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A
Discovery of Two Foreign Sects: The Sect of the Parsees, 1752
Lord, Henry
This historic article
provides a comprehensive description of Parsee community, their
religion, traditions and customs as it was observed in ca. 1752 by the
author, Henry Lord. This article was published two years prior to
arrival of
Anquetil Du
Perron
in India.
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A history of Zoroastrians of
Kerman "Tarikh e Zartoshtian e Kerman"
Varza, Jamshid
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Avesta, An Introduction
Jafarey, Dr. Ali Akbar
This article presents an
informative summary of the Avestan Language, text, and its evolution.
It elaborates on its relationship with other ancient Indo-European
languages.
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Conflict and Cooperation
Mehr, Professor Farhang
Review of the historical evolution of the Iranian
society in the post Islamic invasion and the dynamics of the forces at
work are covered.
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Does Sad Dar Reflect Zarathushtrian Thought?
McIntyre, Dina G.
A fifteenth century
text Sad Dar written by unknown author in Islamic Iran is sometimes
mistaken for Zarathushtrian religion scripture. Dina provides an
insightful discussion on the relevance of this text in the context of
Zarathushtra's thoughts.
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Dr. Mehraban Shahriari
Farshidi, Dr. Bahram
Driven by the desire to improve the welfare of the populace of his
native city and to be an agent of social change, Mehraban Shahriari
studied medicine and became a well admired doctor to the citizens of his
native city. Respected by those who came to know him, his legacy has
continued to inspire generations who came after him.
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Events that Shaped Early Zarathushti
Religion
Kevala, Dr. Rustom
This paper
attempts to identify the historical events that shaped Iranian
religion from Zarathushtra’s times up to the end of the Parthian
dynasty. Until recent times, culture, religion, and national
identity have always been mixed together, each influencing the
other. The author believes that major turning points in the history
of ancient Iran provide a window on the beliefs and practices the
Zarathushti religion prior to Sassanian times.
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Historical perspective on Zoroastrianism
Soroushian, Dr.
Mehrborzin
As the oldest and one of
the most influential religions, Zoroastrianism has been at the basis
of the first world empire, has helped the evolution of other faiths,
and has shaped human thoughts in significant ways. A historical
perspective on the evolution of World's oldest religion is presented.
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Interaction of the religion of Zarathushtra with
other religions
Jafarey, Dr. Ali Akbar
A historical review of
interaction between the religion of Zarathushtra and other religious
schools in the East as well as the Abrahamic traditions.
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Is The Vandidad a Zarathushtrian Scripture?
Shahzadi,Mobed Rostam
A review of evolution of
Zarathushtrian priesthood, religious practices, and the adaptation of
temporal laws as religious laws, and some of the causes of deviation
from the original message of Zarathushtra is given.
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Kharoshti Script
Kerr, Dr. Sam
The Kharoshti
language was introduced into Gandhara - Afghanistan and the
North-west frontiers of India during the early part of the 5th
century BCE as a result of Achaemenian conquests eastwards. The
language and script, it seems, became refined with time but it was
ultimately overtaken by the much older language of the region,
Brahmi and it became extinct by about the middle (c. 300-350 CE) of
the Sassanian Dynasty (which lasted c.224 to 641 CE). This
insightful article provides information about the evolution of this
language.
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Languages of The Parsi scriptures
Haug,
Martin
The renown German Linguist,
Martin Haug, traveled to India during the second half of the nineteenth
century where he stayed for over ten years and studied the Zarathushti
scriptures of the Parsee community residing in state of Gujarat. Haug in
his studies discovered the language used in certain sections of Yasna,
known as Gathas was different and much older than the rest of the
scriptures; later he figured that Gathas were the words of the prophet
Zarathushtra preserved and passed down through thirty seven centuries.
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Maga, The Magian Fellowship
Jafarey, Dr. Ali Akbar
Were Magians real people or
mystical figures in Persian literature? In this article Dr. Jafarey
discusses the oldest references to the word "Maga" in Avesta and other
Zarathushti religious scriptures.
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Manijeh (Kermani) Shahrokh
Mehrfar, Dr. Khosro E.
Mehrfar in his own powerful
language presents the biography of late Manijeh Kermani, a Zarathushti
woman well ahead of her own times in social organization and leadership.
This biography is prepared with first-hand information provided by Mrs.
Katayoon Farin, daughter of late Manijeh Kermani.
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Memoirs of Ardeshir Khâzè
Soroushian, Dr.
Mehrborzin
Growing up as a
Zartoshty boy in the village of Allahabad, Yazd at the turn of the
20th century, one person's mission to amoriliate the conditions of
his community and to do his part in bringing about progress to
his country of birth is detailed in this book. The
author's compilation of his life memories and experiences provides a
valuable source of information on the facts of life for the
Zarathushtis of Iran of the late 19th century, and 20th century.
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Messages for the Ages: The Uniqueness of
Zarathushtra's Message
Delavega, Ronald
The author shares his
thoughts and views on the uniqueness of Zarathushtra's Vision and the
promise it holds for humanity. In his informative review, the author
brings out interesting points as to the impact of this spiritual journey
of discovery on his life.
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Mithraism
Taraporwala, Dr. Iraj
Mithraism originated in
Iran, predating Zoroastrianism. Being predominant in Rome prior to
Christianity, elements of it can be found in Zoroastrianism and in
Christianity. This article investigates its bearing on Zoroastrianism.
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New Scope on some Aspects of Zoroasrtrian History
and Philosophy
DuBreuil, Professor Paul
The author discusses the
shortcomings of the scholars in acknowledging the contribution of
Zarathushtra's thoughts to the evolution of human civilization. He
outlines his view of the course of action the followers of this religion
ought to adapt to enhance the welfare of humanity in keeping with the
vision of their prophet.
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Noruz, The Fire of Spring
Shapero, Hannah M.G.
This article introduces the
reader to the great Iranian new year festival of "Noruz." Ms. Shapero
using her elegant writing style tells you how to set your Noruz table --
Haft Seen.
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Nov-Ruz, The Zarathushtrian New Year
Jafarey, Dr. Ali Akbar
A comprehensive review of Nov-Ruz, the
Zarathuhtrian New Year is given from historical and religious
perspective. The significance of the Nov-Ruz table as the center
piece of its celebration is also described.
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Parvin the Daughter of Sassan
Hedayt, Sadeq
Set against the background
of eminent fall of a major Iranian city to the invading Arab forces
following the collapse of the Imperial Sassanian forces, the faith of a
Zoroastrian family as they face the reality of the changing norms and
value system about to be imposed on them is brought alive through this
emotion filled play.
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Persia Past and Present
Damania, Dr. Ardeshir B.
Abraham V. W. Jackson, a professor of
Indo-Iranian language at Columbia university at the turn of the 20th
century undertook a trip to Iran and India to meet the followers of the
ancient religion of Zarathushtra, and to see first hand the plight of
its followers in their ancestral land. Through the painstaking details
of his travelogue, a lot of valuable insight and information about the
heroic struggle of the Zarathushtis for survival in the sea of Islamic
hostility is captured in this valuable book.
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Persien, das Land und Seine Bewohner;
Ethnograpische Schilderungen
Soroushian, Dr.
Mehrborzin
Travelogue
of a nineteenth century Austrian Physician who spent nine years in
Iran, provides interesting perspective on some unique aspects of
Zarathushtrian religion, and points out how demise of Zoroastrianism
in Iran meant the fall of Iran from grace.
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The Achaemenians, Zoroastrians in Transition
Jafarey, Dr. Ali Akbar
This article sheds light on
understanding the practice of Zarathushti religion and its evolution
during the Achaemenian era. The evolution of the religion during that
period had great implication for subsequent periods.
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The Ideal of Aryan Womanhood
Taraporwala, Dr. Iraj
This insightful article
analyzes the position of woman from a Zarathushtrian perspective, from
the time of Zarathushtra to 20th century. Historical evolution of the
position of Zoroastrian woman is looked at based on historical evidence.
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The Avesta, An Introduction
Jafarey, Dr. Ali Akbar
The evolution and origin of
various texts of the Zarathushtrian religion starting with the poetic
compositions of Zarathushtra himself is discussed in this book. The
information contained in this article serves as a good reference.
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The Being of Zarathushtra in the light of
Anthroposophy
Bana,
Aban
The initiator of
Anthroposophy was inspired by an large by their understand of the
essence of Zarathushtrianism. In this article, the author shares her
understanding on this subject as it relates to matters of human
spirituality.
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The case for Zarathushtrianism at the turn of the
3rd Millennium
Mehrfar, Dr. Khosro E.
The progressive human
society is gradually overcoming the fear of life and death and the
unpredicted. The faiths appealing to human's fear-based existence may
not hold as significant a grip on man in the third millennium as was the
case before. Faiths based on logical and rational thinking calling
on humans to take control of their destiny and assume responsibility
for their actions will be more in keeping with the evolving human
society in the third millennium and beyond. The author makes the case
for Zarathushtrianism by considering the relevant factors at the
entrance in the third millennium.
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The Light of the Sacred Fire
Shapero, Hannah M.G.
For a western educated
reader wishing to have a general understanding of the Zarathushti
religious belief and philosophy, Ms. Shapero's article is certainly a
wonderful "knowledge gate".
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The Origin of Israel’s Faith – and its Debt to
Zoroaster
MacAllister, P.E.
An insightful discussion of
the evolution on the Judeo-Christian religious thoughts and its
borrowings from Zarathushtra's thought is presented in this article.
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The Wadias of India: Then and Now
Jungalwala,
Khorshed
The history of an enterprising
Zarathushtrian dynasty whose generation after generation built
pioneering businesses that contributed in significant ways to the
industrialization of British India and Independent India for the past
three centuries is related by one of its direct descendents. The ships
they built crossed the open seas to promote trade for India and for
other nations. The reputation they built for honesty, generosity and a
genuine concern for their fellow human beings was a hallmark of their
enterprises. The family's spirited philanthropy went beyond the
Zarathushti community, covering areas of education, health, welfare and
industry.
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The Zarathushtrian Foundations of Human
Civilization
Smith,Timothy
This article presents a brief review of the
Zarathushtrian concepts that have shaped human thoughts and influenced
our religions and cultures. The subtlety of concepts of freedom of
choice and moral responsibility for promoting the rightful order is
discussed.
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Trois ans en Asie (Three years in Asia) 1855-1858
Dr. Mehrborzin
Soroushian
This relatively obscure
French diplomat from an aristocratic background whose family fortune
overturned with the onset of the French revolution writes his account of
Iran and its people including the badly battered Zarathushti community,
providing valuable information and insight about the conditions he finds
in that ancient land.
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Universal Elements Forming the Fundamentals of the
Religion of Zarathushtra
Homji, Dasturji
Nowrooz D. Minocher
The universality of the
Religion tradition introduced by Zarathushtra and the unique and
humanistic aspects of the same are discussed in this easy to comprehend
speech delivered in 1984.
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Uniqueness of Zarathushtra's Vision and its Impact
Sidhwa,Ervad Godrej
“MAN”,
said Rousseau, Father of the French Revolution, “was born free. But
every where he is in chains.’’ The uniqueness of Zarathushtra's vision
aimed at freeing human beings from their various bondages including the
worst of all "superstition" is discussed in this article.
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Was Zarthushtra's original religion diverted?
Bagli, Ervad Dr. Jehan
This remarkable question was
asked by many scholars and mobeds. This article offers a concise review
of the issue -- whether the Magis diverted the original teachings of
Zarathushtra.
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Zarathushtra: Building the Civil Society
Smith,Timothy R
An informative review of the
impact of Zarathushtra's philosophy on human thought and its influence
on other religious thoughts. Some of the concepts central to
Zarathushtra's thought are covered.
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Zarathushtra – Source of the Judeo-Christian
Heritage
Antia, Dr. Kersey
The influence of
Zarathushtra's teachings was profound on western thought, the Greeks
made a practice of sheltering a philosophic or 'scientific' theory under
the guise of Zarathushtra's authority. Many of the Judeo-Christian
traditions and beliefs have their origin in the ancient religion of
Zarathushtra, which was dominant and wide-spread in Persia before the
birth of Christ. This article provides good insight into the influence
of Zarathushtra's thought on the development of Judeo-Christian
believes.
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Zarathushtra, Mazdayasna,
and Governance
Jahanian, Dr. Daryoush
The form of
government consistent with Zarathushtra vision for humanity is a topic
of discussion of this insightful paper.
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Zarathushtrian Theodicy
Bailey, Albert
Theodicy is the branch of
theology dedicated to understanding the problem of evil, that is, why
evil exists in a world governed by a good, wise, and powerful god. Over
the centuries, Persian thought has addressed this question more
thoroughly than any other religious tradition.
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Zoroastrian Studies in Europe through the 19th
century
Mobed, Keikhosrow
A brief review of the major
milestones in the study of the religion of Zarathusthra in Europe
through the Nineteenth century is given. The events that unfolded as a
result of the initiatives taken by Voltaire and Anquetil Du Perron that
resulted in the studies of Zoroastrianism are covered. These studies
were the prelude to the very extensive work done on the Gathas of
Zarathushtra in the 20th century.
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Zoroastrians of
Iran: Conversion, Assimilation, or Persistence
Dr. Mehrborzin
Soroushian
The dynamics at work
in shaping the evolution of the Zarathushtrian community of Iran in the
20th century is analyzed in this well researched book.
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Zoroastrianism: Its Antiquity And Constant Vigor
Dr. Mehrborzin
Soroushian
This book being a collection
of lectures given at Columbia University makes for a quick tutorial on
the development of the Zarathushtrian traditions throughout the ages all
the way to recent times.
