Publication: Din değiştirmenin entellektüel arkaplanı (Güney Koreli Müslümanlar üzerine bir inceleme)
Abstract
Din Değiştirmenin Entellektüel Arkaplanı adını taşıyan bu araştırma, İslam dinini kabul ederek müslüman olan 68 Koreli'nin analizine dayanarak, Koreli mühtedilerin din değiştirmelerine neden olan psikolojik ve sosyolojik temelleri anlamayı hedeflemiştir. Çeşitli dinlerin bulunduğu Güney Kore'de yapılmış olan bu araştırma, İslam'ı seçen Korelilerin sosyal özelliklerinin yanında ihtida kararına götüren motiflerin de genel görüntüsünü çıkarmayı amaçlamıştır. Buna göre Koreli muhtedilerin genelde eğitim seviyelerinin yüksek ve sağlam bir mesleğe sahip oldukları görülmektedir. Onların bir çoğu ihtida etmeden önce İslam hakkında olumsuz bir imaja sahip olmuş, İslamla çeşitli yollarla kurulan ilk tanışıklıkta bu imajın tesiri altında kalmışlardır. Koreli mühtedilerin çoğu Hristiyanlıktan geçiş yapmış ve eski diniyle mukayese ederek İslam'a girmişlerdir. Deneklerimizin ortalama ihtida yaşı 27.8 olarak bulunmuştur. Gelişmiş toplumlardan birisi olan Güney Kore'de mühtedilerin bir çoğu ergenlik çağında dinlerini gözardı etmişler, ancak eğitim, meslek seçimi, evlenme vb gibi hayatın diğer yönleriyle ilgilenmek zorunda kaldıklarında değerler veya dini konularda karar vermekten vazgeçerek, 'moratoryum'(geciktirme) yolunu seçmiş ve 20'li yaşların sonlarında kendi dini değerlerine tekrar dönmelerinin beklendiği bir devrede İslam'ı seçmişlerdir. Araştırmada, Koreli muhtedilerin İslam'a giden yolda diğer motiflerle beraber daha ziyade entellektüel motifin temsil ettiği tesirlere maruz kaldıkları ortaya çıkmıştır. Ancak, din değiştirme hadisesi sırf bir etki ile meydana gelmez, bir kişinin arkasında çok değişik psiko-sosyal motiflerin etkileşimi (interaction) söz konusudur. Bu araştırma özelde Koreli muhtedileri anlamak için genelde İslam konteksti için, daha ziyade din değiştirme hadisesinin genel çizgisini ortaya koymaya yönelik bir yaklaşımın gerekli olduğunu öngörmektedir.
The purpose of this research is to draw out the nature of Korean converts to Islam and to understand the psychological and sociological roots of their conversion experience. Especially, it endeavors to bring to light what is the motivational factor involved in their conversion to Islam; Is the Korean converts to Islam influenced by their emotional - unconsious experiences or some consiously intellectual faktors like searching for meaning of their life? To attain these major objectives, this research was conducted based on the analysis of the interviews with 68 Korean converts to Islam. With respect to the sociological characteristics of converts, in general, the Korean converts to Islam appear to have a good educational background and to have attained successful positions in their fields. In addition, most of them were brought out in warm or normal families. Before they have come to know about Islam, they either misunderstood or ignorance of it. Their negative or neutral image of Islam affect their conversion process and even after conversion. They first contact with Islam through various means. But, in most cases, they come to learn or discuss about Islam with human contact. The converts to Islam is most likely to be occurred from Christianity rather than the other religions or agnostic position. Those who have background of Christianity converted to Islam by comparing it with their previous religion. In these backgrounds, intellectual factors is central to Korean conversion to Islam. They experience a gradual prolonged progress involving conversation with Muslims, reading of the Islamic literature with low or no social pressure. Furthermore, there are no spiritual distress or crisis. In close relation with their conversion age (27.8 years), it may be due to their entering 'spiritual moratorium'. The converts resolve the integration struggle that normally accompany adolescence by postponing the metaphysical sphere to late twenties, and in their late twenties when they think again about their lives and religions or other alternatives.
The purpose of this research is to draw out the nature of Korean converts to Islam and to understand the psychological and sociological roots of their conversion experience. Especially, it endeavors to bring to light what is the motivational factor involved in their conversion to Islam; Is the Korean converts to Islam influenced by their emotional - unconsious experiences or some consiously intellectual faktors like searching for meaning of their life? To attain these major objectives, this research was conducted based on the analysis of the interviews with 68 Korean converts to Islam. With respect to the sociological characteristics of converts, in general, the Korean converts to Islam appear to have a good educational background and to have attained successful positions in their fields. In addition, most of them were brought out in warm or normal families. Before they have come to know about Islam, they either misunderstood or ignorance of it. Their negative or neutral image of Islam affect their conversion process and even after conversion. They first contact with Islam through various means. But, in most cases, they come to learn or discuss about Islam with human contact. The converts to Islam is most likely to be occurred from Christianity rather than the other religions or agnostic position. Those who have background of Christianity converted to Islam by comparing it with their previous religion. In these backgrounds, intellectual factors is central to Korean conversion to Islam. They experience a gradual prolonged progress involving conversation with Muslims, reading of the Islamic literature with low or no social pressure. Furthermore, there are no spiritual distress or crisis. In close relation with their conversion age (27.8 years), it may be due to their entering 'spiritual moratorium'. The converts resolve the integration struggle that normally accompany adolescence by postponing the metaphysical sphere to late twenties, and in their late twenties when they think again about their lives and religions or other alternatives.