Kurds practice a wide variety of ancient religions. Some practice forms of Zoroastrianism, Baha'ism, and Indian religions, often clothed in their own indigenous Cult of Angels. Others adhere to Judaism or traditional Christianity. Most, however, have converted to Islam. Nevertheless, many do not practice Islam because it is the religion of their oppressors.

Islam

Today the majority of Kurds are at least nominally Muslim. Sunni followers make up three-fifths of the population. A little more than 5% are Shi'ite.

Sufi Mysticism

Judaism

In the 17th Century AD Rabbi Samuel Barzani founded numerous seminaries and schools in Kurdistan. Even in this century, in the early 1900s several Jewish schools were open for both Jewish and non-Jewish Kurds. These schools remained in operation until shortly after the formation of the Jewish state in 1948. Since then many Kurdish Jews have moved to Israel where they live in Kurdish enclaves and maintain their ethnic customs. Many older Kurds still carry memories of their Jewish neighbors and friends.

Christianity

When Islam moved across the area, Christianity was suppressed but survived in the Nestorian and Jacobite churches. The scripture had not been translated into Kurdish and by the 14th century most of the clergy were Assyrian. As a result, most of the Christian Kurds adopted the Armenian identity and no longer saw themselves as Kurds. Since the 15th century a few missionaries have gone to Kurdistan.

Today Kurds who are affiliated with these ancient denominations number less than 100,000. Very few, if any, have a vital relationship with Jesus and a true understanding of faith. They have no interest in seeing their Muslim neighbors converted to Christianity.

The Cult of Angels

Those who still hold to some form of the ancient Cult of Angels believe in seven luminous, angelic beings who protect the universe from seven dark forces of matter. The fully detached, all-encompassing, universal spirit (haq) has been uninvolved in the material world except for manifesting himself to the supreme avatar. This supreme avatar, called the lord god and thought to be the second of the seven angelic beings, created the material universe. The remaining five angelic beings (avatars) maintain the universe. These seven ruled throughout the first of seven epochs of universal life. Each time the avatars transmigrate into new avatars a new epoch comes about, but the number seven is always maintained. A few humans, such as Mirza Ali Muhammad, the founder of Baha'ism, are believed to be lesser avatars whose influence is limited to their time period.

Followers of all branches of this cult believe in the transmigration of the soul through numerous reincarnations. Avatars are thought to be reincarnations of deities.

Universalistic in nature, the Cult of Angels believes that all religions are valid ways of expressing faith in the spirit. Because of this, followers of the Cult have little difficulty associating with other religions, even claiming to be insiders. They have also been especially apt at infiltrating other religions by claiming to be the true form of those religions. This occurs through grassroots movements that form new branches of the Cult, claiming the leaders of the other religions as avatars.

Only three branches of the Cult still exist, but it still influences all Kurds culturally. All over Kurdistan shrines can be found beside springs, and the feast of Khidir is celebrated in the spring. Khidir, the living green man of the ponds, is honored by many Kurds, and many ponds are considered sacred.

One of the remaining branches, Alevism, is found mostly among the Dimila Kurds and their Kurmanji-speaking neighbors in Turkey. Thirteen percent of Syria's Arabs also follow Alevism. Kurds, once numerous in Syria, made many Arab converts before becoming completely assimilated into the local culture. Alevism was formed to combat Shi'ism at the beginning of the 15th century. Its followers revere Ali as the most important avatar of the universal spirit. Their exaltation of Ali has led most people to believe that they are Shi'ite, yet their beliefs contradict Islam on every important point.

Another branch of the Cult, Yarsanism, found mostly in Iran and Iraq in southern Kurdistan, also elevates Ali. The Ahl-i Haq, a major segment of this group, have been increasingly identified with mainstream Shi'ism, although they follow a book entitled Burhan which was written by a mystic. Another segment of this group, the Tayifasan, is less interested in associating with Shi'ism. The majority of the Yarsan are village people who cling to the ancient religion. They claim both Muslim and Biblical figures as avatars but believe that the Jewish avatars along with Sultan Sahak are the most important- They believe that the soul is journeying toward becoming fully human, which is its ultimate goal.

Yezidis make up the third group- They represent only 5% of the Kurdish population and are scattered in small pockets all over Kurdistan. They place a special emphasis on angels and even exalt Lucifer to the position and nature of the other angelic beings (avatars), although he remains more powerful than the others. Birds play a central role in their view of creation. Peacocks and roosters are revered as sacred. The supreme deity is often represented as a bird. During the 17th and 18th centuries a bird was carried at massacres of the Yezidis who refused to convert. This forced many to flee to the Caucasus area.

Folk religions

The title of sheikh often describes a man who has become well known for his piety and miraculous powers. These men use charms, interpret dreams, and tell fortunes. Some of these men claim to be descendants of Muhammad's tribe. When these miracle workers die, shrines are established at their graves where animal sacrifices are performed for those seeking healing. Anyone who is seeking good fortune may visit the shrines. Religious rites are celebrated at the shrines with exuberance and dancing.

When rain is needed, a religious leader prays, purifies himself and then is submerged in a pool of water to encourage min. Every cave, old building and high bridge is believed to be the home of jinn (evil spirits). Elves are believed to live in wells and dwarfs in the mountains. Springs of water are used to perform ritual washings.

At marriage, lumps of sugar and honey are brought for good luck. When a bride enters her new home, either a bird is released over her head or else an animal is slaughtered to prevent evil spirits from entering the home.

When a child is born, a woman is called to read the Quran. The mother is considered unclean for 40 days. If the newbom is a boy, relatives guard him for 7 days against the attack of jinn (evil spirits.) They lay a knife, a large needle or an onion leaf beside the baby's bed.

By the 16th century, Islam had been adopted by the majority of Kurds, yet they tended to be pluralistic in attitude until the middle of the 19th century. Today religion creates divisions among the Kurds. However, most of them are not fanatical. Since the Gulf War both Muslims and followers of the Cult of Angels have become more open to Christianity.

References

	Vol 6. Spring 1993
Copies of this article are available from Horizons International. This document should be cited as follows in a bibliography: Brown, Marli. ReachOut, The Plight of the Kurds: Religions of Kurdistan. Horizons International, Vol 6, Spring 1993. pp.19-21.