Syncretistic Religious Communities in the Near East: Collected Papers of the International Symposium Alevism in Turkey and Comparable Syncretistic Religious Communities in the Near East in the Past and Present , Berlin, 14-17 April 1995

This volume of essays deals with Islamic sects in the Near East such as the Alevis (Turkey), Druzes (Libanon), Alawis (Syria), Ahl-i Haqq (Iran, Iraq) and Shabak (Iraq). These all have in common a syncretistic system of belief with a strong Shi'ite influence, as well as secrecy and endogamy. The contributions focus on the present situation of these communities, their relation to mainstream Islam, their involvment in national and ethnic politics, aspects of faith and rituals, the relevance of sacred texts, modes of religious and social transformation, and the recent revival of Alevism.