ABSTRACT
Tolerance of, and to a certain extent assimilation to, religious beliefs and practices from outside, have been largely due to the Abkhaz lack of interest in the theology or dogma of either Christianity or Islam. Neither of these has been perceived as threatening to the social structure or daily practice of the Abkhaz, who have retained many elements of pre-Christian belief and practice, and adapted new practices to them. As the American anthropologist Paula Garb has said, " . . . in reality, the Abkhaz have never related seriously to either Christianity or Islam. They have stubbornly preserved their p agan customs , adopting from Christianity or Islam only those elements which did not contradict their ancient beliefs" (1 986, p24) .
