The Illustrated Book of Religion of the Republic (Resimli Cumhuriyet Din Kitabı), authored by Prof. Dr. İsmail Kara, is a comprehensive three-volume visual and textual work that examines the relationship between religion, state, and society in Republican-era Türkiye. It is being published as part of Dergâh Publications' Contemporary Turkish Thought series. Its second printing, which began in December 2023, was completed in March 2024.
Subject
The work examines topics such as the Republic’s religious policies, the application of secularism, the institutions of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, religious education systems, Sufi orders, the reactions of religious communities, Alevism, and the headscarf movement in 70 separate chapters. It provides a systematic narrative accompanied by historical texts, archival documents, and over 850 visuals.
Themes
- Secularism and Religious Policies: The book describes how secularism legislation has been applied from the Treaty of Lausanne to the present day and its effects on society.
- The Institutionalization of Religious Education: The function of Imam Hatip Schools, Faculties of Theology, and the Presidency of Religious Affairs within a secular framework is addressed.
- Society and Religious Communities: The practices of Sufi orders, the formation of civil religious structures, Alevism, and the headscarf movement as forms of religious political participation are examined.
- Visual History: The religious memory of the Republic is visually reconstructed through documents such as newspaper clippings, rare photographs, drawings, and tables.
Narration and Style
İsmail Kara conveys the chronology of the relationship between religion and the state with an objective and analytical style, drawing on scholarly sources. The narrative, supported by visuals, establishes historical depth. While the work is structured like an atlas or an encyclopedia, it has high readability and is accessible to academics, students, and the general reader.
