Article

Secularism in the West and Secular Implications of Turkish Islam

Abstract

This article aims to reveal the secular contents of Muslim practices in Turkey. Secularism is a concept that originated in the west and it has developed a context within its historical process. The relationship between the west and Christianity is important in this process and secularism which has gained a structural qualification in the western world, is a result of this relationship. This article will try to analyze the context of secularism in the western history, and then will discuss the Muslim experiences and its relationship with secularism in Turkey. In this context, we can say that there are some similarities and differences in the meaning of secularism in Turkey and in the West. These differences can be due to the religions, cultures and societies of two societies. It should be noted that the impacts of secularism can be seen in some practices of daily life within the modernization process, which could be traced back to the Tanzimat period in the Ottoman Empire. The article will analyze the impacts of secularism on Muslim practices within the context of language, daily life and religious practices. The mindsets and practices indicate that secularism has had some impacts in Turkey.

Keywords

Secularism Laicism Christianity Islam Daily Life