The View of Contemporary Alevis' Towards Ja'farism: The Case of European Side of Istanbul

Every religious group experiences social change. Along with the social changes, the theological dimensions of the groups also changes. Changing socio-theological dimensions sometimes make the distinctive identity structures of religious groups similar to the identity structures of other religious groups, and sometimes differentiate them. The relations between Alevism and Ja'farism are also shaped in the chain of interaction between these similarities and differences. The general framework of the research problem; the relationship between Alevism and Ja'farism consists of determining whether it is different or the same, and if different, the similarities are the same. In order to make this determination on the basis of objective and descriptive principles, it seems appropriate to the criteria of social sciences to refer to the views of Alevis. Accordingly, documentation and interview techniques from qualitative research methods were used in the research. Within the scope of the documentation technique, the literature on the History of Islamic Sects has been examined. Within the scope of the interview technique; fourteen question interview was conducted with Alevi participants in the case of the European Side of Istanbul. As a result of the research, the participants; it has been determined that he sees Alevism as an independent religious structure (with few similarities) from Ja'farism. However, the content of these views are; changed in the axis of age, education, occupation and hometown variables.