Religious life at Çamiçi sociological research on Alewiism

Ill ABSTRACT PhD Thesis Religious Life at Çamiçi A Sociological Research On Alewiism Recep CENGÎZ Fırat University Institute of Social Sciences Department of Sociology For this research, we carried out our studies in an area that may be called Alewi culture zone. We did our study by going there and using questionnaires and partipant observation and interview techniques. We applied our questionnaire totally to 300 people and internal and external group values and points of view belonging to Alewiism were evaluated. For neutral evaluation of Alewi belief system in a sociological point of view first of all for conceptual explanation of this kind of communities, first religion was studied in of general sociology. As a Turkish heterodoxy again Alewiism which was placed in conceptual frame was explained both in its identity expansion and sociological point of view. Since Ortadoxy islam consists such a heterodox belief system and comparing itself to ortodoxy, some explanations were done about Ortadoxy İslam, and the differences resulting from this comparison and point of view were first theoretically and then empirically determined For making better explanation of theoretical expansion of both Alewiism and Ortadoxy İslam, in historical development of Alewiism starting since the period of Prophet Mohammed were considered. Anatolian Alewiism which has an specific condition was considered in Turk- islam interaction as well. As a leader of religious social group Anatolian front of, Hacı Bektaşi Veli's mission was significantly explained. After these theoretical and conceptual explanations we cited above, generally in the light of the data we obtained from questionnaires and in frame of Alewiism social-cultures references (group internal dynamic) we indicated that religious leadership foundations and family values which are in the base of Alewiism are the basic criteria determining how to be Alewi and has /IV an important role in traditional oral expression. Through empric data we obtained from our studies, we saw that the meeting ceremonies which have ritual characteristics and are performed without sex discrimination still preserve its value. In attitudes about establishing and preserving the identity; rather then being Bektashi they expressed that they were Alewi or/both Alewi and Bektashi The term Kızılbaşlık (Alewiism) is not used in determining of this identity. It is clearly seen that they can express the identity they determined for themselves in society. Some of other findings obtained, showed that; the sensitivity about choosing the partner in marriage has no more taboos and civil society foundations are precociously evaluated. It was seen that from religious brothership to informal law forms and even to religious leadership internal evaluation of social-religious foundations are being interrogated by Alewiism, Consideration of Koran, the belief about mythological components, the comparison of Mosque and Meeting Place, ritual pray and ritual obedience and respect are some of typical characteristics chosen from Alewiism religious pattern. The differentiating of Alewiism and group external dynamics are realising according to perception of Sunnism The historic and religious differentiatings are being rationalised by completing each other. Many ideas such as the explanations, prejudices and social interaction density with Sunnism are full with traditional traces of Alewi belief system. In law and political aspects; as a social and religious expectation central authority of Alewiism is not giving significant importance to the historical facts, in evaluation of national problems and worries about future they are in accordance with whole community and trying to have a peculiar political construction. All those facts cited here are approved by equal inheritance sharing system between man and woman. In whole research, the ideas of St. Ali and the big Master Hacı Bektaşi Veli who is accepted as the main centre of Alewiism and his followers are considered as the main reference. In this sense, Ale wis are just a colour tone of our history, culture, race, and social values. So It must not be forgotten that we must approach to Alewi belief system as we approach to our own belief system.