Turkic peoples

Turkic peoples are Northern and Central Eurasian peoples who speak languages belonging to the Turkic family of languages and which share in varying degrees, ethnic, cultural and historical traits. Even though many consider this term to be distinct from the term Turkish, growing use of term Turkish opposed to Turkic has been noted in the Turkish/Turkic world. Turkic languages belong to the Altaic language group and is one of the most geographically widespread in the world, spoken in a geography spanning from Europe to Siberia.

Religion

Various pre-Islamic civilizations prior to the 6th century were Shamanist and Tengriist. The Shamanist religion is based on spiritual and natural elements of earth. Tenghriism in turn involved belief in the god Tenghri as the god who ruled over the skies.They were also bearers of the Zoroastrian religion, especially in Azerbaijan, Buddhism, Judaism and above all Islam.

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Today, most Turks are Sunni Muslims. They include the majority of Balkan Turks, Bashkorts, Crimean Tatars, Karachay, Kazaks, Kumuk, Kyrgyz, Malkar, Nogay, Tatars (Kazan Tatars) Turkmens, Turks of Turkey, Uygurs, Yellow (Sari) Uygurs and Uzbeks. The Azerbaijanis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and South Azerbaijan (northwestern Iran) are the only major Turkic people that adhere to the Shia sect of Islam, while there have been many conversions to Sunni Islam as of late. The Qashqay nomads and Khorasani Turks as well as various Turkic tribes spread across Iran are also Shia Muslims. The Alevis of Turkey are the largest religious minority in the country. Even though it´s claimed that they believe in a doctrine of Islam that is closely related to that of the Shia school of thought, Alevis themselves do not link with Shia sect. A small number of Turks follow other minor Islamic sects such as Sufism.

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The major Christian-Turkic peoples are the Chuvash of Chuvashia and the Gauguz (Gokoguz) of Moldova. The Karaim Turks of eastern Europe are Jewish, and there are many Turks of Jewish backgrounds who live in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Baku. In the Siberian region, the Altai, Tivan and Hakas are Shamanists, having kept the original relgion of Turkic peoples. The Yakuts of Yakutia in northeastern Siberia are tradtionally Shamanists, yet many have been converted to Christianity. The Sari Uygurs (Yellow Uygurs) of western China are the only remaining Buddhist Turkic group. In addition, there are small scattered populations of Turks belonging to other religions such as Baha'ism and Zoroastianism.

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Even though many Turkic peoples became Muslims under the influence of Sufis, often of Shi'a persuasion, most Turkic people today are Sunni Muslims -- although a significant number in Turkey are Alevis. Alevi Turks, who were once primarily dwelling in eastern Anatolia, are today concentrated in major urban centers in western Turkey with the increased urbanism.

Related Topics:
Muslims - Sufi - Sunni - Alevi

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The Chuvash of Russia, in their traditional religion, manifest a unique amalgam, that derives in part from ancient Turkic concepts, and in part from other aspects that may be compared to Zoroastrianism, Khazar Judaism, and Islam. The Chuvash religious calendar cycle was based on an agrarian cult, closely combining the cults of earth, water and vegetation, with that of ancestor worship. The conversion of the Chuvash to Eastern Orthodox Christianity, mostly effected in later 19th century, had a noticeable effect on their festivals and rites, that were adapted to coincide with Orthodox feasts -- with Christian rites substituted for their traditional counterparts. Though contemporary Chuvash are counted among Orthodox believers, a minority continue to profess their traditional faith http://russiatoday.strana.ru/en/profile/people/nat/1482.html.

Related Topics:
Chuvash - Zoroastrianism - Khazar - Christian

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The Gagauz people of Moldova are largely Christians.

Related Topics:
Gagauz - Moldova

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Some Turkic peoples (particularly in the Russian autonomous regions and republics of Altai, Khakassia, and Tuva) are largely shamanists. Shamanism was the predominant religion of the different Turkic branches prior to the 8th century, when the majority accepted Islam.

Related Topics:
Altai - Khakassia - Tuva - Shamanist - 8th century

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There are also a few Buddhist (eg. Kalmuks), Jewish, Zoroastrian, and Baha'i Turkic peoples today.

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Remark: Tenghri has long changed to "Tanri" in current Turkish (of Republic of Turkey at least), which literally means "God" in English. However, traditionally, god is referred to as "Allah" in most daily usage, where "Allah" is one of many names of "God" as mentioned in Quoran. Therefore the word thengri=tanr? is still in use by citizens of R.O.T., where islam is the dominant religion at the moment.

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