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In Search of Zarathustra [Pre-Islamic Iran once again making a strong come back]
Boston Review ^ | 9/5/04 | Jehangir Pocha

Posted on 09/05/2004 8:09:50 PM PDT by freedom44

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To: F14 Pilot

Viewing things from a realistic perspective, Islam is WAY ahead of ANY other groups in that respect and such behavior is soundly grounded in their founding documents, the behavior fo their prohet, and a long and unending history of such activity by Islam.


61 posted on 09/06/2004 4:23:36 AM PDT by ZULU (Fear the government which fears your guns)
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To: F14 Pilot

Are you SERIOUS???

Bahaism is a weird, non-violent, pacifistic, vegetarian sect, which grew out of Islam. But it has nothing in common with Islam with respect to violence.


62 posted on 09/06/2004 4:25:08 AM PDT by ZULU (Fear the government which fears your guns)
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To: chuckles

Exactly true.

Most "Reformed" Jews are culturallly Jewish, not religiously Jewish. Most of them theological atheists.

In my book, only Conservative and Orthodox Jews are really Jewish.


63 posted on 09/06/2004 4:26:49 AM PDT by ZULU (Fear the government which fears your guns)
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To: freedom44

You are correct.


64 posted on 09/06/2004 4:27:41 AM PDT by ZULU (Fear the government which fears your guns)
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To: ZULU

Christians were more brutal than Muslims 1000 years ago but Christians learnt how to modify their religion through history.

Muslims have not learnt it yet but they will!


65 posted on 09/06/2004 5:00:59 AM PDT by F14 Pilot (Democracy is a process not a product)
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To: ZULU

I have read Qoran and I know how it sounds but I also understand that Qoran was an advancement for the people of Arabian lands 1425 years ago.

Now it does have severe problems for modern world and 21st century, I know that but my take is that it should be edited or modified.


66 posted on 09/06/2004 5:04:31 AM PDT by F14 Pilot (Democracy is a process not a product)
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To: chuckles

I don't think they were Jews because it wasn't typical of Jews to look at the stars and see a lot of significance in them. Who would be most likely to travel far because they saw some event in the sky?


67 posted on 09/06/2004 7:22:17 AM PDT by FITZ
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To: freedom44

It's sad that those pretty girls are actually risking their safety and lives by daring to show their faces --- the mullahs want them to hide their faces in shame under those hideous rags. Only Arabs really have the mindset though that a woman's face is a thing of shame -- and even her own children must see her hide it as though it were sinful.


68 posted on 09/06/2004 7:25:28 AM PDT by FITZ
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To: F14 Pilot
but I also understand that Qoran was an advancement for the people of Arabian lands 1425 years ago.

It was an advancement only for the more primitive tribes who roamed the desert like Mohammad's people -- the Persians were far more advanced than Arabs and their religion was superior to Islam. Zoroasterianism was a tolerant religion that accepted freedom and allowed thinking. Every aspect of one's daily life --- including how to clean the inside of the nose -- did not have to be spelled out.

69 posted on 09/06/2004 7:29:15 AM PDT by FITZ
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To: freedom44

Freedom now ~ Bump!


70 posted on 09/06/2004 8:34:42 AM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: hoppity
Zarathustra spake thus unto the people:
I teach you the Superman. Man is something that is to be
surpassed. What have ye done to surpass man?
All beings hitherto have created something beyond themselves: and ye
want to be the ebb of that great tide, and would rather go back to the
beast than surpass man?
What is the ape to man? A laughing-stock, a thing of shame. And just
the same shall man be to the Superman: a laughing-stock, a thing of
shame.
Ye have made your way from the worm to man, and much within you is
still worm. Once were ye apes, and even yet man is more of an ape than
any of the apes.
Even the wisest among you is only a disharmony and hybrid of plant
and phantom. But do I bid you become phantoms or plants?
Lo, I teach you the Superman!
The Superman is the meaning of the earth. Let your will say: The
Superman shall he the meaning of the earth!

Great, now they are going to become Nazi's...

71 posted on 09/06/2004 9:31:34 AM PDT by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: freedom44

Wouldn't it be wonderful some day soon to wake up and see the name on the map change from "Iran" to "Persia."


72 posted on 09/06/2004 9:37:09 AM PDT by Uncle Vlad
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To: freedom44
And theologians generally agree that Zarathusti notions of monotheism, heaven and hell, and the messiah and the apocalypse spread quickly and profoundly influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

If Zoroastrianism began about 3500 years ago, it is NOT the world's first mono-theistic religion. According to Biblical and historical references, Judaism began almost 7000 years ago, didn't it? It sounds as though the Persian was influenced by Judaism, possibly as a result of trade and movement of people along the Silk Road.

73 posted on 09/06/2004 9:44:45 AM PDT by SuziQ (Bush in 2004-Because we MUST!!!)
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To: freedom44

tick tock tick tock can we afford to wait??


74 posted on 09/06/2004 9:48:35 AM PDT by rang1995
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To: freedom44

I assume this is the type of info you were suggesting I get last night?

Seriously... I appreciate the information. This is the kind of thing FR is all about -- facts that can be itegrated into thoughts to produce actions.

Thanks for a great post.


75 posted on 09/06/2004 9:50:57 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (I want to die in my sleep like Gramps -- not yelling and screaming like those in his car)
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To: American in Israel
Great, now they are going to become Nazi's

Or Kal El

76 posted on 09/06/2004 9:57:05 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (I want to die in my sleep like Gramps -- not yelling and screaming like those in his car)
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To: freedom44

Or how about to Christianity? Does anyone have a sense to whether Iranians would be receptive to Christianity if they were free to choose?


77 posted on 09/06/2004 9:58:31 AM PDT by maro (T)
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To: freedom44
Zarathustrianism is a fascinating faith.  In my varied religious readings I have to say the most interesting fable I ever read was in the (often considered apocryphal) Zoroastrian Desatir.

Seeking redress from man's arrogance and stupidity, seven beasts and insects - as representatives of the animal kingdom - beseech [God] for compassion.  [God] sends them into the desert where they meet seven wise men and for one evening, over an open fire, the fourteen are able to understand one another's speech.

The seven arguments that ensue are surprisingly insightful and amusing.  In arguing man's superiority one of the wise men states that our ability to make fine foods and drink separates us from base animals to which the ant replies that we shouldn't be proud that our most prized and sought after food is nothing other than bee vomit.

As a humility story, that chapter is quit effective.

78 posted on 09/06/2004 10:00:26 AM PDT by Psycho_Bunny
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To: freedom44
Zarathustrianism is a fascinating faith.  In my varied religious readings I have to say the most interesting fable I ever read was in the (often considered apocryphal) Zoroastrian Desatir.

Seeking redress from man's arrogance and stupidity, seven beasts and insects - as representatives of the animal kingdom - beseech [God] for compassion.  [God] sends them into the desert where they meet seven wise men and for one evening, over an open fire, the fourteen are able to understand one another's speech.

The seven arguments that ensue are surprisingly insightful and amusing.  In arguing man's superiority one of the wise men states that our ability to make fine foods and drink separates us from base animals to which the ant replies that we shouldn't be proud that our most prized and sought after food is nothing other than bee vomit.

As a humility story, that chapter is quit effective.

79 posted on 09/06/2004 10:00:47 AM PDT by Psycho_Bunny
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To: freedom44

Wow! And you can have three of them?


80 posted on 09/06/2004 10:03:01 AM PDT by Bon mots
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