Religious integration and disintegration functions: the example of Kazakhstani studies

Abstract

The article delves into the examination of the integration and disintegration functions of religion within Kazakh society. Authors endeavor to address this issue by drawing upon the research conducted by Russian scholars. To delineate the role of the evolution of Tengrianism and Islam in Kazakhstan's history and the formation of the religious worldview of the Kazakh people, the perspectives of 19th-century and contemporary scholars are scrutinized. Employing comparative historical and structural-functional methods, the study unveils the potential impact of these religions on the socio-spiritual development of society. The article poses inquiries regarding the conflicting perceptions of traditional Islam's authority, precipitated by the actions of contemporary politicized radical Islamic factions, the proliferation of Islamophobia, and the low levels of education and religious literacy within society. Additionally, emphasis is placed on the activities of Neotengrians seeking to alter the tenets of Tengriantva and the missionary endeavors of neo-Protestant religious associations. Throughout the investigation, the authors assert that the activities of religions in Kazakhstan have contributed to an elevation in the religiosity of the populace, prompting shifts in the ethno-confessional landscape, and fostering trends in the dissemination of Islamophobias and Islamic radical ideologies. To safeguard religious stability and spiritual cohesion within the nation, the state is urged to incorporate religious education into secondary schools, specialized, and higher educational institutions, alongside the development of scientific frameworks aimed at reconciling the tensions between traditionalism and innovation within society.

Keywords: religion, Kazakh society, religious integration, disintegration, Tengrianism, Islam, tradition