The role of religious education during emerging adulthood: A case study of Batman province

The period of emerging adulthood is considered a critical stage for individuals' identity development and the shaping of beliefs and values. Therefore, educational activities provided during this period are of great importance in supporting their religious and spiritual development. This study aims to evaluate the religious education activities that individuals in emerging adulthood receive from formal education. The study examined the effects of religious courses on various dimensions such as emerging adults' perception of religion, moral development, personal beliefs, and respect for other religions. In this study, which used a qualitative research method, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 30 emerging adults (15 women and 15 men) aged 18-29 who had received education and taken religious courses in Batman province. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive content analysis method with MAXQDA software. Research findings show that family, school, environment, places of worship, and personal research play an important role in shaping emerging adults' perceptions of religion. It has been determined that religious education has positive effects on moral development, strengthening personal beliefs, and social and emotional abilities such as empathy and tolerance. However, the inadequacy of the curriculum and the negative effects of rote learning-based education have also been criticized. Some participants demand a more comprehensive religious education. These findings reveal that the content and methods of religious education need to be reviewed. The research results are consistent with the characteristic features of the emerging adulthood period. Features specific to this period, such as identity search, self-focus, instability, infinite possibilities, and a sense of being in-between, were clearly observed in the participants' religious education experiences. The present study focuses on the dynamics of religion and belief in emerging adulthood, offering important implications for the development of education policies, youth programs, and religious guidance services. The study evaluates the extent to which current religious education programs meet individuals' needs and offers suggestions for improving these programs. This thesis aims to contribute to the literature in the field and societal understanding as an important step towards analyzing the religious education experiences of individuals in emerging adulthood.