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.