The Structure of Belief in the Culture of Academic Youth: Field Study in the University of Damascus
Talal Mustafa, Department of Sociology, University of Damascus, Damascus, Syria.
Abstract
This study aims at recognizing the culture that controls the behavior of the members of the test group in it, and determines their view of most prominent human and daily issues; that is because thoughts and beliefs, and thus the whole cultural structure of the test group in this study is the one that controls their behavior and efficiency, and the direction of this efficiency in terms of a number of important and basic issues in the Syrian society
Viewpoint regarding superstitions.
Viewpoint regarding the phenomenon of al-awliya’ [Muslim holy men].
Viewpoint regarding the past and history.
Viewpoint regarding the implementation of Shari’a [Islamic Law].
For this research, and for its main inquiries, I followed the descriptive analytical method as a basis of analyzing data, and offering answers for the raised questions. I adopted the surveying technique as a tool for collecting data for its high efficiency in collecting data from large sectors in society in a relatively limited time, and its moderate expenses compared to interviews and monitoring. I designed the survey form according to the study inquiries and objectives; and tried to maintain the clarity of the questions.
I can conclude from the above charts and data that Syrian youths’ culture is rather inclined to metaphysical irrational thought, which indicates a crack in the rational social orientation process. Those who chose to go back to the past themselves believe that luck determines their futures, and invisible beings exist, etc. the fact that youths’ culture involves a number of contradictory ideologies and concepts without understanding the reality of those ideologies and concepts, or recognizing the philosophical and ideological connotations of them, and what they reflect on the future renaissance in a stage characterized with openness to the world, namely the age of globalization.