The formation of Alevi Syncretism

The aim of this study is to explore the formation of Alevi syncretism by examininghistorical facts and religious interactions. By understanding how Alevis adaptedvarious cultural, religious and social phenomena, and how they have reflected thesephenomena on their practices and social representation, almost ten-century-oldheterodox Alevi syncretism?s nature will be comprehended. Since the CemCeremony signifies the reflection and representation of all influential features?unification, it has a significant role in Alevi understanding. The concept ofsyncretism, which indicates Alevis? opposition to the concepts like `true faith? and`absolute Truth? of orthodoxy, reveals itself throughout the study. Like in the notionof birlik (oneness) of God-human-universe, with its inextricable componentsAlevism represents the `unity? of all religious and political features that contributedto its formation.Keywords: Alevism, Bektashism, Syncretism, Esoterism, Hacı Bektaş Veli,Turkmens, Religion, Belief