Alevi-Sunni Marriages in Terms of Secularization Debates

Tahir Küçük

Article Details

Alevi-Sunni Marriages in Terms of Secularization Debates

Authors:

Tahir Küçük

Publisher:

Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University

Main Topics:

Din Sosyolojisi

Journal:

BEÜ İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 1, pp.137-164

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001319514

pISSN:

2148-3728

Keywords:

Abstract:

 In todays world, the impact of religion on social life is significant from the perspective of sociology of religion. Debates on secularization that began in the second half of the 20th century entered a phase where the influence of religion in modern societies decreased, and later the psychological dimension of religion was emphasized, leading to criticism of this paradigm. Within this framework, discussions on secularization have also begun in our country. Especially following the 2000s, the political orientations of Turkish society have led to a widespread discourse suggesting desecularization of Türkiye. In contrast to this general view, Volkan Ertit argues, with various arguments, that Türkiye is becoming more secular over time compared to the past, stating that the relative decrease in the social prestige of religion and the power of these structures to influence society supports this claim. One of these arguments is the change observed in marriages between different religious groups. According to Ertit, the increased visibility of Alevi-Sunni marriages compared to the past is an argument showing that Turkish society is becoming more secular. This study examines whether Alevi-Sunni marriages can indeed be perceived as an indicator of secularization based on Ertits claim. In this context, the study first outlines the theoretical boundaries of secularization through document analysis. Then, the issue of secularization is discussed based on relevant data from studies on Alevi-Sunni marriages in the literature. Accordingly, it is determined that the process of secularization has a facilitating effect on Alevi-Sunni marriages. It is found that individuals who enter into such marriages have different approaches to Alevism and Sunnism compared to their parents, and their religious group affiliations are at a low level. It is also observed that the religious lives of individuals is in a secular line in terms of whether they fulfill religious practices or not. Therefore, considering Alevi-Sunni marriages as an indicator of secularization, as argued by Ertit, is confirmed in this study.

 In todays world, the impact of religion on social life is significant from the perspective of sociology of religion. Debates on secularization that began in the second half of the 20th century entered a phase where the influence of religion in modern societies decreased, and later the psychological dimension of religion was emphasized, leading to criticism of this paradigm. Within this framework, discussions on secularization have also begun in our country. Especially following the 2000s, the political orientations of Turkish society have led to a widespread discourse suggesting desecularization of Türkiye. In contrast to this general view, Volkan Ertit argues, with various arguments, that Türkiye is becoming more secular over time compared to the past, stating that the relative decrease in the social prestige of religion and the power of these structures to influence society supports this claim. One of these arguments is the change observed in marriages between different religious groups. According to Ertit, the increased visibility of Alevi-Sunni marriages compared to the past is an argument showing that Turkish society is becoming more secular. This study examines whether Alevi-Sunni marriages can indeed be perceived as an indicator of secularization based on Ertits claim. In this context, the study first outlines the theoretical boundaries of secularization through document analysis. Then, the issue of secularization is discussed based on relevant data from studies on Alevi-Sunni marriages in the literature. Accordingly, it is determined that the process of secularization has a facilitating effect on Alevi-Sunni marriages. It is found that individuals who enter into such marriages have different approaches to Alevism and Sunnism compared to their parents, and their religious group affiliations are at a low level. It is also observed that the religious lives of individuals is in a secular line in terms of whether they fulfill religious practices or not. Therefore, considering Alevi-Sunni marriages as an indicator of secularization, as argued by Ertit, is confirmed in this study.

 In todays world, the impact of religion on social life is significant from the perspective of sociology of religion. Debates on secularization that began in the second half of the 20th century entered a phase where the influence of religion in modern societies decreased, and later the psychological dimension of religion was emphasized, leading to criticism of this paradigm. Within this framework, discussions on secularization have also begun in our country. Especially following the 2000s, the political orientations of Turkish society have led to a widespread discourse suggesting desecularization of Türkiye. In contrast to this general view, Volkan Ertit argues, with various arguments, that Türkiye is becoming more secular over time compared to the past, stating that the relative decrease in the social prestige of religion and the power of these structures to influence society supports this claim. One of these arguments is the change observed in marriages between different religious groups. According to Ertit, the increased visibility of Alevi-Sunni marriages compared to the past is an argument showing that Turkish society is becoming more secular. This study examines whether Alevi-Sunni marriages can indeed be perceived as an indicator of secularization based on Ertits claim. In this context, the study first outlines the theoretical boundaries of secularization through document analysis. Then, the issue of secularization is discussed based on relevant data from studies on Alevi-Sunni marriages in the literature. Accordingly, it is determined that the process of secularization has a facilitating effect on Alevi-Sunni marriages. It is found that individuals who enter into such marriages have different approaches to Alevism and Sunnism compared to their parents, and their religious group affiliations are at a low level. It is also observed that the religious lives of individuals is in a secular line in terms of whether they fulfill religious practices or not. Therefore, considering Alevi-Sunni marriages as an indicator of secularization, as argued by Ertit, is confirmed in this study.

 Günümüz dünyasında dinin toplumsal yaşamda nasıl bir etkiye sahip olduğu, din sosyolojisi çalışmaları açısından önemli bir noktaya işaret etmektedir. 20. Yüzyılın ikinci yarısıyla birlikte başlayan sekülerleşme tartışmaları, birçok ülkede dinin modern toplumlarda etkisinin azaldığı daha sonra ise dinin psikolojik boyutunun ön plana çıkarılmasıyla bu paradigmanın eleştirilmeye başlandığı bir süreç içerisine girmiştir. Bu çerçeve içerisinde ülkemizde de sekülerleşme tartışmaları başlamıştır. Özellikle 2000li yılları takiben Türk toplumunun politik yönelimleri, Türkiyenin desekülerleştiğine yönelik genel bir söylemi ortaya çıkarmıştır. Bu genel görüşün aksine Türkiyenin geçmişe kıyasla gün geçtikçe sekülerleştiğini, dinin ve dinimsi yapıların toplumsal prestijlerinin ve bu yapıların topluma etki etme güçlerinin göreceli olarak azaldığını belirten Volkan Ertit, bu iddiasını çeşitli argümanlarla ortaya koymaktadır. Söz konusu bu argümanlardan bir tanesi de farklı inanç grupları arasındaki evliliklerde yaşanan değişimdir. Ertite göre Alevi-Sünni evliliklerinin geçmişe kıyasla daha fazla veya daha görünür olması, Türk toplumunun geçmişe kıyasla sekülerleştiğini gösteren bir argümandır. Bu çalışma Ertitin bu iddiasından hareketle, Alevi-Sünni evliliklerinin gerçekten de bir sekülerleşme göstergesi olarak algılanıp algılanamayacağını konu edinmektedir. Bu bağlamda çalışmada öncelikle sekülerleşme kavramının teorik sınırları doküman incelemesi tekniği ile çizilmiştir. Daha sonra, alan yazındaki Alevi-Sünni evlilikleri üzerine yapılan çalışmalardaki ilgili veriler üzerinden sekülerleşme konusu tartışılmaktadır. Buna göre, sekülerleşme sürecinin Alevi-Sünni evliliklerine kapı aralayan bir etkiye sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bu tür evlilik yapan bireylerin Alevilik ve Sünnilik kavramlarına yaklaşımlarının kendi ebeveynlerine kıyasla farklılaştığı ve dini grup aidiyet durumlarının düşük seviyede olduğu saptanmıştır. Ayrıca dini pratikleri yerine getirip getirmeme konusunda da bireylerin dini yaşantısının seküler bir çizgide olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Dolayısıyla Ertitin söz konusu iddiasını destekleyen bir argüman olarak Alevi-Sünni evliliklerinin sekülerleşme göstergesi olarak düşünülmesi, bu çalışma özelinde doğrulanmıştır.

Article Details

Alevi-Sunni Marriages in Terms of Secularization Debates

Authors:

Tahir Küçük

Publisher:

Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University

Main Topics:

Din Sosyolojisi

Journal:

BEÜ İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 1, pp.137-164

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001319514

pISSN:

2148-3728

Sociology of Religion

Secularization

Desecularization

Turkey

Alevi-Sunni MarriagesDin Sosyolojisi

Sekülerleşme

Desekülerleşme

Türkiye

Alevi-Sünni Evlilikleri

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Tahir Küçük

Publisher: Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University

Main Topics: Din Sosyolojisi

Journal: BEÜ İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 1, pp.137-164

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001319514

pISSN: 2148-3728

Issues

Authors:

Tahir Küçük

Publisher:

Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University

Main Topics:

Din Sosyolojisi

Journal:

BEÜ İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 1, pp.137-164

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001319514

pISSN:

2148-3728