ALTERNATİVE VOİCES İN OTTOMAN RELİGİOUS CULTURE: BEKTAŞİ STORIES

Abstract

In the field of cultural history, which scrutinizes the interactions between history, culture, and society, the numerous versions of storytelling are one of the specific subjects of interest. In this article, “Bektaşi stories” which were constantly narrated in the Ottoman religious culture and humorously indicate the divergences of Bektaşis with the widespread religious narrative, are set as the topic. In this regard, Bektaşi stories from different sources are compiled and explained, which are eccentric and can be named “alternative voices” that are heard by all. These stories could be regarded as peculiar representations of the Ottoman religious culture and Bektaşi, the main hero of the stories, is generally a versatile stereotype that represents the alternative voices of the religious culture. The Bektaşi stereotype speaks to certain figures of Ottoman society from several social degrees and the structure of the stories mirrors various characteristics of the Bektaşi stereotype as well as his authentic interpretations of events and facts. The Bektaşi is ultimately not a deist or an atheist, but his mindset differs from the widespread Muslim narrative in many senses. These stories which contain various elements for interpretation have been reproduced within the religious and cultural field and they could be survived to the present day. This article aims to articulate how the differences and alternative voices are quoted in a humorous way in Ottoman religious culture and how the stories of religious groups that have the potential to be seen outside of orthodoxy are conveyed delicately thanks to the tradition of storytelling.