or Separatists, a religious sect among the Turks, who deny all forms and qualities in the Divine Being; or who divest God of his attributes.

There are two opinions among the Turkish divines concerning God. The first admits metaphysical forms or attributes; as, that God has wisdom, by which he is wise; power, by which he is powerful; eternity, by which he is eternal, &c. The second allows God to be wise, powerful, eternal; but will not allow any form or quality in God, for fear of admitting a multiplicity. Those who follow this latter opinion are called Moatazalites; they who follow the former, Sephatites.

The Moatazalites also believed that the word of God was created in subjecto, as the schoolmen term it, and to consist of letters and found; copies thereof being written in books to express or imitate the original; they denied absolute predetermination, and affirmed that man is a free agent. This sect is said to have first invented the scholastic divinity, and is subdivided into no less than 20 inferior sects, which mutually brand one another with infidelity.