The Druze and their Faith in Tawhid
The Druze and their Faith in Tawhid

Author: Anis Obeid

Publisher: Syracuse University Press

Published: 2006-07-06

Total Pages: 350

ISBN-13: 0815652577

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As a small sect that emerged from Islam over a thousand years ago, the Druze religion and society has long been cloaked in a tradition of secrecy. Veiled from the outside world, the religious tenets have been vulnerable to distortion, misunderstanding, and misrepresentation. In this book Dr. Anis Obeid, a Druze layman, provides a penetrating analysis of Druze scriptures and beliefs (Tawhid). Presenting a chronological narrative of the foundation and development of the faith, he explains the historical conditions and religious rationale behind this closed religion. The Druze faith is the product of Abrahamic monotheism as it coalesced with other philosophies, belief systems, and political structures of the West and the East and, as Obeid maintains, should be recognized for its core monotheism, and not fundamentally different from Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. He argues convincingly, with examples and translations from the Druze scriptures, only now accessible to a non-initiate public, that Tawhid is a progressive and dynamic spiritual process based on freedom of choice. This rich exploration of their faith, the author’s appeal for a sincere cultural dialogue will resonate with a wide audience in the West and in the Middle East.

The Druzes
The Druzes

Author: Nejla M. Abu Izzeddin

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 1993-01-01

Total Pages: 276

ISBN-13: 9789004097056

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When this book was first published in 1984, it was the first extensive study of the Druzes to appear for many years. A small community native only in Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, the Druzes have exercised an influence around them greater than their numerical strength. Living for the most part in mountainous territories they have maintained an independent existence for a thousand years. This book places the beliefs of the Druzes in the context of the history of Sh?'ism in its Ism?'?l? form, from which their faith developed. It also describes the role of the Druze community in the history of Lebanon and Syria. In the preparation of this book, the author, a Druze herself, has made use not only of the readily available Arabic and European sources but also of documents and manuscripts that are less easily accessible.

Handbook of Islamic Sects and Movements
Handbook of Islamic Sects and Movements

Author:

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2021-07-15

Total Pages: 724

ISBN-13: 9004435549

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The Handbook of Islamic Sects and Movements offers a multinational study of Islam, its variants, influences, and neighbouring movements, from a multidisciplinary range of scholars. These chapters highlight the diversity of Islam, especially in its contemporary manifestations, as a religion of many communities, theologies, and ideologies. Over five sections—on Sunni, Shia, Sufi, fundamentalist, and fringe Islamic movements—the authors provide historical overviews, analyses, and in-depth studies of large and small Islamic and related groups from all around the world. The contents of this volume will be of interest to both newcomers to the study of Islam and established scholars of religion who wish to engage with the dynamic label of Islam and the many impactful movements of the Islamic world.

Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms
Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms

Author: Gerard Russell

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2014-11-20

Total Pages: 470

ISBN-13: 1471114724

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Despite its reputation for religious intolerance, the Middle East has long sheltered many distinctive and strange faiths: one regards the Greek prophets as incarnations of God, another reveres Lucifer in the form of a peacock, and yet another believes that their followers are reincarnated beings who have existed in various forms for thousands of years. These religions represent the last vestiges of the magnificent civilizations in ancient history: Persia, Babylon, Egypt in the time of the Pharaohs. Their followers have learned how to survive foreign attacks and the perils of assimilation. But today, with the Middle East in turmoil, they face greater challenges than ever before. In Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms, former diplomat Gerard Russell ventures to the distant, nearly impassable regions where these mysterious religions still cling to survival. He lives alongside the Mandaeans and Ezidis of Iraq, the Zoroastrians of Iran, the Copts of Egypt, and others. He learns their histories, participates in their rituals, and comes to understand the threats to their communities. Historically a tolerant faith, Islam has, since the early 20th century, witnessed the rise of militant, extremist sects. This development, along with the rippling effects of Western invasion, now pose existential threats to these minority faiths. And as more and more of their youth flee to the West in search of greater freedoms and job prospects, these religions face the dire possibility of extinction. Drawing on his extensive travels and archival research, Russell provides an essential record of the past, present, and perilous future of these remarkable religions.

Gender and Religion
Gender and Religion

Author: Intisar J. Azzam

Publisher:

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 280

ISBN-13:

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This first anthropological study of gender and religion through the experience of the Druze women in Lebanon comes in response to a serious void in this field of knowledge and provides profound insights into gender relations amongst the Druze faith of al-Tawhid as a progressive challenge to the prevailing patriarchal values at the time of its inception during the early decades of the 11th century as well as the present time.

Druze & Jews in Israel
Druze & Jews in Israel

Author: Zeidan Atashe

Publisher: Liverpool University Press

Published: 1995

Total Pages: 232

ISBN-13:

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Describes the Druze moral logic of survival without the support of a sovereign State and the mutuality of cooperation with the Jews

State and Religion in Israel
State and Religion in Israel

Author: Gideon Sapir

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2019-01-10

Total Pages: 321

ISBN-13: 1107150825

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Discusses state and religion relations in Israel by applying a general theory regarding the role of religion in liberal countries.

The Hidden Face of the Druze "The Freemasons of the East"
The Hidden Face of the Druze

Author: Jean-Marc Aractingi

Publisher:

Published: 2021-02-14

Total Pages: 250

ISBN-13:

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Author of several writings on the Druze, Jean-Marc Aractingi former Ambassador, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Arab Masonic Council, lived his adolescence in the Druze mountain of Lebanon. He thus had the opportunity to get to know this community well through its religion and customs.But it is above all that he was among the few people to have had the privilege of possessing a copy of the original Arabic version of their sacred writings.This is how he was able, through his readings and research, to establish an analogy between their rituals and their symbolism with those of the high Masonic ranks, such as for example the symbolism of colors. This allowed him to recognize the mysterious representation of the Divinity through the color attributed to each "Minister" in hierarchical order.This book makes us discover, at the dawn of the announcement by the Druze of the advent at the beginning of the 21st century of their Messiah, this religion very rich in esotericism and which is at the crossroads of the mystics of all nations.Authors biography: Jean-Marc ARACTINGI is a Doctor, Engineer and Diplomat by training.Doctor in Theology and History of Religions from International Christian University (ICU), Engineer from AgroParisTech, former PhD student in Energy at École Centrale de Paris, he is also a 3rd cycle graduate from the University of Paris I- Sorbonne, from the Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies in Paris and former intern at the Paris War School.Freemason (33 °, 96 °, CBCS, 7 ° RO), he was exalted Master at the Grand Lodge of France in the Orient of Paris and a corresponding member of the famous Jean Scot Erigène Research Lodge of the Grand Lodge of France. He is currently Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Arab Masonic Council, World Grand Master of the Grand Orient Arab, High Dignitary of the International Sovereign Shrine of the Egyptian Rites of Memphis-Misraïm and member of the Directorate of the World Masonic Union of the 33rd degree of the AASR.Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Paul, Grand Cross and Grand Commander of the Order of Lafayette, he is also a Knight of the Order of the Temple and of the Order of Malta-Grand Priory of Russia.He is the author of several books on Freemasonry and on religious esotericism.