AYASOFYA: DINI SEMBOLLER VE İMGELER VE ZIYARETÇILER ARASINDA HOŞGÖRÜ ILE İÇ UYUMUN ARTIRILMASINA ETKILERI

Abstract

The research investigated the influence of religious symbols, image emotions, and beliefs in increasing tolerance and inter-faith harmony among visitors at Hagia Sophia. Earlier research has shown Hagia Sophia as a heritage site promoting tolerance, peace, and harmony, yet a gap was found in terms of the impact of religious signs and images on visitors’ perception of tolerance and interfaith harmony. Therefore, in this research, interfaith harmony was used as an analytical tool to measure religious symbols, images, emotions, and beliefs and their influence on visitors. A sample of 100 local participants (Muslims and Christians) in Hagia Sophia was considered. The research scope was restricted to local visitors to gain better insight and understanding regarding religious symbols and images and their influence on increasing tolerance and interfaith harmony. The findings show that religious symbols increase tolerance and interfaith harmony among visitors. However, an insignificant effect of religious images and visitors’ beliefs was observed in influencing their perceptions of tolerance and harmony. Also, a statistically significant difference in scores of tolerance and interfaith harmony between Muslim and Christian visitors was found, while an insignificant difference in scores was noted regarding the visitors’ age. The research brings novelty, highlighting that religious symbols were significantly related to increasing tolerance and interfaith harmony. This difference in views among visitors can be credited to differences in religious beliefs and emotions among Muslims and Christians. The study has limitations in terms of sample size and its scope restricted to Turkey. It has implications for academics to investigate Hagia Sophia from theological and philosophical perspectives, using surveys from visitors across different nationalities and faiths and interviews of historians and experts to provide in-depth findings. Keywords: Hagia Sophia, Islam, Christianity, mosaics, calligraphy, tolerance, interfaith harmony, religious symbols and images, religious emotion and belief.