Jenny Rose - Zoroastrianism: A Guide for the Perplexed (Guides for the Perplexed)

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Jenny Rose, 2011

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ZOROASTRIANISM: A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED

Bloomsbury Guides for the Perplexed

Bloomsburys Guides for the Perplexed are clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers and subjects that students and readers can find especially challenging. Concentrating specifically on what it is that makes the subject difficult to grasp, these books explain and explore key themes and ideas, guiding the reader towards a thorough understanding of demanding material.

Guides for the Perplexed availablefrom Bloomsbury:

Calvin: A Guide for the Perplexed, Paul Helm

Christian Bioethics: A Guide for the Perplexed, Agneta Sutton

Christology: A Guide for the Perplexed, Alan Spence

De Lubac: A Guide for the Perplexed, David Grumett

Kierkegaard: A Guide for the Perplexed, Clare Carlisle

Mysticism: A Guide for the Perplexed, Paul Oliver

The Trinity: A Guide for the Perplexed, Paul M. Collins

Wesley:A Guide for the Perplexed, Jason E. Vickers

Forthcoming:

Mircea Eliade: A Guide for the Perplexed, Charles Long

Sufism: A Guide for the Perplexed, Elizabeth Sirriyeh

ZOROASTRIANISM:
A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED

JENNY ROSE

To Bruce

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks are due to those whom I have pestered with many of the questions addressed in this book. These individuals are, in alphabetical order: Ervad Dr. Jehan Bagli, Ervad Parviz Bajan, Prof. Jamsheed K. Choksy, Houtoxi Contractor, Behram Deboo, Malcolm Deboo, Manijeh Deboo, Ervad Soli P. Dastur, Mobed Mehraban Firouzgary, Anahita Fitter, Howard Goldman, Shireen Havewala, Prof. John R. Hinnells, Ervad Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia, Ryna Karnik, Mandana Moavenat, Dr. Bahman Moradian, Prof. Jesse Palsetia, Rohinton Rivetna, Prof. Prods Oktor Skjaerv, Rusi Sorabji, Mobed Dr. Rostam Vahidi, and Dr. Maneck S. Wadia.

I am indebted to Dr. Michael Stausberg and doctoral student Hkon Tandberg, both of Bergen University, Norway, for their invaluable comments and critiques. They challenged me to think more clearly and to write more concisely. To Bruce Benedict, who was my test Everyman reader, I am grateful for asking questions about the questions, and for demanding more straightforward answers.

Jenny Rose,

November, 2010

ABBREVIATIONS

A2S Artaxerxes II inscription at Susa

Av. Avestan

AWN Arda Wiraz Namag

Bd. Greater Bundahishn

BPP Bombay Parsi Punchayat

CAP Chidag Andarz-i Poryotkeshan

Dan. Biblical book of Daniel

DB Darius I inscription at Bisutun

Dd. Dadestan-i Denig

Dk. Denkard

DN Darius I inscription on his tomb at Naqsh-e Rostam

DP Darius I inscription at Persepolis

DS Darius I inscription at Susa

Dt. Biblical book of Deuteronomy

Elam. Elamite

Ezek. Biblical book of Ezekiel

FEZANA Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America

Gk. Greek

Heb. Hebrew

Her. Herbadestan

HN Hadokht Nask

Isa. Biblical book of Isaiah

MHD Madayan-i Hazar Dadestan

MP Middle Persian

MX Menog-i Xrad

NAMC North American Mobeds Council

Ner. Nerangestan

OAv. Old Avestan

OP Old Persian

Pers. New Persian

PGuj. Parsi Gujarati

PRDd. Pahlavi Rivayat accompanying Dadestan-i Denig

SGW Shkand Gumanig Wizar

Vd. Videvdad

Vr. Visperad

WAPIZ World Alliance of Parsi (and) Irani Zarthoshtis

WZO World Zoroastrian Organization

XP Xerxes inscription at Persepolis

Y. Yasna

YAv. Young Avestan

YH Yasna Haptanghaiti

Yt. Yasht

Zds. Wizidagiha-i Zadspram

ZTFE Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, Inc.

THE QUESTIONS

Introduction:

What does the word Zoroastrian mean?

Who is a Zoroastrian?

What is Zoroastrianism?

Chapter 1: Thoughts, or What Zoroastrians Believe

What is the Zoroastrian concept of God?

What is the relationship of Ahura Mazda to the world?

What is the significance of fire?

Do Zoroastrians believe in one God or many?

Where does evil come from?

What is the purpose of human existence?

What happens at the End?

Do Zoroastrian concepts relate to those of other religions and philosophies?

Chapter 2: Words, or What Zoroastrians Say, and Who Has the Voice

What are the sacred texts of the religion?

How did the teachings of the religion spread?

Who is/was Zarathushtra?

Who holds religious authority?

Can women become priests?

What voice do Zoroastrians have as a minority religion?

Who determines the religious calendar?

What is the reason for the Western fascination with Zarathushtra?

Chapter 3: Deeds, or How Zoroastrians put Religion into Action

What does daily praxis involve?

Do Zoroastrians have special dietary rules?

What is the role of fire in Zoroastrian worship?

What do priests do?

What are the Zoroastrian rites of passage?

What festivals occur in the Zoroastrian calendar?

Are there gender differences with regard to praxis?

How do Zoroastrians put their ethics into practice?

INTRODUCTION

The intention of the Guides for the Perplexed series is to immerse readers in the various theories of knowledge that relate to the way humans think and act, and to aid navigation through difficult concepts and complex texts. The Zoroastrian religion is an ideal subject for such study, since many of its concepts are already familiar, but its significance in the development of the history of thought is often only mentioned in passing, or completely overlooked.

Zoroastrianism has developed over a span of at least three thousand years, beginning in prehistory as an oral tradition with roots in a common Indo-Iranian culture and mythology, then becoming established as part of imperial Iranian ideology within an Ancient Near Eastern setting, and emerging in variant forms in western and central Asia in late antiquity. The religion continues as a living faith for an estimated 130150,000 adherents in the world today. Because of its trans-historical and trans-cultural development there are many valid approaches to the study of Zoroastrianism. Any author writing a book about the religion has to decide which methodologyor range of methodologiesto use in presenting the material. I have opted here to focus on the questions that the perplexed seeker might ask of a Zoroastrian, and to attempt to answer those questions using historical and religious (sacred) sources, alongside personal anecdotes.