Queer theory and religion in the context of poststructuralism

Queer, which emerged within the Feminist movement in the 1990s, has developed as a theory in social sciences over time. Queer theory is built on a philosophical and sociological ground based on poststructuralist discourse. Shaped by the books and discourses of Judith Butler, who is considered one of the theorists and even the founder of Queer, Queer has started to be the subject of more academic studies today as it has increased its public visibility. Queer as a movement constructs a space and discourse for itself in many fields from academia to art, from media to architecture. Queer theorists have also emphasized the phenomenon of "religion" in recent years. Especially Derrida's "deconstruction" from poststructuralism and Judith Butler's mentor Foucault's new perspectives on the concepts of "subject" and "gender" are effective in the religion-based analysis of Queer theorists. In this thesis, the relationship between Queer theory and religion is discussed in the context of poststructuralism. Starting from feminism, the development process of Queer theory is examined and the relationship of this process with the concepts of gender and homosexuality is discussed. At the end, it is stated that the point reached is "Queer", which is used as an umbrella concept. The poststructuralist structure of Queer is discussed in the context of Butler and its functions are mentioned. It is emphasized that it is a theory that problematizes gender with its structure that rejects identities, questions everything that is fixed and opposes it. Finally, the approach of poststructuralist thought to religion is discussed. By examining how thinkers who reject the truth and ignore the fixed look at the relationship between religion and queer, the coexistence of the two phenomena is problematized within the framework of the discourses of religions. As a result, it is stated that the coming together of these two phenomena is an impossible state of non-identity and that the discourse of religions and the discourse of Queer cannot be found on a common ground.