Author(s): Mesut DÜZCE
In this study, the French sociologist Emile Durkheim's approach to civilization and patriotism as a civil religion has been tried to be discussed. In this framework, the theoretical background of the concept of 'civil religion' and the theories of civil religion have been evaluated first. Secondly, it has been tried to look at the justifications underlying the view of nationalism as an alternative to religion, focusing on the relation between civil religion and nationalism. Here, the common features of nationalism and religion and the ability of nationalism to be an alternative to religion in comparison to other ideologies have been taken to be more. Finally, it has been tried to focus on why Durkheim saw nationalism and patriotism as a civil religion of modern times and his understanding of the role of nationalism and patriotism in modern times.
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