The culture of voluntary obedience in religious orders in terms of reasons and consequences: The Menzil Order example

People's will and need to live together is a need that has emerged since the existence of humanity. Throughout known history, people have struggled to exist in every medium. Considering that people who were deprived of the right to education until recently, who did not have the right to vote and be elected, and who were stuck between labor or farming have the opportunity to gain all their freedom today, this idea of freedom and independence attracts people who have been oppressed and oppressed under authority for hundreds of years with the attractions of the modern world, with all its external deterrents. is expected. As a result of this expectation, we think and believe that the person who can take his freedom will never be dominated again. But when we see people who dedicate themselves to a religious group, who follow the words of their sheikh, and who obey, in the face of all this idea of freedom, the idea that they may be people who are condemned to a life they do not want due to the pressure of society or their families remains in our minds. It is at this point that the purpose and target audience of the study emerged. The aim of the thesis is to examine the concepts of authority and obedience in a sociological context and to investigate the underlying reasons why people show obedience towards religious groups. The research was conducted with a qualitative method, with 21 female participants living in Keçiören district of Ankara, who are members of the Menzil Sect; The interview was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire consisting of 21 questions prepared on voluntary obedience, belonging and the sociology of daily life. The reason for conducting the study with this group is that it is thought that one of the most prominent examples in which the concept of voluntary obedience can be investigated is the sect structure. In this context, the extent of the limitations of people's obedience in terms of their beliefs, in which situations the authority can be questioned or whether it can be questioned is emphasized. The answers received from the interviews were examined under six themes and analyzed from a comprehension and interpretive perspective. By making connections with the subjects examined in the literature, the findings regarding the causes and consequences of the dynamics that build voluntary obedience were evaluated and given in the conclusion section. Key Words: Voluntary obedience, authority, belonging, sect, community.