Determining the knowledge levels and attitudes of religious officials about the basic views of the religious sects

This is a field study conducted to determine the level of knowledge and attitudes of religious officials-vâiz, Qur'an course instructors, imam-hatip, muezzin-kayyim-who work in Malatya province about the basic views of the theological sects. In the first part of our study, brief explanations were made about the sects that are the subject of the research and some concepts related to the history of Islamic sects. In the second part, information about the subject of religion, definitions related to religion, institutionalization of religion, the Presidency of Religious Affairs, religious officials working in the religious services class and their fields of duty are given. In the third chapter, the methodology of the study, data collection tool, assumptions and hypotheses are given. In the fourth section, the findings of the survey conducted in the field are given in tables and explanations about the tables are made. In the fifth section, the analysis and interpretation of the findings were made. The results obtained are compared with previous studies and similar and opposite points are mentioned. In the last section, the conclusions and some suggestions reached as a result of the data obtained throughout the research are given. In order to realize this purpose, descriptive survey model was preferred. Descriptive survey models are approaches to reveal events, situations and phenomena that exist in the past, present or in a certain process. As a data collection tool, a questionnaire form consisting of 71 questions in total with three sections: personal information form, knowledge level form and disposition form was used. The data were collected through the Google survey application due to the restrictions imposed due to the pandemic. Within the scope of the research, 421 religious officials filled out the questionnaire form, 20 questionnaires were not taken into consideration because they were not filled out in accordance with the conditions specified in the proposal. As a result of the research, it was understood that religious officials do not have sufficient book knowledge about the basic views of the theological sects. It has been revealed that after graduating from the education process and taking office, the religious officials do not have a very good relationship with reading to update their knowledge about their fields, especially the History of Islamic Denominations. In most of the field studies conducted on religious officials, it has been seen that results have been obtained that support the results we have found. In addition, as a result of the research, it was revealed that the knowledge levels of religious officials belonging to the Ash'arite-Shafi'i tradition were higher than those of religious officials belonging to the Hanafi-Maturidi tradition. However, it has also been observed that although the religious officials do not have sufficient biblical knowledge about the basic views of the theological sects, they do not show a positive participation against the tendencies of the sects, which are very unusual, do not belong to this geography, strict and takfirist tendencies. It was observed that the higher the level of education, the higher the level of knowledge. Likewise, it has been observed that the higher the level of education, the more conscious and knowledgebased tendencies regarding the basic views of sects are revealed. Among the religious officials working in different statuses, it was understood that the knowledge level of those working as preachers was higher than the other officials working in the religious services class. Key words: Religion: Sect, Presidency of Religious Affairs, Religious services, Preaching and guidance, Mosque