The Representation of Religion in Gilaki Proverbs

Many ideas and beliefs in a society are rooted in religion. How religion is reflected in society and culture is one of the interesting topics in the field of sociology of religion. The system of beliefs and values of the society is reflected in the literature and oral culture of the society. Proverbs, as one of the most important elements of oral literature, can be a reflection of the beliefs and attitudes of the society. In this study, an attempt was made to provide a relatively clear picture of how religion and its dimensions are represented in the popular literature of Gilan by examining Gilaki proverbs. This study was a descriptive and analytical study in which, while analyzing the content of 4562 proverbs in the East and West areas and the center of Gilan, 209 proverbs related to religion were selected. The data was categorized into several categories based on content and concepts. Based on the findings of the research, it can be said that the reflection of the four dimensions of belief (43%), rites and rituals and customs (24%), morality (16%) and Shariat (16%) are shown in the parables. It shows that in the popular culture of Gilan, besides paying attention to religious phenomena and rites and rituals, attention and emphasis is placed on the religious aspects and the functionalist role of religion in the society and the institutionalization of the spirit of religiosity and religious ethics in the society.