Abstract:

The substitution of the concepts of secularism and laicism creates an intricate confusion of meaning in the literature. Therefore, it is necessary to examine laicisim by pointing to the etymological nuance and the difference in practice between secularization, which is claimed to be in parallel with the modernization process, and laicism one of its institutional dimensions. In this study, firstly, the concepts of secularism and laicism are considered as the separation of religiosity and temporality, but also it is emphasized that the concepts are dynamic and they develops depending on time, place and historical conditions. However, it is also pointed out that the multidimensional meanings of the concepts change according to societal law, sociology and political conjuncture. Purpose of the study is to point out that the laicism, which one of the institutional dimensions of secularism, can be examined by the criterion to which institutions are autonomous from religion and from each other and by criterion of differentiation and also to indicate common values and political tendencies especially in Islamic societies that have adopted this model.

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