Dini Araştırmalar (Religious Studies)

Abstract

At present, due to historical and geographical circumstances, other religions spread among Turks who are mostly Muslim. Judaism, in which religious and ethnical identity became identical after having acquired a national character in time, became, as well, one of the religions recognized by some Turkish groups. Khazars constitute the main example of Jewish Turkish people known in the history. However, they have adopted the religious sect called “Karaism”, which emerged from Judaism, and sustained their ethnical character along with their new religious beliefs. Despite the fact that their numbers are low today, Crimean Karaites have been partly seen as successors of Khazar culture and Khazars, and moreover, the traces of Turkish culture have been maintained in their lives. A research on religious beliefs and ethnical characters of Crimean Karaites is attributed crucial importance in point of Turkish religious and cultural history. In this article, in addition to Karaism, the ethnical characters, beliefs, ceremonies, traditions and characteristics which they inherited from Turkish culture, of Crimean Karaites will be discussed