The Academic Study of Religion in Türkiye At Its Centenary: A Snapshot Assesment of Recent Scholarship

Authors : Bilal Bas

Pages : 379-389

Doi:10.34082/islamiilimler.1724541

View : 128 | Download : 268

Publication Date : 2025-11-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Abstract: Today studies of religion in Türkiye are represented mostly in the academic structure of the Faculties of Theology and Islamic Studies, and their number outnumbers a hundred. Türkiye has a century-old tradition of modern studies of religions, with a substantial output of scholarship. However, there is no proper treatment of the Turkish legacy of religious studies in Western scholarship. This essay argues that the scholarly output of Türkiye on religious studies has always been significant, both qualitatively and quantitatively. It also provides a general assessment of the field in terms of its contribution to relevant scholarship and offers some insights. Prof. Hikmet Tanyu completed the first Ph.D. degree in the field at Ankara University in 1959. Although the study of religions in Türkiye has roots back to 1874, this date is generally considered the beginning of the continuous existence of the History of Religions in Turkish universities. Tanyu and his students dreamed creating a legacy of the History of Religions in Turkish, by Turkish-Muslim scholars, a trustworthy “territory” of fine scholarship. Therefore, they mostly preferred general topics, as they want to lay the foundations of a new field in Türkiye. This research on the studies of religion in Türkiye, and its review of some exemplary recent studies reveal that there is still a general tendency of “laying foundations”, albeit several fine exceptions, in various major subjects related to world religions. This prospect inevitably brings general, introductory studies, which tends to transfer data rather than making critical contributions to scholarship. What they generally end up doing is little more than transferring the data provided by western scholarship. Therefore, the article suggests that new scholars should leave this habit and focus on more critical studies that produce new knowledge.
Keywords : Türkiye'de Din Çalışmaları, Türkiye'de İlahiyat Fakülteleri, Dinler Tarihi, Hikmet Tanyu, Dünya Dinleri

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