Posted on 09/05/2004 8:09:50 PM PDT by freedom44
I have read this book. Very interesting, I highly recommend it.
Our administration is so sensitive to Muslim concerns in Iraq. Why not set up *safe zones* and *safe ways* for people to *leave* Islam? It would certainly solve the problem of a lack of Arabic and Farsi translators loyal to the US.
Instead, we treat Islam as if it's something people can *choose* to belong to or not. They can't. It's a prison for many.
Zoroastrianism is on the way out because it refuses to accept converts. One has to be born into the faith to believe in it. In contrast, every other religion welcomes those from outside to propagate and spread the faith.
Arabs won't leave Islam because it's their root, Arabs = Islam, this won't happen in Iraq.
Iranians will because their root is Zoroastrianism, Persian root = Zoroastrianism.
Perhaps it shall not be necessary to convert the Farsi people of Iran to Christianity at all - simply encourage them to revert to Zoroastrianism. After all, this was their religion for a much longer period of time than Islam has been. One suspects the Iranians are not that enthusiastic about Islam, which is basically an Arabic religion, and apparently the Koran only makes sense in Arabic.
?....Are not the 'converts' to Bahai.....considered.....Zoroastrian?
Thanks for the ping!
The perfect answer is Christianity. I suspect that the "wise men" from the East who came to the manager to honor Jesus were Zorastrian. That faith has a messianic theme. I have long considered Christianity to be "fulfilled Judiasm". I wonder could it be considered fulfilled Zorastorianism too?
Persians are not overly fond of Arabs and deep down they don't fit well with the Arab religion. I suspect there will be a return to nationalism and ethnic pride that will make them leave Islam en masse -- except for a few more Arabic types. Maybe they can't go back to Zoroasterianism but there's always Christianity or there could be a reformed Zoroasterianism which does allow converts or returnees. It seems like a number of Iranians are Bahis. Right after 9-11 it seemed every Persian I saw had on some kind Bahi t-shirt --- I think to make sure everyone knew they weren't Arabs or Muslims.
In a brief look at some Zoroastra sites I could find nothing to support the comment about their not accepting converts. It appears they do. I believe the wording in the article was in relation to the Moslems not allowing converts out of Islam. That seems to work better. The tree and the statement above link to ZA sites.
Zoroastrians do not accept converts precisely why their numbers are so small.
There have been some calls for changes in the doctrine, but none have been aggressively pursued.
I think they're muslims but with mohammed replaced with a Persian guy. Arabs would never tolerate that because to them mohammed was the greatest and last prophet even though he was a murdering madman and pedophile. To add in another non-Arab prophet after him would really put them into a rage.
That's a very good description of Islam.
Bahai's believe in universal religion. They accept all religions as one and the same. The founder was actually originally Muslim and had visions during the 1800's.
People turned to it mainly b/c Zoroastrians don't accept converts and never have pursued it. Unfortunate..
Hmm... I remember reading that Ahura Mazda was the only god in their religion, and that Ahriman was just a demon.
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