Factoid of the day

The Syrian civil war goes way beyond the Sunni/Shiite divide, as this NYTimes article shows.

And GetReligion points to this comment on the article:

• Howard

• Columbus, Ohio

The article confuses the Alawis, who traditionally lived in the mountains east of the Syrian coast and are also found today in the plains around Hama and Homs as well as in Syria's main cities (with perhaps 300,000 in the Turkish provinces of Antakya, Adana and Içel), with the Alevis of Turkey, the majority of whom live in eastern Anatolia, though in recent decades many have migrated to cities throughout Turkey. While both Alawis and Alevis belong to the broader community of Twelver Shiism, they have distinct histories and practices. Specifically, the Alawis of Syria probably descend from the religious movement founded by Muhammad ibn Nusayr in Aleppo around 969, while the Turkish Alevis have roots in the Qizilbas movement of northwestern Iran of the 14th and 15th century and went underground after the victory of the Sunni Ottomans over the Shiite Safavid dynasty in eastern Anatolia in the early 16th century. These historical differences are paralleled by significant differences in belief and doctrine. Though both assimilate belief in the divinity of 'Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad with aspects of Christianity, and in the case of the Alevis, elements of Sufiim, there are multiple tendencies both within the two movements as well as distinctions between them.

Confused? I bookmark it mainly for further reading/research, since I don't know much about it.

There are also lots of different Chistian groups in Damascus too...here is a report from one local bishop.

Meanwhile, among the civilian population there is a spirit of solidarity that goes beyond religious affiliation: two famous landmarks of the city, the great Omayyad Mosque and the Shrine of the Conversion of St. Paul, have brought together youth and adults, Christians and Muslims, to pray for peace and reconciliation. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 20/7/2012)