A Meta-Synthesis Study on the Teaching of Religions Other Than Islam in Schools in Türkiye
Öz
Religion has historically played a significant role in the maintenance of social peace and solidarity. Although this role has been partially weakened by processes of secularization in the modern era, contemporary efforts continue to draw upon religion, particularly in the reduction of global conflicts and the promotion of peace. In this context, religions remain important reference points and resources. One of the key areas in which the influence of religion is utilized for fostering social peace and mitigating conflict is religious education. Religious education curricula address the historical development, ontological and epistemological foundations, core belief systems, and contemporary expressions of the world’s religions. These religions are presented to learners through approaches that emphasize respect for belief and tolerance. In Türkiye, the Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge (RCMK) curriculum includes units on religions other than Islam. An examination of the current secondary education curriculum reveals that Judaism and Christianity are taught in Unit 5 of the 11th grade, while Indian and Chinese religions are covered in Unit 5 of the 12th grade. The curriculum emphasizes an objective and descriptive approach, presenting these religions through their own concepts, sources, and fundamental principles. The inclusion of religions other than Islam in compulsory religious education in Türkiye has been the subject of scholarly inquiry from various perspectives, resulting in a substantial body of literature. The primary aim of this study is to examine research conducted on the teaching of religions other than Islam within compulsory religious education in Türkiye and to develop a general framework by synthesizing the findings and conclusions of these studies. This study was conducted using the meta-synthesis method, a qualitative research approach that involves identifying relevant qualitative studies on a given topic and constructing a comprehensive and integrative framework based on their findings. Accordingly, qualitative research focusing on the teaching of other religions in religious education in Türkiye was identified, forming a research corpus consisting of 11 studies: one master’s thesis, one doctoral dissertation, and nine journal articles. The findings and conclusions of these studies were systematically analyzed and coded by the researcher, leading to the identification of common themes. Data analysis yielded six main themes: necessity, teacher, student, curriculum, instructional setting, and textbooks. These themes were analyzed, interpreted, and discussed in relation to their respective sub-themes and codes. The findings indicate that the teaching of religions other than Islam in Türkiye has shown significant progress throughout the history of the Republic, particularly in terms of the use of authentic sources, pedagogical approaches, the promotion of social peace and respect, and fostering understanding of the religious “other.” However, the findings also reveal persistent structural and pedagogical challenges related to the curriculum, teacher competencies, instructional practices, and textbooks. Based on these results, the study offers recommendations for future curriculum development processes within the Ministry of National Education, as well as for researchers interested in this field. The findings, conclusions, and recommendations of this study are expected to serve as a valuable resource for understanding the existing literature on the teaching of religions other than Islam in Türkiye and for identifying new areas for future research.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Destekleyen Kurum
Etik Beyan
Kaynakça
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Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
Din Eğitimi
Bölüm
Araştırma Makalesi
Yazarlar
Münir Ecer
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0000-0002-0486-1460
Türkiye
Yayımlanma Tarihi
15 Mayıs 2026
Gönderilme Tarihi
9 Ocak 2026
Kabul Tarihi
3 Mayıs 2026
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2026 Cilt: 13 Sayı: Din, Barış ve Çatışma Çözümü
