Traditional Alevism

“A human heritage was disappearing in plain sight. And with each meeting, we were observing this reality a little more closely and sensing the sadness of this great loss a little more deeply. All the narrators were aware that they were telling a story of loss. That's why they were always sad. And that's why they always wanted to tell more.”

This book deals with a layer of Alevism that is gradually disappearing: According to Rıza Yıldırım, traditional Alevism constitutes the lowest layer of today's Alevism. Traditional Alevism, which is depicted as a culture that is based on "isolated, close-knit, rural" relationships and reproduces itself through verbal communication with "mystical and mythical dogmas", has the atmosphere of a kind of "secret source" since its transmission channels are quite blocked.

This study, based on in-depth interviews with more than four hundred grandfathers, fathers, lovers and mothers in 670 Alevi villages in the Tokat-Amasya-Sivas-Çorum region, offers a broad look at the world of traditional Alevism. In the study that draws the map of collective memory and describes legends, written texts and the foundations of belief; It contains a rich compilation of examples of collective legends that have literary as well as religious value. A vivid picture of the traditional Alevi social order is drawn with the institutions and relations of worship, cem ceremony, hearth, dedelik, taliplik and companionship.

It is an extremely vivid portrait of an "old" Alevism, which, while disintegrating under the influence of modernization and urbanization, constitutes the fundamental source of modern Alevism in its formation process.

(From the Promotional Bulletin)

Dough Type: 2nd Dough

Number of Printings: 1st Edition

First Print Year: 2018

Number of Pages: 411

Size: 13 x 19.5