Sociological Dimensions of the Conception of God in Alevism-Bektashism

When it comes to Alevism, it is not possible to talk about a single perception and point of view. It is because, theoretical and practical religious extensions including the name of Alevism are explained with reference to different religious symbols. The biggest factor in the occurrence of this situation is the responses under difficult conditions this religious movement gave to the challenges it faced during its historical process. As an out-group exposed to political, historical, cultural and religious marginalization, the structuralization of religious identity was affected by these processes. Philosophically, there are three basic conceptions of God. Within these three basic God conceptions, theism covers the theoretical framework that we will consider in the context of Alevism. Alevism, as an Islamic religious interpretation, has given a clear theistic characteristic conception of God. However, as it can be seen in the works and sometimes in the field, in the extension of this conception, the variations draw attention. It should be stated that this study will not focus on the concept of God in Alevism in a purely theological or philosophical context. However, the study aims to make sociological analyzes in the context of cultural sources of Alevism through the philosophical and theological typification of god conception. In this context, the subject of the study is to discuss the sociological dimensions of the conceptions of God in Alevism. Its purpose is after evaluating the conception of God in Alevism with its historical and cultural resources, to discuss its sociological dimensions within the pendulum of wahdat al-wujūd and wahdat al-mawjūd in the context of the typifications of God-Human, Human-God and God who matured human. As a conclusion, it is necessary to state that narratives, acceptances and understandings, which have transformed the line of wahdat al-wujūd into the reality of wahdat al-mawjūd by some historical and anthropological reasons, which are sometimes mentioned, have a firm place in the Alevi conception of God.
Keywords: Alevism-Bektashism, The Conception of God, Wahdat al-wujūd, Wahdat al-mawjūd, Perception of God-Human.