Publications

Dr. Yetkin Karaoğlu completed his undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Theology, Erciyes University, where he developed a strong theoretical foundation in the History of Religions. In his master’s thesis, entitled “The Concept of Soteriology in Early Gnostic Christianity,” he examined the understanding of salvation in Gnostic Christianity from historical, phenomenological, and comparative perspectives, with particular attention to heterodox traditions within early Christianity. In his doctoral dissertation, entitled “The Japanese New Religious Movement: Ōmoto,” he conducted a comprehensive analysis of Ōmoto, one of Japan’s prominent new religious movements, examining its historical development, systems of belief and worship, sacred texts, institutional structure, and position within the broader landscape of Japanese religions. His research was based extensively on Japanese-language primary sources. This academic trajectory laid the foundation for Dr. Karaoğlu’s shift in research focus from early Christian studies toward specialization in Japanese religions, Shinto, and Japanese new religious movements. It also provided the intellectual basis for his current research in the phenomenology of religion, comparative history of religions, and cognitive approaches to the study of religion.

Dr. Yetkin Karaoğlu’s books stand out within the discipline of the History of Religions for their original contributions to the study of Japanese religions and Japanese new religious movements. His first book, Japanese New Religious Movements (2023), examines the historical development, conditions of emergence, key concepts, and characteristic features of new religious movements that arose in modern Japan, thereby addressing an important gap in the Turkish-language literature on the subject. His subsequent book, Ōmoto: Its Definition, Typology, Religious-Phenomenological History, Beliefs, and Practices(2024), is a comprehensive monograph on Ōmoto, a Japanese new religious movement with roots in the Shinto tradition, analyzed through historical, phenomenological, and comparative approaches. Drawing extensively on Japanese-language primary sources, the book examines the movement’s founders, sacred texts, doctrines, forms of worship, rituals, and institutional structure, and stands out as one of the most comprehensive academic studies on Ōmoto published in Türkiye.

In addition to his authored books, Dr. Yetkin Karaoğlu contributes to the literature of the History of Religions through book chapters published in national and international academic volumes. His chapters focus on areas of specialization such as Japanese religions, Japanese new religious movements, Shinto, comparative history of religions, and religious traditions in Asia.

He also examines a broader range of topics, including the Jews of China (Kaifeng Jews), Bukharan Jews, religious pluralism, cultural interaction, and religious identity, primarily through historical and phenomenological approaches. Drawing on primary sources and interdisciplinary analysis, these studies aim to make original contributions to both Turkish-language scholarship and the international academic literature in the field of the History of Religions.

Dr. Yetkin Karaoğlu’s articles are distinguished by his original research in the field of the History of Religions, particularly on Japanese religions, Shinto, and Japanese new religious movements. In his studies, he combines historical methodology with contemporary approaches such as the phenomenology of religion, comparative history of religions, religious experience, sacredness, religion–politics relations, and cognitive approaches to the study of religion. He has also published academic studies on early Christianity, Gnosticism, Judaism, religious pluralism, Islam–Japan comparisons, religious identity, cultural interaction, and Asian religions. Published in both Turkish and English, these works appear in national and international peer-reviewed journals and make original contributions to the literature of the History of Religions through their interdisciplinary approach and analyses grounded in primary sources, particularly in the field of Japanese religions.

Dr. Yetkin Karaoğlu contributes to current academic discussions in the field of the History of Religions through papers presented at national and international conferences, symposia, and workshops. His presentations focus primarily on Japanese religions, Shinto, Japanese new religious movements, comparative history of religions, the phenomenology of religion, and cognitive approaches to the study of religion. He also addresses topics such as the relationship between religion and politics, charismatic authority, religious experience, monolatry and monotheism, religious pluralism, critiques of Eurocentrism, and Asian religions through historical, phenomenological, and interdisciplinary approaches. Presented at international academic events held in various countries, these studies aim to make original contributions both to research on Japanese religions and to the broader literature of comparative history of religions.