In the process of social change,religion-state relations in Kazakhstan (Example of university students)

This study, which examines impacts of religion-state relations on institutional and individual secularisation level in the context of education and religiosity in Kazakhstan aims to contribute to the development of more real politics in religion-state relations in accordance with historical and sociological facts. In this study, with documentary analysis, semi-structured interview, questionnaire and in some cases participatory observation techniques, qualitative and quantitative research methods were used together. By using the aforementioned methods and techniques, the impacts of religion-state relations on institutional and individual secularisation level were examined within the framework of contemporary secularization paradigm. As a laic state, in Kazakhstan legal and institutional regulations and policies show that there is an obvious secularization process in the educational institution. On the other hand, the findings obtained from the questions at the basic level on dimension of faith and worship, perception of subjective religiousity, sources of religious knowledge, percepiton of religious symbols, level of religious sensitivity in some areas, level of relationship with religious groups and organizations and place and importance of religion in Kazakstan society show that there is no perceivable secularisation process in the individual level. This result supports assertation of contemporary secularisation approach which claims that the process of secularisation can be seen in different forms and dimensions in every single society. Keywords: Islam, Kazakhstan, Religion-State Relations, Secularisation, Social Change.