Marife Turkish Journal of Religious Studies

Abstract

The necessity of mathematical skills for the advancement of sciences specific to Islamic divinity is a reality that has not changed from history to the present. The relationship of the main areas of İslamic divinity such as fiqh, kalam, philosophy with different dimensions of mathematics is one of the examples of this situation. These examples, which are partially included in the research, have been important for understanding the importance and function of mathematics in the İslamic thought tradition. It is aimed to refer to the historical origins of the relationship of divinity, which is currently included as a field of science at the university, with mathematical skills. The importance and functionality of mathematical thinking skills in the field of divinity have been increasing even more since the İslamic thought tradition. Mathematical thinking, which focuses on skills such as abstraction, prediction, generalization, hypothesizing and testing by using mathematical knowledge and concepts, is a competence that should be used not only in solving mathematical problems but also in solving all problems that may be encountered in life. It would be ideal if the field of divinity, which is expected to produce solutions in the face of new problems and needs in religious issues, appeals to students with this competence. Based on these thoughts, the research examined whether the approaches to studying and learning in the divinity teaching processes have changed according to the state of having logical-mathematical thinking skills from high-level thinking skills of students of the faculty of divinity and whether this situation has an impact on their overall academic achievement. For this purpose, learning and study approaches (M) have an explanatory role in deciphering the effect of students' logical-mathematical intelligence perception levels (X) as a prediction variable on their overall academic achievement (Y) as a result variable. The answer to the question was sought and the methodological approach of the research was determined around this question. In this research, which was designed with a quantitative approach, the causal screening model was used. The study universe of the research is the students who are attending divinity programs in 2022-2023 academic year throughout Turkey. 452 students attending the faculties of divinity have been reached as of the 2022-2023 academic year. In determining these students, it has been applied to easily find sampling methods that cannot be probabilistic. As a data collection tool, the logical-mathematical intelligence self-perception scale and the Learning and Study Approaches Inventory (LSAI-Abbreviated Form), which is the general academic achievement subscale of the Academic Achievement Inventory, were used as one of the subscales of the “Multiple Intelligence Self-Perception Scale”. When the results of the research were evaluated, it was revealed that the logical-mathematical intelligence levels of the students of the faculty of divinity affected their learning and study approaches in the divinity teaching processes, and this relationship was significantly and positively determinant on their overall academic achievement. It has been found that the increase in students' logical-mathematical intelligence perceptions significantly increases their in-depth learning and their behavior in the form of regular study and monitoring study. At the same time, it has been concluded that as students' logical-mathematical intelligence levels decrease, their learning also takes place with a more superficial approach, and this situation also reduces their overall academic achievement. It is observed that in recent years there has been a debate about the declining academic achievement levels of students of the faculty of divinity. The reasons for this decline can be discussed in many ways. However, a scoring system that will enable students with high logical and mathematical thinking skills to choose theology faculties can be considered as one of the things that need to be done to prevent this decline. The fact that the research results also support this idea shows that it is necessary to look at the issue from this dimension.