The Mask of Zoroastrianism

[Juniper_Gnowell]

It is not so much that monotheism came from Jew or Persian but more that it developed out of both and other religions. If you look at Hindu texts regarding Brahma they make clear that all the demigods are only avatars or angels representing his glory. Their was also an Egyptian Pharaoh that made monotheism Egypt’s official religion. The KhoiSan in Africa are the oldest living culture in the world and interestingly they also believe in one ultimate God. This God does have co-inhabitants in heaven so this can hardly be compared with Christian Monotheism. Equally Egyptian monotheism saw God sharing power with the Pharaoh. Whatever criticism we have of these early forms of theism it is important to acknowledge that they constitute important stages in the way humanity developed an understanding of a universal creator and power.

It seems to me that the early Church needed to base its authority on limited historical sources as people weren’t ready to acknowledge the extant to which Christianity fulfills world religion. You got to remember the average Jo may have visited a nearby town but poverty and politics made global awareness almost impossible and by the time of the Vulgate and the compiling of the Bible people were still deeply afraid of other cultures. Now we have no excuse to limit our understanding of Christ to the cultures we are comfortable with.

 

[Matthew_Light]

As was previously stated, the Magi were Zoroastrians who recognized the Christ was born in Bethlehem.

I don’t see why it should be considered a problem that God spoke to people in other parts of the world, just as He did to the prophets of Israel.

 

[Juniper_Gnowell]

Well put ‘Mathew Light’,

I guess for many people the notion that their religion does not automatically grant God’s favour is scary. The realisation that Judaeo-Christianity is interwoven with Zoroastrian belief really brings into question the assumed authority of the Church. If the Church is more than just a localised theocracy it requires representation and interpretation in the broader non-religious, non-cultural arena. I guess the Gnostic Christians that emphasised personal enlightenment through direct communion with Spirit knew this. Perhaps a form of Gnostic Catholicism would be more productive if we are to more fully embrace the Holy Spirit through Christ’s example.

Corinthians 12:13 'For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 

[August_Carlson]

I believe that I may have attended a Zoroastrian wedding several years ago.The groom was Persian, the bride was American with roots in the Persian community. It was conducted in the Persian language, so I had no point of reference to the actual or literal content of the ceremony, but I could observe the liturgic/dramatic setting and actions.

Prior to the wedding ceremony, the fathers of the soon-to-be-married couple went to a separate room to negotiate a marriage pact (which I assume involved a promise of dowry). In the main room of the house, an altar or display of sorts had been constructed. It was pyramidal in form with levels on which special items were placed for their symbolic values – flowers, candles, incense, a holy book, fruits, sweet cakes etc. These items rested on mirrors (perhaps to double their visual values). Fire played an important role in this display there were numerous candles and oil lamps. The two families sat around and on either side of this display and there was a bench set up between the two families for the couple to sit on. The ceremony began after the negotiations had taken place.

As the couple entered the room from opposite sides, the women began ululating loudly in celebration of their arrival. Once the couple sat down on the bench, the room became still. A priest (or some kind of ceremonial officer) dressed in elegant formal western attire began reciting either a prayer or an oration of considerable length. When he had finished, a canopy of fine silk was then placed over the heads of the couple. The mothers and other women-folk stood behind the couple and ground what I was later told were cakes of hardened sugar onto the canopy as they recited what I suspect were well-wishes. The couple were given honey by the priest figure to feed each other. They may have exchanged vows, but I really don’t remember them saying anything to each other – it was a long time ago – but I do remember that the ceremony ended rather abruptly (I couldn’t sense any formal ending) and everyone got up, congratulated the newlyweds and drank tea. It was over very quickly.

The reason that I think it was Zoroastrian is because the groom’s family (Persians) were not practicing Muslims – in fact, they were decidedly opposed to Islamic rule. They came from a small and mountainous section of northern Iran – from the Kurdish/Armenian/Azerbaijani corner of the country along the southwestern flank of the Caspian Sea. They had come to the U.S. when the Shah’s regime collapsed in the 1970’s. I believe that they were supporters of the Shah. I was invited to the event by a mutual friend of the family. It was absolutely fascinating to observe. The families were lovely people; gracious, open and generous to strangers.

Has anyone else ever observed this kind of ceremony? Is it Zoroastrian?

 

[Adamski]

I’m not real sure, but Mithraism in Persia was not the same as it was in Roman times. As I understand in Roman times it was a military cult.

If I’m remembering correctly the Yasidi do use fire as a form of prayer. When they light a candle each morning to begin their day they move their hands around the flame then move their hands in front of their face and over their heads to symbolize the light moving around them. If this is the sect I’m thinking of they “moved underground” and appear to be Muslim externally, but use this gesture of surrounding themselves in light in very subtle ways to avoid persecution.

It’s been a long time since I watched the documentary on the group so I’m not even sure of the name, but I was impressed that they “adapted” an ancient practice of faith and culture with Islam.

I have been thinking didn’t daniel when he was thrown into the loins den bring the concepts of judiism to the Persians and meads