WI: Christianized Alawites

The exact religious status of the Alawites has historically been a grey area. 19th century European Observers were of the opinion that they weren't muslim - doing some interestingly not muslim things like ritualistically drinking wine for the purpose of transubstantiation, celebrating Christmas, Epiphany, and the feast days of John Chrysostom and Mary Magdalene. They also believe in intercession of some christian saints like Saint George and Simeon Stylites. It was in the 20th Century that their position in the Islamic World became solidified, and Alawite beliefs and practices also seemed to adjust a bit to be more in line with Islamic norms.

What if the Alawites in the early 20th Century, while under French rule, had formed a communion with Rome in a fashion similar to that of the Maronites? They remain a distinct sect that for the most part retains the bulk of their religious practices, but adjust their beliefs and practices a bit and become nominally/officially Christian?
 
The question is, by whom? By whom are they counted as Muslim today, by whom should they be counted as Christians in this ATL?
Opinions will diverge.
And that's not a bug; it's a feature, as far as the Alawites are concerned. They always were rather reticent with outsiders as to their real beliefs and less public practices. They emphasized this or that aspect of their creed, and made public statements, in view of who was in power in Syria.
They might do exactly the same if the need arises for them to be considered Christians, i.e., chiefly, if a Christian power controls their region. Downplay non-Christian beliefs and keep them private, make public statements to the tune of "we've always been Christians".
Hardline Christians of any denomination will almost certainly not swallow that, but the intended addressees of such a public policy - the Christian power in control - might, for their own purposes.
 
This needs a Crusader-era PoD, meaning it's out of the scope of this forum.

And besides, it's in the name. "Alawi" is "علوي" coming from Ali/علي, the Prophet Mohammad's cousin and the main point of contention among Sunnis and Shi'ites. For them to no longer be a subsect of Shi'ites, they'd have to drop the name.
 
This needs a Crusader-era PoD, meaning it's out of the scope of this forum.

And besides, it's in the name. "Alawi" is "علوي" coming from Ali/علي, the Prophet Mohammad's cousin and the main point of contention among Sunnis and Shi'ites. For them to no longer be a subsect of Shi'ites, they'd have to drop the name.

It’s a relative new name adopted to make their identity as Muslims and Shias clear. Traditional they was called Nusayris, the term is mostly a slur today’s even through from what I have read the rural Alawites of Hama and Homs provinces do still seem to use it once in a while. This seems to indicate a split between the Sunnified coastal Alawites and the traditional Alawites of the border land between the coastal provinces and Hama and Homs.

From what I read (and this may not be true as all three religions are not really into sharing their theology or history) Ismailites, Alawites and DruzeS seem to have originate as the same Shia sect, but over time as they persecuted by the Sunni they grew secretive and isolated from each other. Ismailites are the most traditional Islamic, while Druzes are most heterodox, while the Alawites fall between.

So could the Alawite become Christians, I suspect they could. But it would demand a French takeover of the Levant in the 19th century before the third republic, and they would never be able to enter union with Rome. What we in truth would see would likely be Christianized version of Alawism (which would likely just mean that superficial took on Christian traits, like using Churches, establish Sunday as the holy day, begin to intermarry with Christians etc.)
 
The Maronites and Orthodox might not accept the Alawites as co-religionists either.

It’s really not important, the important part is whether the French accept it, through I suspect that local Christians would be happy to accept the Alawites as fellow Christians, if it mean one more ally in the region. It’s not like the local Christians have a lot in common either.
 
A lot more friction between Sunnis and Alawis. IOTL Alawis can claim that they are Muslim, but if they claim they are Christian then that would lead to many more problems. Not only that, but Alawi is a Shia offshoot sect, which is part of the reason Iran supports Assad. I remember hearing that even with the current situation there was a time IOTL when Iran was considering dropping support for Assad in the early stages of the war. Here, they may not be as close to Assad as IOTL, and may actually drop support for Assad this time around. Without Iranian support, Assad may fall. Of course, with a POD this large and before Syria's independence it is hard to say whether or not Hafez al-Assad can take control, because of the butterfly effect, but it is interesting to think about.
 

jocay

Banned
IOTL, the Alawites have historically been seen as schismatics at best and infidels/pagans at worse by both Sunni and Shia Muslims. It was the al-Assad regime and their rule over Syria that led to their religion becoming mainstreamed and accepted as fellow Muslims. Have the French seize control of Syria around the 19th century and have them push Christianization of the locals as official policy. The Alawites out of self-preservation would emphasize the more Christian-derived elements of their sect.
 
It’s really not important, the important part is whether the French accept it, through I suspect that local Christians would be happy to accept the Alawites as fellow Christians, if it mean one more ally in the region. It’s not like the local Christians have a lot in common either.
The Alawites were on the bottom of the social structure in the Levant (some writer once remarked that before Assad, "an Alawite ruling Syria would have been as likely as a Jewish tsar or a black President of the United States").

If the Alawites are Christianized, they'll be treated as second class Christians at best.
 
The Alawites were on the bottom of the social structure in the Levant (some writer once remarked that before Assad, "an Alawite ruling Syria would have been as likely as a Jewish tsar or a black President of the United States").

Wasn't there a song, "Two out of Three Ain't Bad"?
 
Top