A qualitative study on religious identity development among Turkish youth

Abstract

The present research aims to extend theories on identity development by examining religious identity development in the Turkish context. The study adopts a socio-ecological approach to explore both micro and macro contextual factors in relation to the religious identity development of Turkish youth. Within this broad framework, a peace psychological approach was employed to explain religious identity development in a conflictual social context i.e., religious based socio-political conflicts, and religious versus secular social segmentations in the society. The research questions focus on the process of religious identity development, micro and macro influences on religious identity development, religious identity conflicts, and conflict resolution strategies among Turkish youth. A qualitative study was conducted adopting the elements of grounded theory methodology. Data were collected from a total of 34 (13 male, 21 female) Turkish youth, aged between 19 to 25 years, from four universities in Turkey. Using a semi-structured interview protocol, participants were asked to freely narrate their life stories with a specific emphasis on their religious development. The analysis focuses on the process of the youth’s religious identity construction in relation to micro and macro social constructions within the Turkish context, individual identity conflicts, and ways of resolutions. The findings indicate that the process of religious identity development was primarily influenced by micro-contextual factors with family being the most influential especially during the earlier phases of development, while adolescent and early adult stages were characterized by purposeful individual religious inquiries. Apart from family, friends, and school, religious-based organizations appeared as one of the features that was particularly influential in the Turkish context of religious identity development. The findings also demonstrate direct and indirect impacts of macro contextual factors on religious identity construction. Reflections of socio-political religious-based conflicts were observed in the youth’s narratives as an external source of religious identity conflict. The emerged theoretical model represented a detailed portrayal of the many micro and macro elements within the Turkish context in relation to youth’s religious identity development, while at the same time demonstrating the interconnections between the contextual conflicts and individual identity conflicts. Religious identity types were categorized in terms of personal and social dimensions, while the kinds of religious identity expressions chosen could be seen as outcomes of the resolution strategies adopted in dealing with religious identity conflicts. Overall, the findings suggest that individual religious identity, as a dynamic phenomenon, is highly subjected to micro and macro context impacts. This can be seen in the variations of individual experiences of religious identity within the personal and social dimensions, and their expressions of religious identity as a way to negotiate and adapt to the prevailing social context. The discussion focuses on the major findings of the study in the light of religious identity and peace psychology literature. Implications of the present findings with regard to conflict resolution strategies for identity-based conflicts at the individual and societal levels as well as religious education, and positive youth development are considered along with recommendations for future research.