Zoroastrians Confront Depletion of Their Ancient Faith

Maui News ^ | JUL 2, 2022

[nickcarraway]

Among the world’s present-day religions, Zoroastrianism, founded more than 3,000 years ago, is one of the most ancient and historically influential. Yet even though its adherents maintain vibrant communities on four continents, they acknowledge their numbers are dauntingly small — perhaps 125,000 worldwide.

Starting Friday, about 1,200 attendees from 16 countries will be assessing their faith’s prospects during the four-day World Zoroastrian Congress in New York City, the first one held in the United States since 2000.

The agenda reflects a keen awareness of the challenges facing their religion. Prospects for growth are limited, given that Zoroastrians don’t seek to convert outsiders and — in many cases — don’t consider the children of mixed marriages to be members of the faith. Yet there’s also some cause for optimism.

[Ransomed]

I recall reading articles on FR about huge inadvertent vulture poisonings that affected the Zoroastrian methods of burial. I think it’s called decarnation? Where birds of prey eat the flesh of the deceased faithful.

Freegards

[P.O.E.]

IIRC, several tenets of Zoroastrianism made it into Judeo-Christianity, e.g., the idea of hell.

[Buttons12]

The Zoroastrian Parsis were driven from Iran by muslims.

[Buttons12]

Excarnation. Supposedly it’s impious or polluting to bury the dead.

[BipolarBob]

It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a good old fashioned Zoroastrian hoe down.

[Ransomed]

That’s it! Good job. I recall some sort of cattle medicine poisoning the vultures when they chowed down on the dosed carrion.

Freegards

[MercyFlush]

I hear Putin wants to invade Zoroastria lest they join NATO.

[AZJeep]

It was a religion of Persia (now Iran). There are still few Zoroastrians left in Iran, but Muslims persecuted them now for about 1,300 years.
So most moved to India, where they have been safer and freer, a long time ago.
Now they are moving from India to places like US, Aus or GB.
Since Zoroastrians encourage hard work and entrepreneurship, they are generally doing very well, everywhere they go.

[Rebelbase]

Years ago I watched a video about a remaining enclave of Zoroastrians living in a remote region of Iran.

[PlateOfShrimp]

Thus spoke Zoroaster

Which is why it is a monolithic religion

[Therapsid]

Last groupto have knowlage of working vahmona

[frithguild]

The Japanese named the car after the God actually.

[frithguild]

Good thoughts, Good words, Good deeds is the path to the redemption of the soul and eternal reward. That the Magi were call to Jerusalem presages the inclusion of the gentiles into Christianity.

[Olog-hai]

Hmm. Why did you capitalize the G-word?

[frithguild]

Not sure - did not mean to offend.

[Olog-hai]

Maybe it was the spell check. Those don’t care about offense 🙂

[Zionist Conspirator]

Zoroastrianism forbids burying the dead in the ground because doing so defiles the earth. The Parsees in Bombay used to put their dead in trees for the buzzards to eat.

So far as I know there is not a single country that doesn't force the Zoro's to bury their dead in the earth even though it is a direct contradiction of their religious beliefs.

[Mears]

Thanks…..I didn’t see that.

.

.

[PIF]

Since its early here and I haven’t had coffee yet - this is a drive by of some of the point in this religion:

---

Creator described in terms of light years - 36 billion light years. Our galaxy - the Milky Way - is some 100,000 thousand light years in diameter, and the known universe stretches some 28 billion light years.

So 6,000 years ago Zarathustra described something bigger than the size of the universe we know today. How could that be possible, if, as the modern assumption goes, he and the people of his time were not much more that ignorant stone-working savages?]. Then again, how did Zarathustra know about light years - a modern term from modern physics.

Characteristics:
1) No prophet [Zarathustra, a spokesman, if you will].
2) No need for religious leaders to assume the role of mediating between God and people.
3) No priests
4) No Temples
5) No house of worship
6) No Prostlyzing
7) No harsh words
8) No miracles
“Gatha”, the only book remained from Zarathustra’s teachings... miracles do not have any place in Zoroastrianism

Core:
1) Monothestic
2) Know the Creator
3) Symbol of Ahur Mazda (the creator of heaven and earth) is fire and light
4) Cleanliness of water, land, air, and fire

Foundation Principles:
1) Adopt “good reflection,”
2) Adopt “good word,”
3) Adopt “good behavior,”
4) Adopt “good manner”

Sins:
1) Lying
2) Borrowing money
3) Denunciation of laziness
4) Taking advantage of the products of others
5) Cruelty against animals is considered the criminal
6) Against the inhumane sacrificing of animals
7) Against bartering for gaining power through the name of God

Freedoms:
1) Freedom of thought
2) Freedom of worship
3) Respect for other’s beliefs
4) Promote science and education
5) Equality between men and women
6) Subsist by the fruits of one’s own labor
7) Relieve the oppressed people

[SunkenCiv]

The rest of the Zoroastrian keyword, sorted:

• Iran has terrorist assets planted in Washington DC and across America: Report [03/17/2021]
• The significance of the 2021 Iranian festivity before Nowruz [03/17/2021]
• Zoroastrians make comeback in northern Iraq, but still face stigma {Kurds converting from Islam to Zoroastrianism} [10/26/2020]
• Zoroastrianism Rises in North America [09/28/2020]
• Persian New Year's Table Celebrates Nature's Rebirth that may herald the Mullah's end [03/20/2020]
• Iraqi Kurds turn to Zoroastrianism as faith, identity entwine [11/05/2019]
• Zoroastrians hold ceremony at fire temple in Kurdistan Region [08/27/2019]
• The encounter of Zoroastrianism with Islam in Iran [05/27/2019]
• The 16,000 Martyrs of Persia during the Reign of Shapur II, 4th century AD [04/22/2019]
• I have witnessed the end of those who harassed the worshipers of God~Constantine's letter to Shapur [04/06/2019]
• In Iran, the ruling mullahs are dreading Iranians' coming beloved fire festival [03/20/2019]
• Online dating is saving the ancient Zoroastrian religion [03/16/2018]
• Egypt: Muslim TV host says jihad massacres of Christians "okay," but not jihad massacre in mosque [11/27/2017]
• {Zoroastrian} Is Real Change Coming to Iran? Get Ready for March 15, 2017 [01/10/2017]
• Is real change coming to Iran? Get ready for March 15, 2017 [12/25/2016]
• YULE – Day of Winter Solstice 12/21/2016 [12/21/2016]
• Head of Zoroastrian temple says people are returning to their roots [09/16/2016]
• The changing face of Islam in Kurdistan [09/16/2016]
• Dating to Save Your Tiny Religion From Extinction [04/14/2016]
• In Whose God Do We Trust? [03/17/2016]
• Jihad ravaged Christian Byzantium for 800 years: how valiantly the Byzantine Christians [09/04/2015]
• A Video Featuring Snoop Dogg Has Caused Uproar Among a Religious Group in India [07/03/2015]
• Star Wars sucks. There, we said it. [06/20/2015]
• Zoroastrian faith returns to Kurdistan in response to ISIS violence [06/03/2015]
• 'Eternal flames' of ancient times could spark interest of modern geologists [05/18/2015]
• ISIS sweep forces religious minority to die of thirst on mountain [08/06/2014]
• Iraq's Yazidis in danger [08/05/2014]
• UN report blasts Iran for persecution of Christians, other religious minorities [03/21/2014]
• How Muslims Did Not Invent Algebra [08/11/2013]
• 1700 B.C.: 'Alla' god of 'violence and revolution' [09/17/2012]
• {Kurdistan Worker's Party}PKK and Zoroastrianism [12/22/2011]
• Monument to Babek (Irani fighter against Islam) to be erected in Baku [09/07/2011]
• Saudi Arabian Wahhabi Mufti Says Iranians are Zoroastrian [05/10/2011]
• Comparing Christianity and the New Paganism [05/09/2011]
• Sassanid fire temple discovered in central Iran [07/08/2010]
• Happy Norooz! [03/20/2010]
• Median Era Ring Discovered In Iran [11/11/2007]
• Iran's Zoroastrians remember Arab conquest of Persia [06/18/2007]
• Zoroastrians struggle for survival in Iran [10/12/2006]
• In The Towers Of Silence, An Ancient Ritual Of Death Comes Under Threat [09/11/2006]
• Zoroastrians Keep the Faith, and Keep Dwindling [09/05/2006]
• Kurdistan: Zoroastrian Temple discovered in Duhok [08/22/2006]
• Church of Cognizance out of line with zoroastrian religion [07/21/2006]
• Russian Archaeologist Says Merv Was Origin Of Zoroastrianism [06/10/2006]
• Mullahs Fail to prevent Ancient Persian Festival [03/14/2006]
• Remembering the "Arashes" of the 1988 Massacre of Iranian Political Prisoners [08/22/2005]
• Bombay's Parsis Differ on Future of Their Community [08/03/2005]
• Zoroastrianism - Religion of the Persian Empire [06/25/2005]
• Zoroastrianism - The World of the Wise Lord [Religion of the Persian Empire] [05/31/2005]
• archaeologist Says Central Asia Was Cradle Of Ancient Persian Religion [03/19/2005]
• The Difference Between Iranians And Arabs [02/07/2005]
• Iranians celebrate 'Yalda' as longest night of the year [Ancient Zoroastrian Holiday] [12/21/2004]
• In Search of Zarathustra [Pre-Islamic Iran once again making a strong come back] [09/05/2004]
• Photo Series: Persepolis, Iran - Capital of Persian Empire [History] [08/27/2004]
• Zoroastrian Prophecies [05/16/2004]
• The Kurdish People: A Background and History [04/07/2004]
• Zoroastrians Fight Extinction [12/23/2003]
• Who are the Zoroastrians? [07/29/2003]
• God and people in Zoroastrianism [05/23/2003]
• Say good knight to Crusade clich&ecute;s [Paul Mulshine] [04/04/2003]