Secularization tendencies in Tatvan in terms of generational difference: A sociological research

Although secularization, in terms of its intellectual roots, emerged in the West alongside modernization, it has begun to be experienced in non-Western societies as well, with the globalization of modernization. Turkey, with its nearly two centuries of modernization experience, cannot be considered isolated from the process of secularization. The secularization process in Turkey is also evident in the settlements of the Eastern regions, where traditional culture is still perceived to dominate. In Tatvan, a significant settlement of the Eastern Anatolia region and the Van Lake basin, there has been a noticeable transformation in recent years in the attitudes of the younger generations towards religion and the traditional cultural forms associated with it, compared to previous generations. In Tatvan, the new generations show a tendency towards secularization under the influence of dynamics such as migration, urbanization, globalization, capitalism, modern education, political debates, and rapid technological changes. This study aims to examine the secularization process experienced by the younger generation in Tatvan in the context of generational differentiation. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 parent participants of different ages, professions, and education levels, and their children, using the phenomenological design of qualitative research methodology. The data obtained were analyzed and compared through various themes. The findings confirmed the study's hypothesis, revealing a deep differentiation between generations in Tatvan, with the younger generation showing a tendency towards secularization.