Semantıc dımensıons of the relıgıous symbols carrıed by people ın the alevı communıty (tunceli case)

The history of symbols is as old as the history of mankind. From the beginning of the history of humanity to the present day, the abstract things that fall within the field of thought and belief are expressed by symbols. In particular, the expression of religious belief and forms of understanding about religious rituals are often expressed by a number of symbols. In a sense, individuals make the communication with the sacred beings through their symbols in their daily lives. The interpretation of religious symbols is not independent of belief and thought. Each society forms its intellectual codes in line with the heritage of its historical and geographical course. This article deals with the religious symbols that people in the Alevi community carry on their bodies, or what they mean to them. In other words, it is tried to explain the meaning of religious symbols for Alevi individuals and how these meanings are found in the individuals and how they effect the shaping of religious identities. In this context, the province of Tunceli was chosen as a sample, and Alevi individuals who had tattoos on the visible parts of their body were identified by simple random sampling and in-depth interviews were conducted with them.