Which quasi-Muslim Middle Eastern minority do you find more interesting: Druzes or Alawites?

[Haider]

As someone who is genetically very similar to both populations, I thought I'd ask this question. Both sects can be described as a blend of Shia Ismailism, Christianity and Greek philosophy, and even Hindu influences. They differ mostly on their views on reincarnation, while Druzes believe humans can only reincarnate as humans, Alawites believe humans can also reincarnate as animals.

[rein]

Neither.

[Óttar]

Both.

[Borealis]

The difference is Alawites fully identify as Muslim, whereas most Druze do not. In reality though Alawism is far even from mainstream Shiism.

[Haider]

The difference is Alawites fully identify as Muslim, whereas most Druze do not. In reality though Alawism is far even from mainstream Shiism.

Alawites only 'indentify' as Muslims for political reasons, otherwise they'd be butchered by Syria's Sunni Arab majority.

[Borealis]

Alawites only 'indentify' as Muslims for political reasons, otherwise they'd be butchered by Syria's Sunni Arab majority.

Haven’t they always identified as Muslim?

[Ryujin]

I like Alawites/Alevis because they are mostly open-minded, modern and well-cultured. I don't know about Druzes.

[Haider]

Haven’t they always identified as Muslim?

No, you can see from Suleiman Assad's (Bashar Assad's grandfather) letter to the then Askhenazi Jewish prime minister of France at the time, Leon Blum, literally beging for an Alawite State separated from Arabs/Muslims, whom he said Alawites despised. He also expressed support for the Zionist cause.

Alawites only started publicly identifying as Muslim in the 70's after Hafez Assad took power and instructed his people to conceal even more their believes and traditions and to behave more like 'Good Muslims' for their own protection after centuries of Sunni Arab persecution.

[Bobby Martnen]

I don't know anything about either.

[Borealis]

No, you can see from Suleiman Assad's (Bashar Assad's grandfather) letter to the then Askhenazi Jewish prime minister of France at the time, Leon Blum, literally beging for an Alawite State separated from Arabs/Muslims, whom he said Alawites despised. He also expressed support for the Zionist cause.

Alawites only started publicly identifying as Muslim in the 70's after Hafez Assad took power and instructed his people to conceal even more their believes and traditions and to behave more like 'Good Muslims' for their own protection after centuries of Sunni Arab persecution.

Yeah I heard about that letter but iirc Sulayman and other Alawi leaders signed it. Not sure who wrote it. Also can’t find anything about them not considering themselves Muslim till recently, sources? I just know that there was a sunni-ization effort by the current Assad to make the sect appear less alien. He and his brother married Sunnis for that reason.

[Anglojew]

Alawites.
Apparently they consider John the Baptist the Messiah.

[Raslen3]

I like Alawites/Alevis because they are mostly open-minded, modern and well-cultured. I don't know about Druzes.

Alwaites and Alevis are very different groups , Alawites are the ones found in the syrian coast and Antioch while Alevis are the ones found in central Turkey . They are both shia but they have a lot of differences .

[Raslen3]

Most alawites consider themselves to be muslims , and they are pretty much a mainstream shia group now , in the past they had a few ideas that were considered heretical (like a trinity and reincarnation although both are misunderstood) . Druze come from Shia Islam too but they are more unique , I heard some druze claiming they are muslims (and they are in a way) but others want to distance themselves from Islam calling themselves another group that is completly different (which is also true to a degree) .

In my opinon , I find the yazidis to be the most unique of all middle eastern religious groups .

[Óttar]

Alawites.
Apparently they consider John the Baptist the Messiah.

I believe you are thinking of the Mandaeans who have been called "St. John Christians."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandaeans

[StonyArabia]

I like Alawites/Alevis because they are mostly open-minded, modern and well-cultured. I don't know about Druzes.

Alevis or Qizilbash were not always open minded and they were in fact militant. However they became isolated from Iran, and there believes turned different. It's no wonder many people have strong dislike to the Safavid's from the Iraqi Arabs, to the Uzbeks, and Pashtuns who eventually managed to invade Persia at the time. Alwaites and Alevis have very different outlook and even historical origins. Alwaites btw are also found in Western Iraq, but for the most part they have converted to Sunni Islam, but some families are well known to have Alwaite origins. Alwaites are Arabo-Levantines, Alevis are Turko-Iranians, big difference right there. There might have been some intermixing due to similar name and slight shared believes, but this due to both having Shia origins.

Alwaites today for the most part have become very similar to mainstream Shiaism due to the effort of Musa Sadr and many Lebanese and Shia Iraqi clerks. Alwaites originated in Southern Iraq but it was not conducive, so the preacher went to the mountain areas of Syria where it was. It's possible these people were Christians originally before their religion got intermingled with Shia aspects of Islam.

The Druze I find more interesting, as they often always maintain a neutral position, but many of them don't identify as Muslims, despite their religion being rooted in such. What I find interesting is that they have lot of Hindu influence, and they are rooted in Ismailism, and that Ismailism became popular among recently converted Hindus especially Khojas. The majority of Ismailis are from India. What I like about the Druze, is that they are loyal to any nation that's going to govern them, this why many of them are pro-Israel or anti-Israel depending on their location. The Druze in Syria I believe have maintained a neutral position thus far. I also believe the Druze might have been a pagan mountain population before they converted to "Islam" which can be a possibility.

[Kamal900]

Both in equal measure.

[Papastratosels26]

Alawites

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[archangel]

Druzes and their beliefs are interesting imho