Who are the Druze and How Might the Shroud of Turin Relate Them to Jesus Christ?
Who Are The Druze?
The Druze do not practice polygamy, pilgrimage to Mecca, fasting during Ramadan or any other holy month or period, prayer in churches, mosques or any form of ritualistic behavior historically or currently practiced by both Christians or Muslims.
The Druze texts are referred to as 'The Hikma Texts' and they are forbidden even from most of the Druze themselves if they're not initiated (ready to receive the knowledge). El-Hikma is the Arabic term for 'wisdom' and the Druze scriptures include material from Ancient Hermeticism, Ancient Greek Philosophy, Hinduism, Buddhism, Ancient Gnostic Judaism, Christianity, and Sufi Islam.
The Druze were historically forced to assume homogeneity with their Muslim counterparts in the Middle East (amidst a sea of Islam) in fear of persecution due to their controversial doctrines and because they strategically have no other choice, especially that they are not open to conversion (no one who is not born to a Druze parents can ever become Druze) which render them a minority community with its population on the decline.
Unlike the Sunni(s) in The Levant who have Saudi Arabia backing them, the Shiites who have Iran backing them, The Catholics who have the Vatican backing them, the Orthodox who have Russia and Greece behind them, and the Jews who have a Jewish state and the Jewish Diaspora supporting it, the Druze have no external support. Hence, they historically had no other choice but to assume homogeneity with other religions, defend the land they’re on and serve the state they fall under.
They had no choice but to assimilate with the neighboring religions and communities to the point of almost dissolving. In Syria they act in public like they are Muslims. In Israel, they almost cannot be differentiated from the Jews and they serve in the Jewish army and state. In Lebanon they have a bit more freedom and they coexist with Muslims and Christians equally.
The Doctrine of Eternal Reincarnation in Human-Adamic Form
One of the main doctrines which the Druze believe in, The Doctrine of Reincarnation, was removed from the Bible. The main reason The Doctrine of Reincarnation was rejected by the Nicean council and its traces were removed from the Bible is because if one believes in it, there is no longer any point to pay allegiance to the church or any superior power to reserve a place in a promised heaven or paradise. If one believes in reincarnation, then one knows that heaven and hellare a state-of-existence that he/she will experience on Earth in this life or another life and that punishment and rewards are settled through Karma. Ultimately, this means that there is no heaven to reserve a seat in, or a hell to pay your way out from. Heaven and Hell are metaphors for human states of existence one will experience here on Earth.
From here, there is no logic to worshipping a mediator between you and your destiny or afterlife. There is no escape from your actions through any ritualistic act or payment.
The following is an excerpt from the Bible that is mentioned in el-Hikma texts as a proof of reincarnation that seems to have skipped the council’s attention:
'...But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands..." Matthew 17:12
According to the Druze doctrines Elijah is reincarnated as John the Baptist; and this quote hints at this truth.
‘Have done to him everything they wished’ refers to the severing of John's head.
The Druze visit the shrine of Elijah in Syria regularly and consider it holy due to their knowledge that he is himself John the Baptist (one of the sacred five men they believe in).