From the Editor

Dear readers,

Welcome back to the new issue of Ilahiyat Studies. First, we would like to express our gratitude and extend a warm welcome to Asst. Prof. Zeynep Yücedoğru, Asst. Prof. Kevser Demir Bektaş, and Res. Asst. Merve Yavuz. They have joined us as associate editors in this issue, and their contributions will strengthen our journal even further.

This issue of IS features six research articles and a book review. In the first article, “Surplus of Meaning or Suspending Philology?: Some Reflections on Philological Ramification in Classical Qurʾān Commentary”, Merve Palanci argues that understanding a phrase in the linguistic structure of the Qurʾān goes beyond simply studying it conceptually using linguistic tools. To prove her case, Palanci specifically focuses on the philological implications of the commentary on the dhālika l-kitāb pattern in Q 2:2. By examining this particular instance, the author concludes that a thorough comprehension of the Qurʾān can be achieved only by a philological analysis that considers historical information and intratextual references.

In the second article, “Raëlism: An Unconventional Religious Pathway into Transhumanism”, Büşra Yeşilyurt and Muhammet Yeşilyurt present a detailed analysis of Raëlism, a new religious movement, in the context of transhumanism. The central argument involves the distinctive fusion of spirituality and technology in the movement. According to this comprehensive approach, technology can also support human spiritual development and help us better understand our place in the universe in addition to improving our physical and mental capacities. The authors conclude that the convergence of Raëlism and transhumanism is a noteworthy intellectual phenomenon that questions established frameworks of human progress and redefines the role of religion in our rapidly evolving society.

“The Role of Religious and Spiritual Factors in Coping with Psychosocial Problems in Refugee Adolescents”, by Nur Pamuk Kuru and Fatma Baynal, presents a study that aims to determine how refugee adolescents affected by war and migration coped with difficulties and what support they received. Research has shown that receiving support from religious and spiritual experiences during challenging periods can enhance individuals’ psychological resilience and effectively safeguard their spiritual well-being.

In the article “Testing the Mediating and Moderating Factors of the Link Between Religiosity and Vaccine Hesitancy: A Quantitative Study of Turkish Muslims”, Ali Ayten, Muhammet Numan Sağırlı, Derya Eren Cengiz, Ömer Faruk Cengiz, and Muhammed Turan Çalışkan provide an analysis of the correlation between vaccine hesitancy and religiosity among Turkish Muslims and compare their findings to the relevant literature. This study also investigates the moderating effect of age and the mediating role of trust in science and scientists in this correlation. The results suggest a strong positive relationship between religiosity and vaccine hesitancy.

Hakime Reyyan Yaşar’s article, “Confronting Modernity and the Transformation of the Muslim Family in Ömer Nasuhi Bilmen’s Writings in the 20^th Century Ottoman State”, evaluates the responses of Bilmen, a highly influential Muslim intellectual and Islamic jurist in the late Ottoman Empire and the early years of Republican Turkey, to social changes and the effects of modernization. Given Bilmen’s writings on subjects such as marriage, divorce, polygamy, and population planning, the author argues that Bilmen’s criticism of these changes extended beyond a Westernization bias. According to the author, Bilmen inquires about the origins of the transformation process and suggests that Islam is a dynamic religion that can be harmonized with change.

In the last article of this issue, “Caputo’s Postmodern Understanding of Religion”, Bilal Bekalp invites us to explore the concepts of “weak theology” and “religion without religion”. He critically analyzes the positioning of religion and theology within postmodern thought, focusing on Caputo’s perspective. The author concludes that Caputo provides flexible theology, affirms faith without absolute or certain knowledge, and values religious tradition while maintaining his distance from actual historical faith communities.

We, the editorial team, are grateful to our authors, referees, and readers for their continued support and look forward to being with you in the next issues of Ilahiyat Studies.

Dr. Seda Ensarioğlu
Bursa Uludağ University, Bursa-Türkiye
sedaensari@uludag.edu.tr
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2928-9595