religious content that can be positioned as an indicator of religious orientation is abundant in social media environments. This study tries to reveal the levels of religious orientation of the Faculty of Theology students and their religious sharing attitudes on social media. In this article, a questionnaire was applied to 481 students studying at the Erciyes University Faculty of Theology at the undergraduate level. T test, one-way ANOVA test, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used in the analysis of the data obtained in this study. In the article, it was found that the levels of religious orientation of Erciyes University Faculty of Theology students and the average of their religious sharing attitudes on social media were high. Moreover it has been concluded that there is a significant relationship and effect between the levels of religious orientation and religious sharing attitudes on social media.

Keywords: Sociology of Religion, Religious Orientation, Social Media, Religious Sharing Attitude, Faculty of Theology Students

A FRAMEWORK FOR DIGITAL METHODS AND TECHNIQUES
IN THE STUDY OF THE SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION

Abstract

Method is one of the most fundamental elements of a scientific research. In the discipline of sociology of religion, which is a part of the religious sciences under the umbrella of social science, method is one of the important indicators that show the academic competence of a research. As a result of the spread of digital culture and the integration of digital technologies into our daily life practices, social science studies now position digital environments as new fields. Thus, the methods and techniques used in academic research also gain new appearances with digital networks. This study, which focuses on identifying digital methods and techniques that can be used in sociology of religion research, aims to draw a framework for digital methods and techniques with a descriptive approach. In this context, first of all, the “digital method” will be discussed from a conceptual and theoretical point of view, then it will be emphasized how the methods used in the physical/offline field can be applied in online environments. In addition, the convenience of digital research methods and techniques for the researcher and their contribution to the quality of the study, as well as their handicaps and ethical dilemmas will be touched upon. The lack of a study directly related to digital research methods and techniques in the Turkish literature is the original aspect of this article. Therefore, it is expected that the article will serve as a guide for researchers in social science in general and sociology of religion in particular.

Keywords: Sociology of Religion, Digital Methodologies, Digital Sociology, Digital Religion

RELIGION, HAPPINESS AND SEARCHING FOR MEANING IN POPULAR NOVELS:
THE EXAMPLE OF STEFAN ZWEIG

Abstract

Popular novels not only reflect the historical accumulation and experience of humanity, but also shed light on the future, and because of this feature, they attract people from almost all over the world. In popular novels that have been incorporated into popular culture, which significantly directs individual and social life practices in modern times, writers deal with the themes of religion, happiness and search for meaning, sometimes as an existential pain experienced by the heroes of the novel, and sometimes in the context of criticism or dilemmas of modernity. Stefan Zweig, one of the most popular names in our country with his novels, also directly or indirectly refers to the aforementioned themes in his works. In this article, which investigates how the themes of religion, happiness and search for meaning are examined in the sociological context in Stefan Zweig’s works, document analysis, one of the qualitative research techniques, is used. This article, which includes thirty-one of Zweig’s works translated into Turkish, aims to contribute to the literature by considering Zweig’s novels from the perspective of sociology of religion. The main motivation of this article is the lack of research on sociology of religion specific to novels that have gained global popularity, and the lack of a study focusing directly on Zweig within the framework of this field. As a result, it has been reached the idea that Zweig analyzes the dilemmas of modern man, which he frequently mentions in his novels, and that his perspective related to religion, happiness and search for meaning has undergone changes in parallel with his own life story.

Keywords: Stefan Zweig, Popular novel, Religion, Happiness, Search for meaning

HERVIEU-LÉGER SOCIOLOGY:
A SECULARIZATION ANALYSIS IN THE RELATIONSHIP OF TRADITION, RELIGION AND MEMORY

Abstract

The issue of the future of religion in the modern world is at the center of sociological debates. Although there is a widespread belief that religion is faced with important changes in terms of its institutional structure, scope of activity and its practical counterpart in social life in modern times, there are different perspectives on the nature of this change and its future direction. French sociologist Daniéle Hervieu-Léger is a researcher who made important contributions to this intellectual ground, which has become widespread as “secularization debates” in the literature and mostly developed within the framework of the discipline of sociology of religion. Hervieu-Léger, who is frequently cited in the international literature for bringing new definitions to religion and religiosity in the triangle of tradition, generation and memory, and for bringing a different horizon to the secularization discussions through these analyses, has not been made the focus of extensive research in the Turkish sociological literature. Focusing on the research question on which foundations Hervieu-Léger’s sociology is built and what position she takes in secularization debates, this article aims to draw an intellectual portrait of Hervieu-Léger as a sociologist of religion. In this article, in which Hervieu-Léger was made the subject of a study for the first time in the Turkish sociological literature, besides her own studies, the works evaluating her thoughts from positive and negative aspects were also examined by the literature review method. It was concluded that Hervieu-Léger sociology could offer a new perspective to the secularization debates in Turkey in the context of both the concepts she focused on and the analyses she made.

Keywords: Hervieu-Léger, Tradition, Religion, Memory, Secularization

BETWEEN FICTION AND UTOPIA:
CHANGE IN HABERMAS'S APPROACH TO RELIGION AND HIS PROJECT OF POST-SECULAR SOCIETY

Abstract

Secularization, as one of the most productive discussion areas of sociology, has been creating serious disagreements for the last half century. The secularization literature, which was founded by the prophecies of the founders of sociology for the future of religion, continues to expand with the different approaches of modern sociologists who opened more space to religion. In this literature, which has an interdisciplinary nature as it has some connection with many fields of social sciences, some concepts and approaches have attracted more attention, while some views have not been as effective as others. One of the secularization approaches that has not been adequately studied, especially in the Turkish literature, is the conceptualization of “post-secular”. Although it appears in the works of some social theologians since the late 1950s, sociologist Jürgen Habermas has made the concept of post-secular a part of broader discussion. In many of his texts he wrote after the 2000s, Habermas argues that countries that have experienced secularization processes, such as European societies, are moving to a “post-secular” stage. Thus, he argues that secular and religious citizens who diversify in terms of worldview in that society should come together at a common point of consensus. This article, which problematizes Habermas’s project of post-secular society, also aims to draw a portrait of Habermas, who has experienced an intellectual transformation in his approach to the phenomenon of religion. This study, in which the literature review method will be used, aims to make a comprehensive evaluation around the concept of “post-secular society”, which has been criticized for being ambiguous, having utopian aspects and offering a Eurocentric perspective. This study concluded that the concept of post-secular society, although it has some dilemmas, should be considered important in order to overcome the secular-religious (sacred) dichotomy and to develop a more encompassing perspective on the issue. This study also draws attention to the fact that Habermas, whose views on religion are neglected especially in the social sciences literature of our country, should be taken into consideration more as a sociologist of religion in his analyzes on the subject.

Keywords: Habermas, Post-Secular, Religion, Secularization, Desecularization

FLUIDIZATION OF RELIGIOUS IDENTITIES ON CYBERSPACE

Abstract

The main problem of this research is fluidization of religious identities on cyberspace. The stages of identity and religion in the adventure of digitization and the overlap or differentiation of individuals’ cyberspace identities with their offline identities are main areas of interest of our study. Firstly, the concept of fluidization will be explained and then the focus will be on new aspects of online identity in the period of anonymous and non-anonymous users of cyberspace. Besides the adventure of digitization of religion and the themes associated with digital religion will be examined. Finally the importance of interpreting religious identities through online and offline spaces will be emphasized. This research, which is important to present the process related integration of identity and religion into digital world, and in particular to determine the themes concerned digital religion in a discipline, aims to reveal that religious identities are built in transition of daily life and cyberspace. This study using literature review method suggests that it is difficult to keep stable the religious identities of individuals as they were before cyberspace. It puts forward that following reflections on religious life of views of fluid identity is very important to understand the religiosity of today.

Keywords: Religious Identity, Cyberspace, Digital Identity, Digital Religion, Fluidization