The 'Alawi religion : an anthology / translated from the Arabic with an introduction and notes by Meir M. Bar-Asher, Aryeh Kofsky.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Bar-Asher, Meʼir Mikhaʼel, translator, writer of introduction.

Kofsky, Arieh, translator, writer of introduction.

Series:

Bibliothèque de l'École des hautes études. Sciences religieuses ; 190.

Bibliothèque de l'Ecole des hautes études. Sciences religieuses ; 190

Language:

Arabic

English

Subjects (All):

Nosairians--Sources.

Nosairians.

Nosairians--Doctrines.

Genre:

Sources.

Physical Description:

221 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Turnhout : Brepols, [2021]

Language Note:

Original sources translated from the arabic.

Summary:

"The 'Alawi religion, known for most of its history by the name Nusayriyya, emerged in Iraq over a millennium ago. An esoteric, syncretistic religion with a close affinity to Shii Islam, its origins are shrouded in obscurity. Over time, beliefs and rituals deriving from paganism, Zoroastrianism and Christianity were grafted to the radical Shii substrate, giving the religion its distinctive character. Throughout their history the 'Alawites were a persecuted religious minority, but in the 1970s they came to power in Syria and retained absolute rule until recently. There is also a significant population in Hatai Province in southern Turkey. Arising from the authors' long-standing interest in the 'Alawi religion, this anthology offers for the first time a selection from the distinctive literature of the mysterious religion. The book opens with a detailed introduction setting the background for the themes it will cover: the mystery of the divinity in the 'Alawi faith; rituals and ceremonies; calendar and festivals; the doctrine of reincarnation; initiation into the divine mysteries and the esoteric circle; and finally, the identity and self-definition of the religion's followers vis-à-vis Islam and other religions"-- Back cover.

The 'Alawi religion, known for most of its history by the name Nusayriyya, emerged in Iraq over a millennium ago. An esoteric, syncretistic religion with a close affinity to Shii Islam, its origins are shrouded in obscurity. Over time, beliefs and rituals deriving from paganism, Zoroastrianism and Christianity were grafted to the radical Shii substrate, giving the religion its distinctive character. Throughout their history the 'Alawites were a persecuted religious minority, but in the 1970s they came to power in Syria and retained absolute rule until recently. There is also a significant population in Hatai Province in southern Turkey.0Arising from the authors? long-standing interest in the 'Alawi religion, this anthology offers for the first time a selection from the distinctive literature of the mysterious religion. The book opens with a detailed introduction setting the background for the themes it will cover: the mystery of the divinity in the 'Alawi faith; rituals and ceremonies; calendar and festivals; the doctrine of reincarnation; initiation into the divine mysteries and the esoteric circle; and finally, the identity and self-definition of the religion?s followers vis-à-vis Islam and other religions.

Contents:

Introduction

The mystery of the divinity

Reincarnation

Antinomianism, rituals and festivals

Initiation

Identity and self-definition

Epilogue : the Ode for the Ghadīr Khumm Festival.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 193-201) and index.

ISBN:

9782503597812

2503597815

OCLC:

1289494056