Abstract

Education is one of the unique ways for reaching the level of contemporary civilizations. With this understanding, the new education system was put into practice after the promulgation of the Republic. The manner of giving religious education and whether this education should be given or not has been controversial in this system and the effects of such discussions have continued until today. The revolutionary staff, who believe that one of the most important spheres that revives and unites a society is religion and that such an important and valuable aspect should be under the state control, shut down madrasahs and wanted to transform Imam-Hatip schools into theological schools. The source of debates that have reached the present day has been shaped in this process. In this study, the approach of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the new education system to religious education was evaluated. Archival documents, newspapers, journals and copyright works were reviewed during the research process.