Ishikism (Işıkçılık), also known asÇinarism (Çınarcılık), is anewsyncretic religious movement among Alevis who have developed an alternative understanding ofAlevism and its history. These alternative interpretations and beliefs were inspired by Turkish writerErdoğan Çınar with the publication of his bookAleviliğin Gizli Tarihi (The Secret History of Alevism) in 2004.
While mainstream Alevis believe the termAlevi means "follower ofAli", as in theArabic word‘Alawī (علوي), and consider themselves followers of the teachings and practices of 13th-century Alevi saintHaji Bektash Veli, Ishik believe differently. The Ishik movement claim that the term "Alevi" is derived from the oldAnatolianLuvians, claiming that the word "Luvi" means "People of Light" in theHittite language. SomeOttoman documents from the 16th century refer to the ancestors of today's Alevis as "Işık Taifesi", meaning "People of Light". This is, according to Ishikīs, a proof of the connection between the Luvians and Alevis.
A shared cultural history of that nature relates to common folklore describing the invention of agriculture by plant domestication. Wheat is assumed to have been first cultured in the northern part of the Middle East; and likewise, regional peoples shared a culinary tradition in the types of vegetables they consume.[1]
Ishikīs consider themselves to beesotericists, claiming that Alevism is esotericism itself, meaning that they identify themselves with every type of esotericism in history (e.g.Jewish esotericists,Christian esotericists,Islamic andPagan esotericism etc.)
They claim that Alevism is the oldest religion in the world, that has changed shapes throughout time. This "First and True Religion" of the world, is claimed to have been the main source for all other religions and beliefs in the world:
It has now been brought into the open with all its truth, that Alevism, with its tens of thousands of years of history, has influenced all beliefs and has been the Original Source (the so-called "Serçeşme" – meaning "Beginning Spot of Fountain") of the celestial religions.
— Erdoğan Çınar in:Aleviliğin Gizli Tarihi, 2004.[2]
The Ishikīs also claim that the religious ceremonies practiced by Alevis were practiced as early as by theHittites and even by theSumerians. According to Ishikīs, medievalChristian sects asPaulicianism,Bogomilism etc. were also Alevis. A good example of this belief can be found in the translation of the bookThe Cathars: The Most Successful Heresy of the Middle Ages[3] (2005) bySean Martin. Even though the originalEnglish version does not contain the word "Alevi", the Turkish translator has translated the title of the book asOrtaçağ'da Avrupa'da Alevi Hareketi – Katharlar (An Alevi Movement in The Middle Ages – The Cathars).[4]
Compared to traditional Alevism, the most striking differences of the Ishik movement are their interpretation of history. The Ishik movement claims that Alevis have changed their apparent identity several times in history in order to survive. According to Ishikī belief,heretic sects like the Paulicians and Bogomils were actually Alevis compelled to appear asChristians because of theByzantine oppression. Likewise the modern Alevis have gained an Islamic appearance because of theOttoman oppression.
Ishikī thought is convinced that mostheterodox groups are inventions as a result of oppression, meaning that groups like theNizārī Ismā'īlī,Bektashism,NusayrīAlawism,Ghulāt andAhl-e Haqq are in reality separate from realIslam.
The Ishikī versus Traditionalist split has caused a deep gap in Alevi society. This is the first time in centuries that Alevis have experienced such a great split in terms of beliefs.
The Ishik movement has succeeded in becoming very influential in important and powerful Alevi organizations.[dubious –discuss] The Alevi Confederation of Europe (AABK) for instance, has abandoned its traditional Alevi beliefs in 2006, which it replaced with a marginal Ishikī type of understanding.[8]
The primary sources ofIshikism are the works of the Turkish writer Erdoğan Çınar:
But he has also gained the support of other writers as well:
