Syncretism

Syncretism is the attempt to reconcile disparate, even opposing, beliefs and to meld practices of various schools of thought. It is especially associated with the attempt to merge and analogize several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, and thus assert an underlying unity.

Syncretism in Islam

The Druzes integrated elements of Ismaili Islam with Gnosticism and Platonism.

Related Topics:
Druze - Ismaili - Islam - Platonism

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Their practice of disguising themselves as followers of the dominant religion makes difficult to ascertain what is believed and what simulated.

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Several of the Jewish Messiah claimants like Jacob Frank and the donmeh ended mixing Cabalistic Judaism with Christianism and Islam.

Related Topics:
Jewish Messiah - Jacob Frank - Donmeh - Cabal

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Sikhism blends Hinduism and Islam and was notably supported by the Mughal emperor Akbar, who wanted to consolidate the diverse religious communities in his empire. The Bahá'ís follow a prophet whom they consider a successor to Muhammad, and recognise Jesus, Moses, Buddha and Zoroaster amongst others as former prophets. Some have therefore considered it a syncretic faith. However, Bahá'ís themselves and most scholars reject this definition, because Bahá'ís recognize the supremacy of Bahá'u'lláh's revelation in our time over previous ones (as much as Muhammad himself had done), and Bahá'ís have their own Sacred Writings and laws that supersede all others.

Related Topics:
Sikhism - Hinduism - Mughal - Akbar - Bahá'ís - Muhammad - Bahá'u'lláh - Sacred Writings

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