Papers by Merve CETINKAYA
GAZİANTEP UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, 2024
Mosques are at the heart of Muslim lives, especially in non-Muslim communities—the variety of cul... more Mosques are at the heart of Muslim lives, especially in non-Muslim communities—the variety of cultures and nationalities of the immigrants determines the concept of mosques in Britain. The landscape of the mosques in Britain differs in regard to the cultural, national and denominational concepts. Most of the mosques are focused on either specific nationalities or denominations. The current article explores the ways in which mosques are situated in contemporary societies in relation to expressing Islamic and cultural identities, using Cambridge Central Mosque, which debuted in Britain in 2019 with the motto "eco-friendly", as a case study. The current research focuses primarily on examining the architectural, sustainable, and social aspects of the Cambridge Central Mosque. After engaging with the design feature of the Mosque, the article questions the meaning of 'British Mosque' in its functioning and multicultural structure. Eco-friendly mosques have been on the agenda since the beginning of Islam. There are many mosques in history. For example, Esrefoglu Mosque in Konya was built using ecological materials and has survived for 900 years. In the 21st century, the increased interest in eco-friendly buildings due to the growing rate of industrialisation and the ensuing pollution of the environment has reminded us to focus on sustainability, as it has always been a core concept in Islam and Muslim lives. Offering a good perspective on this issue, The Cambridge Central Mosque represents an overarching space for all Muslims, women, and families. It is an example of environmentally friendly, sustainable, and integrated with the social structure in the modern world.
MENTAL HEALTH, RELIGION & CULTURE, 2024
This systematic review examines research on Sufi spirituality and mental well-being. Earlier inve... more This systematic review examines research on Sufi spirituality and mental well-being. Earlier investigations have focused on general spiritual practice in mental health care and found a connection between spirituality and mental health. In this systematic review, we aimed to explore existing research specifically considering the relationship between Sufi spirituality and mental well-being and examine the quality of this research. We identified 49 papers published between the years 2007-2022. Our findings revealed a positive connection between Sufi spirituality and reducing anxiety and depression in patients. However, most studies were of low quality. This review highlights the need to provide more comprehensive and higher quality research to redress the methodological limitations of the current evidence base.
Book Reviews by Merve CETINKAYA
is an eminent British sociologist who has contributed significantly to sociology, particularly re... more is an eminent British sociologist who has contributed significantly to sociology, particularly religion and secularisation. Bruce started his book by recalling the secularisation of the West as a decline in religious influence in modern societies. He continued with the examination of spirituality in British society. His choice of British society also demonstrates examples of the existence of Eastern spirituality in a highly secularised Western community. He explored the new age movements in the UK by highlighting the contemporary understanding of spirituality. Mainly, he emphasised the spiritual seeking in society with a description of 'subjective turn'. 'Subjective turn' can be understood as a focus on personal experience and personal benefits rather than fulfilling religious duties or obeying organised rules. He mentioned an individualistic approach to religion and spirituality in contemporary society as a way of another consequences of secularisation process. Contrary to mainstream, organised religious appearances and organisations, subjective experience becomes the main understanding of religion and spirituality. These contemporary, new age, Eastern-driven movements are mainly focused on the self and intuition. The book aims to examine the 'secularisation thesis' in a Western context, especially in Britain, by reviewing the Westernisation of Eastern religions and traditions. • 691
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Papers by Merve CETINKAYA
Book Reviews by Merve CETINKAYA