The Framing Formats of the Concept of Alawism in Encyclopaedia and Dictionaries

Abstract

In almost all religions, sects have emerged as different forms of comprehension and lifestyles. Even though sect is a subgroup within a religion and believe in the same religion, sects have been a source of conflicts that caused afflictive results among their members. There are many bloody and painful memories of the conflicts between the members of different sects in the world history and these are wanted to be kept alive by the members of those religions and sects. In some cases, political powers induce these conflicts in order to maintain their political existence. There are sects in the religion of Islam. In the course of time, prejudices and conflicts based on these prejudices have been emerged among the members of different sects. These prejudices sometimes came to the fore in the historical process, but in some periods they lost their importance. The relations between Sunni and Shia sects in the religion of Islam continue today in a climate where differences and conflicts subsist. Unfortunately, this situation fosters prejudices among Muslims and keeps conflicts alive. Denominational minorities - in terms of the denominational distribution of the population - are marginalized, and the prejudices against others are fed through oral and written culture. Although there are sectarian differences among Muslims in Turkey, established discrimination and related conflicts are very limited. Prejudices, misinformation and rumors that are based on false claims are at the root of the events that occurred in the past. It is important to identify the source or sources of prejudices and misinformation that occur in social memory so that such events, which are remembered with sadness in social memory, do not happen again.