New spaces of religious communities in terms of sociology of religion: Youtube channels

In today's world, where almost every aspect of life is transferred to digital media, people and groups with religious qualifications have also taken their place here. Helping to create content in visual, audio and written formats, YouTube has become more attractive than websites. In this study using qualitative research method, religious YouTube channels that produce content in Turkey are discussed. Throughout our study, it has been tried to reach how these channels, which are considered as a sample group, define themselves, what type of content they produce, who they define as the other and which information sources they use. In addition to these, it is aimed to determine which topics are focused on in the world views and popular daily life ideas and discourses of these channels. Today, virtual spaces are gaining in popularity. Every aspect of life, including religion, has taken its place on social media. Religion can be lived individually or in groups, depending on the preferences of the people. Some of the religious groups formed by people who prefer to continue their religious life as a community can be organized directly in virtual spaces. In addition, religious groups that have a physical community can reflect their existence to these environments for various purposes. Our study was created by examining the six channels with the highest number of subscribers on YouTube. It has been observed that Sözler Köşkü, Hayalhanem and Maksat 114 YouTube channels, which have the highest number of subscribers, have physical places under the name of the association, make use of a common source and resemble each other in terms of their activities. This channels has been determined emerge as a new movement, a new school and the other channels we have discussed (Cübbeli Ahmet Hoca, Nurettin Yıldız, İhsan Şenocak) consist of the reflection of certain religious communities on social media. KEYWORDS: Religious groups, Virtual Religious Groups, Religious YouTube Channels 30.06.2022, 110 Page