Forms and formats of religious knowledge transfer. On the development of the travelling concept in the horizon of the multiple translation of Alevism

Abstract

In this article, the concept of travelling knowledge (as a form of knowledge) is (re)considered within the horizon of a sociological theory of translation (Renn 2006; 2014), namely as a moment of translation. Following Joachim Renn, translation in the language of differentiation theory means the change of form or a "meaning transformation" (Renn 2018: 165) of different forms of imperatives that coordinate action. The article focuses primarily on presenting some conceptual reflections on travelling knowledge using the example of the multiple translation of Alevism (Yıldızlı 2023). The specific translation relationships between the distinctions made in differentiation theory between milieu and organisation are elaborated using selected sequences of qualitative interviews with representatives of the Alevi religious community in an urban context (Istanbul), applying the evaluation method of "macroanalytical depth hermeneutics" (Renn 2018).

Keywords

• Alevism
• travelling concept
• multiple translation
• religious knowledge
• Religion
• Alevi
• Theory
• Cemevi

Forms and Formats of Religious Knowledge Transfer. On the Development of the Travelling Concept in the Horizon of the Multiple Translation of Alevism

Abstract

In this article, the concept of travelling knowledge (as a form of knowledge) is (re)considered within the horizon of a sociological theory of translation (Renn 2006; 2014), namely as a moment of translation. Following Joachim Renn, translation in the language of differentiation theory means the change of form or a "meaning transformation" (Renn 2018: 165) of different forms of imperatives that coordinate action. The article focuses primarily on presenting some conceptual reflections on travelling knowledge using the example of the multiple translation of Alevism (Yıldızlı 2023). The specific translation relationships between the distinctions made in differentiation theory between milieu and organisation are elaborated using selected sequences of qualitative interviews with representatives of the Alevi religious community in an urban context (Istanbul), applying the evaluation method of "macroanalytical depth hermeneutics" (Renn 2018).

Keywords

• Alevi
• Alevism
• Religion
• religious knowledge
• Translation
• Theory
• Cemevi
• Alevi Organisations

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