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Ishikism

Ishikism, [pron: 'Ishik-ism] or Ishik Alevism (), also known as Chinarism (), is a syncretic religious movement among Alevis who have developed an alternative understanding of Alevism and its history. These alternative interpretations and beliefs were inspired by Turkish writer Erdoğan Çınar with the publication of his book Aleviliğin Gizli Tarihi (The Secret History of Alevism) in 2004.

Çınar and his book received lots of criticism from Alevis and Alevi Dedes (for example Baki Güngör dede), who claim that his book is full of lies and contradictions and consider it as yet another attempt of atheistic Yolyezidler (enemies of the Path) to assimilate the Alevis and to separate them from the mystic teachings of Haji Bektash Veli, Pir Sultan Abdal, Yunus Emre, the Twelve Imams, etc.

The Ishik movement claim that the term "Alevi" is derived from the old Anatolian Luvians, claiming that the word "Luvi" means "People of light" in the Hittite language. Some Ottoman 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.

Mainstream Alevis reject all of this. They consider the term "Alevi" to mean "follower of Ali", as in the Arabic word ‘Alawī . They further consider themselves followers of the teachings and practices of 13th century Alevi saint Haji Bektash Veli.