An evaluation of the perception of religious concepts in secondary school students

This research aims to examine and evaluate secondary school students' perceptions of religious concepts and is qualitative research on the axis of phenomenology. The research was conducted in 2023-2024 with 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students at Necip Fazıl Kısakürek Secondary School in Çorum province, determined by typical case sampling. Semi-structured interview questions were created as a data collection tool, and 42 participants were interviewed to evaluate and reveal the opinions of secondary school students about religious concepts. The data obtained was analyzed by the researcher. In the research, questions were asked about the concepts of Allah, afterlife, prophet, prayer, revelation, halal-haram, martyrdom, İman-Islam, judgment day, mysticism, bestowal, destiny-predestination, zakat-charity, the Sunnah of the Prophet, tevekkül, sünnatullah. The data obtained as a result of the interview was analyzed and evaluated under three different categories according to the questions related to the concepts. It is thought that, within the developmental conditions, the answers given by the students will be guiding in terms of understanding and evaluating other similar or different situations. According to these data obtained, it can be said that practices aimed at perceiving religious concepts in religious education should be expanded and concepts such as halal-haram, martyrdom, faith-Islam, and judgment should be included.