Interreligious Dialogue and Cultural Pluralism: The Maturidi Platform of Religious Tolerance in Kazakhstan

This article examines the impact of the Maturidi tradition on religious cooperation, pluralism, and social stability in Kazakhstan. The historical development and practical application of this tradition are also analyzed. In addition, the study presents new empirical data on the attitude of society towards Maturidism. In this study, both quantitative and qualitative data were used. The study examines the model of Kazakhstan in the framework of the global discussion on interreligious dialogue and pluralism. A mixed methodological approach was also applied, a literature review and an author’s sociological survey were conducted. Three groups of people took part in the survey, including the general population, university students, and religious scholars and theologians from the Turkestan region. The total number of the sample was 300 respondents. The study showed that religious tolerance and freedom of religion are widely supported by society. The majority of respondents (94%) believe that representatives of other religions should be treated with respect. The majority of survey participants (88%) believe that Islamic values are compatible with Kazakh traditions. However, the level of theoretical knowledge about the Maturidi tradition turned out to be low among the general population (20%), among students (35%), and among religious specialists there was complete awareness. These conclusions are important from a practical point of view. The Maturidi platform promotes the prevention of radicalism and the strengthening of social stability. The Kazakh experience can serve as an example for multidisciplinary and multi-religious societies with similar problems of integration and pluralism.