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To: freedom44
This is one of the interesting imponderables about Iran: in a truly democratic and pluralistic Iran, might Zoroastrianism make a comeback? It was the state religion of ancient Persia for centuries; might it appeal to Iranians disillusioned with Islam and looking for an alternate Iranian identity?

At present, it seems, Traditional Zoroastrianism defines all religions as equal (the Righteous of all faiths will enter into heaven) and does not accept converts . On this view, Zoroastrianism is for the "Aryans" (pre-Hitler sense) and Zoroastrians are prohibited from marrying outside their ethnic community.

On the other hand, the Wikipedia article linked above says that "there is a growing interest among Kurdish people of various national backgrounds, as well as peoples in various Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, in their ancient Zoroastrian heritage; many people in these countries now consider themselves Zoroastrian." and other sources suggest that there is a "liberal" wing that accepts or even encourages conversions. So perhaps Iranians would count as suitable adherents to some form of the religion.

As a Christian, I don't believe that all religions are equally true. But at the moral level, Zorastrianism has always seemed to me, on the basis of admittedly superficial knowledge, to be a religion that's at least fit for a gentleman.

5 posted on 03/16/2005 3:55:27 PM PST by Southern Federalist
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To: Southern Federalist

Excellent post. I learned alot from it and the links. On face value, a revival of this religon could perhaps allow Persians, Kurds and others to distance themselves from Arabs without seemingly accepting Western Christianity. I will need to read much more now, but like you said, it seems civilized as opposed to Islam.


12 posted on 03/16/2005 5:33:41 PM PST by TheHound (You would be paranoid too - if everyone was out to get you.)
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