The effect of higher religious education on students' religious reconciliation culture -the case of RTEU Faculty of Theology-

This research that addresses the effect of higher religious education on religious reconciliation culture focuses on the views of students about the subject. In the research, qualitative methods were used since theoretical framework for religious reconciliation culture and students' views on the topic were presented. Theoretical framework was prepared with document analysis method. Also, the themes of the research were determined as reconciliation, conflict, other, empathy and communication. The students' views about this issue were reached using a semi-structured interview form prepared by the researcher. Interviews were conducted with 27 senior students who graduated from Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Faculty of Theology, chosen as the sample of the research. Data obtained from the students were evaluated in four main themes by using descriptive analysis and content analysis methods. According to the results, although students think that theological education can cause othering and conflict, most of them expressed that this education contributes to both empathy, communication and religious reconciliation culture.