Sociology of Religion Textbooks Between Apology and Sociology
Küçük Resim Yok
Tarih
2025
Yazarlar
Dergi Başlığı
Dergi ISSN
Cilt Başlığı
Yayıncı
Sakarya Univ
Erişim Hakkı
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Özet
This article analyzes three sociology of religion textbooks commonly taught in the faculties of Theology and Islamic Sciences in Turkey through content analysis to examine how the relationship between sociological analysis and theological arguments is established in these works and to what extent this relationship overlaps with the scientific framework of sociology of religion. The study finds that apologetic tendencies towards Islam are common in these textbooks and that the boundaries between sociological analysis and theological arguments are blurred. The study analyzes two prominent themes in the textbooks: (1) constructing a positive narrative of Islam and (2) advocacy based on sacred and academic authorities. The first theme emphasized that Islam is compatible with contemporary values and emphasized positive examples of Islam and avoided negative or controversial examples. At the same time, it was also found that Muslim societies advocated against the association of negative examples with Islam and emphasized the positive aspects of Islam in comparison with other religions. Within the framework of the second theme, it was determined that the defense of Islam was based on sacred texts and positive evaluations of Western social scientists. Instead of empirical data and sociological methods, direct reference was made to sacred texts, and the positive views of Western social scientists on Islam were selectively conveyed. As a result, the textbooks examined violate the methodological principles of sociology and produce a religious defense discourse. The study emphasizes that the sociology of religion literature in T & uuml;rkiye should be re-evaluated based on scientific objectivity.
Açıklama
Anahtar Kelimeler
Sociology of Religion, Sociology and Theology, Textbooks, Apology, Methodology
Kaynak
Sakarya Universitesi Ilahiyat Fakultesi Dergisi-Journal of Sakarya University Faculty of Theology
WoS Q Değeri
N/A
Scopus Q Değeri
Cilt
27
Sayı
1
