Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
TURK KULTURU VE HACI BEKTAS VELI-ARASTIRMA DERGISI, sa.59, ss.195-220, 2011 (AHCI)
This study centers on numerous English documents upon Alevis and Bektashis who lived within Anatolia as Ottoman citizens around the second half of 19th and early 20th centuries. The early documents in question entitled Alevis as 'Kizilbash,' and the name 'Alevi' was not used until the late 19th century Thus, such terms are used in its original form so as to be loyal to the documents examined in this study. It is understood that Alevi community shows considerable respect toward Bektashis and Bektashi Babas (faith leaders). The reason might stem from the intellectual depth of Bektashis. Alevis and Bektashis, however, have identified themselves with similar interpretation of Islam religion, and they have been living their faith close to their communities. This has prevented outsiders to acknowledge and easily discover these distinctive communities. English researchers, as other Western explorers, have failed to draw boundaries between Alevi and Bektashi faith and that of Christianity. Alevis and Bektashis, in essence, should have been approached in terms of Islamic structure.