A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON ADOLESCENT RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES
Abstract
The interpretation of experiences relies heavily on an individual's religious framework and developmental characteristics. One's conception of God and the way one behaves are central. The nature and diversity of religious experiences reflect the significance that the individual attributes to religion and religious principles in their own life. This investigation presents valuable empirical evidence regarding the role of religion in the lives of young individuals amidst the prevailing trend of increasing secularism in contemporary society. The objective of this study is to gain insight into the role of religion in the lives of young people and to identify recurrent religious experiences. Through this qualitative examination encompassing young individuals in early adolescence, certain religious experiences were found to align partially with the structures associated with their religious affiliations. Additionally, some alterations corresponding to the developmental inclinations of adolescents were observed within the content of certain religious experiences. Because this period is the period in which some rapid intellectual, affective and behavioural changes are seen in the development of humanity. Therefore, it is possible to come across a number of different effects specific to adolescence. In addition, discrepancies were identified in the configuration and variety of religious encounters based on gender. Religious doubts and hesitations increase or decrease according to the degree of religious commitment of the individual. In addition, since this study was conducted immediately after the 6 February earthquake, it was seen that this traumatic event was reflected in the way young people interpreted their experiences. In this study, phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research designs, was used. The data obtained were analysed by thematic coding and content analysis method.
Keywords
Islam, Adolescence, Religious experience, Religious doubt, Earthquake, Religious narrative
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