Gladiator

The ideological battle of moderates against Islamic Conservatives may be aided by Zoroastrianism, the religiion of Iran from 3500 BC to 673 After 673, invading Arabian armies imposed Islam on Persia.


Zoroastrianism:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/zoroastr.htm


I had become interested in Zoroastrianism in disussion in a threead on the WAR ON TERROR forum section:

http://www.debatepolitics.com/war-te...on-iran-2.html

Since I am only at the beginning of understanding Zoroastreianism, I thought I would post a discussion of the study of the principles of Zoroastrianism under RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY. Searches of the Depate Politics board have not revealed much discussion of Zoroastrianism before. I'll just read and post my rambling ideas on this thread, in the hopes that enlightenment

.

Gibberish

Did you have anything specific you wanted to discuss? I am going to refresh myself on the religion as it has been quite some time since I have researched it. It isn't a religion one discusses to often.

__________________
When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do?

Gladiator

Dear Gibberish,

I am at the beginning of my study of Zoroastrianism.

There are several authors of translations of the Gathas, which is the Bible of works by Zarathushtra, the founder of Zoroastrianism. What are the philosphies of the different authors?

The religion has been persecuted in various countires, and so one question is where is there a Zoroastriansm Church that is willing to talk to students of history or activists?

The Religious Tolerance description states the principle that one has to be born into the religion, and outsiders are unwelcome. Would there be a Zoroastian Church that would consider providing spiritual counsel for the return of Iranian citizens from Islam, to Zoroastrianism?


Since the year 673;

"Conversion meant changes not only in doctrine but also in practices and rituals. The many kindly deities (Eyzads) to whom the Zoroastrians had turned for help had to be renounced. Instead of the celebration of holy days, with many joyful observances, feasts, music, plays and parties, there was Friday prayers at the mosques, confronting a stone facing ‘qibla’ (direction to Mecca) instead of a bright leaping frame. There were no public dancing or music, theaters were closed down veiling and segregation of sexes was introduced."

Culture of Iran


In searching for Zoroastrian churches in the US, some Christian churches have taken listings. Is this an attempt to conver Zoroastrians to Christianity?




.

Gladiator

Zoroastrian churches in Bombay, India.

Lower churches are called Agiyari.

Higher temples of fire are called Atash Behram, and non-members are not allowed to atend.

Adherents are called Parses OR Parsis, From Persia.

Zarathusti Cultural Center, New Jersey

Zoroastrian Cultural Center


.

Gladiator

The book written by Zoroaster is the entitle the Gathas


Translators/Editors whose books are available on Alibris include:


Jacques Duchesne
M. Henning
Piloo Nanavutty
Piloo Nanvutty
BP Wadia


The Avesta are religious writings on the practices and beliefs of Zoroastrian worshipers and Priests. Translators/editors on Alibris include:



Arthur H. Bleek
Ernestine G. Bush
James Darmester
Raiomond Doctor
Helmut Humback
M Edgewrorth Lazarus
William Malandra
Manfred Mayrhofer
Frederick Max Miller
Lawrence Heyworth Mills
Charles Home
F. Max Muller
Albert Pike
Montgomery Schuler


Searching Zorastrianism in a public library, I found authors on books about Zorastrianism by:

Mary Boyce
John R. Hinnells
Loren Harper Whitney


There are probaluy points of view from which these authors, translators and editors have structured their works. Currently, I have no insights on any slants.

.

Gladiator

Other Gathas Translators:


Charles F. Horne
Stanley Insler


Insler has a Glossary, pictures and commentary.

I don't see an Index or Thesaurus of the Gathas by Zoroaster


.

Gladiator

The people practicing Zoroastrianism almost all keep to themselves, and do not help anyone outside the community to understand Zoroastrianism. This is partly from Zoroaster who preached against inter-marriage, but also the cultural caste systems of India, that has the punishment of social ostricization, for communicating wtih others outside the approved social circle.


In Iraq, there is also real danger of attacks from ISLAMIC militants for followers of religions that predate Islam. A garbage truck exploded on Tuesday, August 14, 2007, in Kahtaniya.

"Al Qaeda wants to kill all the Yazidis," said another Kahtaniya villager, who gave his name only as Hossein. "Another bomb like this and there will be no more Yazidis left."

"Yazidis are members of a pre-Islamic Kurdish sect of several hundred thousand in northern Iraq and Syria who say they are persecuted for their beliefs"

"In April, gunmen killed 23 Yazidi factory workers in Mosul in apparent retaliation for the stoning several weeks earlier of a teenaged Yazidi girl who police said had fallen in love with a Sunni Arab man and converted to Islam."

Yazidis fear annihilation after Iraq bombings - Yahoo! News






.

Monk-Eye

"Arab Republic Of Persian Eunics"

They are no more persians, their culture and their peoples were emasculated by arabs.

__________________
Hanged Man
Melpomene

phil88

Not so fast, Mr monk-eye!

I worked in the Middle east for a couple of years and still return from time to time. I have few Parsi friends who tell me there is still a sizable practicing Zoroastrian community in Iran in the hundreds of thousands within a Parsi population of millions, stretching into India. The priestess of fire ritual is still allowed and tolerated by the regime of Iran.

As a Historical note. Zororastrian beliefs are a refinement of the monotheistic religion of Ahura Mazda, The first true major religion to specify a single divine creator.

It is this religion that has supplied a great deal to the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Daniel, on his return from captivity, brought with him and incorporated into the Jewish faith the principles of ' angels ' chaos and order, which got changed to good and evil, the planes of heaven and hell. All tenants of
Ahura Mazda.

it would be nice to believe that the Islamic regime of Iran recognise the commonality within the religions and so show tolerance. However, I think it is more likely that the Parsis make up a large part of the technical and educated elite within the country and the country would not run without them.

So they assured a life without persecution so far.


Phil88

__________________
'Where Art ends, violence begins'

Joe Hill

I thought that ancient history is irrelevant to events today, or so I've been repeatedly told every time I point out the devilish history of Christendom from its own conquest of polytheism, sectarian wars, Crusades, Inquisition, and glaring hypocrisy.

__________________
"We can have democracy in this country or we can have
great wealth in a few hands, but we can't have both.":
Louis D. Brandeis