XII. Alevi Identity Today

I began this guide by asking the questions, Who are Alevis? and What is Alevism? As we have seen from this overview of the beliefs, practices, customs, and values of today's Alevis, it is impossible to give a brief and simple definition of today's Alevis and Alevism. The reader should not be surprised at this, because it is also impossible to briefly and simply define any of the other faiths in today's world. In every major religious group -Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu - there are a variety of interpretations and a spectrum of attitudes:

traditionalist, fundamentalist, conservative, nominal, and liberal. The same is generally true of Alevis.

In the past few years, there has been an explosion of articles, books, and television programs on the subject of Alevi identity. The more books and articles that are written, the more definitions of Alevism seem to appear. In fact, one Alevi scholar has identified 32 different published interpretations of the nature of Alevism.

I have observed that most Alevis are actually pleased that they cannot be placed in convenient religious, social, or political categories. They prefer to simply introduce themselves as Alevi, define the term Alevi in their own words, and say, "We look at all people equally. The important thing is not a person's religion, but whether he is a true human being."