Journals / Iğdır Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi / 2026 / Sayı: 36

Anthropology of the Secular in Turkey: An Introductory Essay

Türkiye’de Sekülerin Antropolojisi: Bir Giriş Denemesi

Pages
541–552
Publication Date
2024-05-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In the last section, in the light of all these discussions, it is underlined that anthropology of the secular may have its own dynamics in Turkey and the importance of considering the social, cultural, and historical characteristics of Turkish society in discussions and studies on the anthropology of the secular is emphasized.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This study, which aims to think about the conceptual framework of the anthropology of the secular, is an introductory article that emphasizes the necessity of an anthropological perspective on the discussions of secularism in Turkey.
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Key Findings & Data:The first part of the study, after examining the theoretical backgrounds of the concepts of secular, secularization and secularism, summarizes the starting points, development and forms of secularization theories that emerged from Europe and are thought to be applicable to the whole world, and the shapes they took with modernity.In the second part, based on the works of Anthropologist Talal Asad titled The Forms of Secularism and Genealogy of Religion, a critical perspective is brought to the interpretation of the secular and it is emphasized that a concept whose conceptual framework was drawn by Western social scientists may have other interpretations in other geographies.
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Conclusion & Impact:In the last section, in the light of all these discussions, it is underlined that anthropology of the secular may have its own dynamics in Turkey and the importance of considering the social, cultural, and historical characteristics of Turkish society in discussions and studies on the anthropology of the secular is emphasized.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Seküler · Sekülerleşme · Sekülerizm

Abstract

This study, which aims to think about the conceptual framework of the anthropology of the secular, is an introductory article that emphasizes the necessity of an anthropological perspective on the discussions of secularism in Turkey. The first part of the study, after examining the theoretical backgrounds of the concepts of secular, secularization and secularism, summarizes the starting points, development and forms of secularization theories that emerged from Europe and are thought to be applicable to the whole world, and the shapes they took with modernity.In the second part, based on the works of Anthropologist Talal Asad titled The Forms of Secularism and Genealogy of Religion, a critical perspective is brought to the interpretation of the secular and it is emphasized that a concept whose conceptual framework was drawn by Western social scientists may have other interpretations in other geographies. With the deconstructive evaluations that Talal Asad brought to the secular, the flexibility of the boundaries of the anthropology of the secular individual is tried to be revealed. In the last section, in the light of all these discussions, it is underlined that anthropology of the secular may have its own dynamics in Turkey and the importance of considering the social, cultural, and historical characteristics of Turkish society in discussions and studies on the anthropology of the secular is emphasized.

Özet

Seküler olanın antropolojisinin kavramsal çerçevesi üzerine düşünmeyi amaçlayan bu çalışma, öncelikle seküler, sekülerleşme, sekülerizm kavramlarının teorik arka planını incelemektedir. Bu bağlamda, çalışmanın ilk bölümü, Avrupa’dan çıkan ve tüm dünyaya uygulanılabilir olduğu düşünülen sekülerleşme teorilerinin çıkış noktalarını, gelişimini, modernite ile beraber aldığı şekilleri özetlemektedir. İkinci bölümde ise Antropolog Talal Asad’ın Sekülerliğin Biçimleri ve Dinin Soykütükleri başlıklı eserlerinden yola çıkarak, seküler olanın yorumlanmasına eleştirel bir bakış açısı getirilmekte ve kavramsal çerçevesi Batılı sosyal bilimciler tarafından çizilen bir kavramın başka coğrafyalarda başka yorumlarının mümkün olabileceği üzerinde durulmaktadır. Talal Asad’ın sekülere getirdiği yapısökümcü değerlendirmeler ile seküler bireyin antropolojisinin sınırlarının esnekliği ortaya çıkarılmaya çalışılmaktadır. Son bölümde ise tüm bu tartışmalar ışığında, Türkiye’de seküler olanın antropolojisinin kendine has dinamiklerinin olabileceğinin kısaca altı çizilmekte ve Türk toplumunun sosyal, kültürel ve tarihsel özelliklerinin dikkate alınmasının sekülerin antropolojisi üzerine yapılacak tartışmalarda ve yapılabilecek muhtemel çalışmalardaki önemi üzerinde durulmaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Sevgi, M. A. (2024). Anthropology of the Secular in Turkey: An Introductory Essay. Iğdır Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, Sayı: 36, 541–552. https://doi.org/10.54600/igdirsosbilder.1389145

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