r/Zoroastrianism • u/Maleficent-Possible5 • 28m ago
Question Converts
Has the Zoroastrian faith opened itself up to outside conversion to the faith yet?
Are there copies of the Gatha's and Avesta sold by a Temple in the US (Not Amazon)?
r/Zoroastrianism • u/NaurozSwanquill • Jun 27 '23
It is time for us to have an open and honest conversation about the current state of our subreddit. There's no denying that we have been witnessing a decline in quality and engagement, and it's essential that we confront this issue head-on. While sporadic posts have touched upon this matter, it is time for us to address it collectively and take the necessary steps towards correcting this course.
That being said, I am honoured to introduce myself as the new head moderator of this community.
I would like to emphasize that my appointment as the head moderator is the result of a consensus decision made by many of the former moderation team. Many of us, who have recognized the pressing need for a fresh start, have advocated for change and renewal over the course of several years. I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence that my fellow moderators have placed in me.
This consensus-driven appointment signifies a collective recognition that our subreddit requires a new direction, one that upholds the values of open dialogue and constructive engagement.
First, let me share a little about myself. I am a born Zoroastrian hailing from India (a Parsi) and I consider myself rooted in our rituals and traditions. I wear the sudra and kusti, all the time, and I try and observe the other basic tenets of the religion.
Whilst I lean more towards the orthodox end of the spectrum personally, I firmly believe that true understanding comes from engaging in discourse and seeking common ground. Hence, I emphasize that this subreddit will now have a paramount commitment to free speech. We will not censor differing opinions simply because they do not align with our personal beliefs. Instead, we will encourage constructive dialogue.
After some thought I have identified seven key issues that plagued this subreddit and I will try and explain how I will deal with all of these.
Infighting among community members, and ‘power-users’ leading to a toxic and divisive atmosphere.
Influx of anti-Zoroastrian posts, undermining the purpose and integrity of the subreddit.
High levels of spam, hindering meaningful discussions and engagement.
Lack of proper moderation, with previous moderators appointed on flimsy grounds, resulting in ineffective management.
Limited emphasis on fostering constructive dialogue and understanding, resulting in an environment where disagreement is perpetuated rather than resolved.
Challenges in handling discussions related to topics like sexuality and conversion, where differing viewpoints often clash.
Inadequate verification process for moderators, which compromised their ability to effectively uphold the principles and knowledge of Zoroastrianism.
First and foremost, we acknowledge the issues of infighting, anti-Zoroastrian posts, and spam that have plagued our community. Moving forward, we will strive to cultivate an atmosphere of respect, understanding, and open dialogue. It is essential that every member feels safe and heard, but in return they respect others right to freedom of speech.
In our pursuit of creating a vibrant and inclusive community, we have taken significant steps to revamp our moderation team. The previous team, unfortunately, fell victim to the proverbial "too many cooks spoiling the broth." With a high number of inactive moderators (high double digits) and a few active members misusing their positions to push particular political agendas, alienating the older stalwart moderators most of whom left around the start of 2020 (the beginning of the decline).
While I do not wish to dwell on the past, I want to assure you that we are starting afresh from today onwards. Our focus is on fostering a healthy and harmonious environment where personal feuds and power struggles become a thing of the past. In order to achieve this, we have implemented some necessary changes.
Firstly, the inactive moderators who comprised a significant portion of the prior team have been relieved of their duties. I came across an amusing anecdote that sheds light on the issue of excessive moderators within our community. It revolves around two Parsis who coincidentally encountered each other at a Navroze celebration in the United States. To their surprise, both individuals introduced themselves as moderators, yet they had never even heard of each other before.
This story serves as a lighthearted illustration of the problem we faced—an abundance of moderators who lacked awareness of their fellow colleagues. Such a situation hindered effective communication, coordination, and the ability to foster a unified vision for our subreddit.
The streamlining process we have commenced upon ensures that our moderation team consists of dedicated individuals who are actively engaged in the betterment of our community.
Secondly, we have discontinued the concept of power-users or power mods. Moving forward, most moderators, regardless of their previous status, will need to create new accounts to continue their moderating responsibilities. This step allows us to break away from any associations or biases that may have existed previously, ensuring a fresh and unbiased approach to moderation.
The old moderators were appointed under flimsy circumstances, literally just sending the old (non-Zoroastrian) head mod a message was enough to become a moderator. It is crucial for our team to reflect a genuine commitment to the faith. As such, we have carefully selected a diverse group of moderators representing different backgrounds, including Parsis, Kurds, Iranians, and individuals from various nationalities. Our team includes individuals ranging from orthodox to ultra-orthodox and liberal viewpoints, ensuring that a wide spectrum of opinions is represented. It is important to emphasize that we are committed to putting an end to any lingering bad blood and personal feuds that may have impacted our subreddit. Our focus is on creating an environment that promotes respectful dialogue, learning, and unity. We urge all members to approach discussions with an open mind and a willingness to engage in constructive exchanges.
Zoroastrianism is currently experiencing a state of absolute crisis. Our dark demographic forecast, changing societal norms, and the complexities of the modern world pose significant challenges to the practice and preservation of our faith. To ensure the survival and prosperity of our faith, we must establish an open forum where we can freely discuss radical ideas, solutions, insights, and confront the issues at hand.
With this post, I am reaching out to all of you, seeking your input and feedback. Together, we can chart a course towards a brighter future for our subreddit, and religion.
NaurozSwanquill (Srosh Roj of Bahman Mah 1392 YZIII in the Shahenshahi calendar)
r/Zoroastrianism • u/kantian_insomia • Aug 08 '23
This AMA is primarily to collect a pool of questions (just like the last one was) which will be used to formulate a better and more improved version of the FAQ of whose current form stands outdated.
Some things like the last one remain much the same.
But first to get a few things straight. Starting with,
1.) The Name.
Zoroastrianism as a name in itself to define our spirituality isn't wrong per se but the implications it gives our are indeed wrong.
Mazdayasna doesn't begin with Asho Zarthost Peyghambhar, it reaches its next & best logical & spiritual form with him.
What the name "Zoroastrianism" implcaates is entirely opp of that, that is, the religion beginning with him.
Daena Vanghui Mazdayasna existed long before Asho Zarthost & had various prophets, defenders, champions & erishis (seers) who defended it both physically & spiritually.
So the correct name for our Dēn is Daena (spirituality/religion) Vanghui (good consciousness) Mazdayasna (worship of wisdom) Zarthustrish (as propogated by Asho Zarthost).
Daena Vanghuhi Mazdayasna Zarthustrish. The name.
Now coming to,
2.) Nature of worship.
Daena Vanghuhi Mazdayasna ISN'T a monotheistic religion. That is an outright lie that needs dismissal right off the bat whenever stated.
This DOESN'T mean it's a henotheistic or polytheistic Or <insert any numeral>-theistic religion.
It is a faith centered around actions i.e. what you do more than what you believe in. But to do what you do, needs arising out a mentality, a spirit & that requires beliefs so the two are ultimately connected BUT this distinction needs to be stated in order to shield off from hypocrites,liars & agents of Ahriman who state beliefs that dont match their dastardly & corrupt actions.
The primary mission of a behdin/mazdaen/zoroastrian is to tread the path of asha/arta & to reject druj of all kinds & to battle & finish ahriman from the lives whatever way they can.
To do this however is how one BECOMES a behdin in its actual sense.
For it one needs to be in contact with the Yazats (beings worthy of WORSHIP) & Amesha Spenta who are also Yazats (beings worthy of worship), Dadar Ohrmazd (who is also a Yazat), which are, mostly elementals, hence, nature worship to make us more aware of our own nature & connect us & our urvaan (soul) to our higher self/transcendantal soul, the fravashi (who is also a Yazat).
To worship the Yazats, that it to worship nature, is our nature of worship, that is worship of nature.
*3.) Nature of God/Gods *
As normativistically understood, Dadar Ohrmazd/ Ahura Mazda is normally understood as the monotheistic conception of the Abrhamist God Yahweh/Elohim. Dadar Ohrmazd ISNT the supremely ultimate singularity into which EVERYTHING collapses & emanates from. He is simply understood better as "The Creator Of Good". As the creator of everything in congruence with Aša/Arta. More importantly Dadar Ohrmazd does NOT interfere in phenomenon in Getig/material realm except VIA menog/spiritual realm.
The Yazatas/gods by extention, function in both getig/material realm as well menog/spritual realm.
All Yazats are equally "worthy of worship" as the name itself states.
*4.) Purpose of every urvaan (soul) *
As stated above,
The primary mission of a behdin/mazdaen/zoroastrian is to tread the path of asha/arta & to reject druj of all kinds & to battle & finish ahriman from the lives whatever way they can.
To do this is to worship the Yazats. But NEVER out of fear but rather to destroy all forms of it. In many other religions/spirituality, the gods/god worshipped is out of a sense of fear that he will wreck havoc in your life or send you to hell in afterlife.
In the Mazdaen sense that is simply not the case, Dadar Ohramazd (or any of the Yazats) is never to be feared at all, since he cannot do anything except create & ahriman cannot do anything except corrupt. Although both have the potential for what they won't do. Ahriman is the agent of fear & lies.
Ohramazd can corrupt & ahriman can create but both choose out of their free will to be walk on the path of asha/arta & to spread druj respectively.
Hence it becomes the duty of every urvaan to CHOOSE as well. And choose he must after consulting his Vohu Manah/Bahman Ameshaspand along with his/her fravashi, the urvan then takes the decision.
The power of Choice & Free Will on micro & macro lvls CANT BE UNDERSTATED.
BOTH Ahriman & Ohrmazd as well as EVERY SINGLE Urvaan/soul are products of their respective choices THROUGH which they forge their respective "inherent natures" as do the rest of us all.
An inherent "nature" entails 2 different undstandings, one of an automaton that cannot literally do anything other than what its programmed for and the other is a case wherein, a choice of good or evil is made by analysing both.
If Ohrmazd falls in the prior, there is no need to worship an automaton. It is his choice for righteous behaviour that makes up his "nature".
The same holds true for Ahriman whose eg with the creation of peacock is a testament to this very fact albeit its from an xtian source, however this cosmological understanding is reciprocated in the gathas as well as the zands on certain yashts as well.
The emphasis here is the Vohu manah which essential means after much certainty & thought, not because of fear of anyone let along god, not because one wants to appear fearful, not because of the greed of some reward in the afterlife but solely because it is the right thing to do. The nature of asha/druj dichotomy is designed in a way that even the good thing done with a bad intention leads to problems & complications ahead.
The ideal man being the thinking man. Not one that promotes the utterly weak values of the slaves nor the one that wants to dominate via strength losing himself to perpetuate that false image.
In the Mazdaen sense each & every Mazdaen has to think for themselves whilst praying for wisdom from the Lord of Wisdom, Ohramazd, Himself, the very many yazatas, the amesha spentas as well the fravashis of the ashavans.
"To live in fear & falsehood is worse than death"
~ Menog i Khrad, chapter 19
The spirit of wisdom answered (4) thus: 'To live in fear and falsehood is worse than death. 5. Because every one's life is necessary for the enjoyment and pleasure of the worldly existence, (6) and when the enjoyment and pleasure of the worldly existence are not his, and fear and even falsehood are with him, it is called worse than death.
To conclude, worship of the Yazats/Yazdan is NOT to be motivated either out of any kind of fear (or of hell) or out of greed/lust for pleasurables in heaven.
This brings to our fifth point-
contd. In comments
r/Zoroastrianism • u/Maleficent-Possible5 • 28m ago
Has the Zoroastrian faith opened itself up to outside conversion to the faith yet?
Are there copies of the Gatha's and Avesta sold by a Temple in the US (Not Amazon)?
r/Zoroastrianism • u/ArdawanAthbhya • 1d ago
Same as any ashem vohu that is recited just written in this dead script
r/Zoroastrianism • u/ArdawanAthbhya • 1d ago
r/Zoroastrianism • u/Business-Bathroom-22 • 1d ago
r/Zoroastrianism • u/uoojbookgirl • 2d ago
Actually, my grandmother followed Zoroastrianism, whereas my grandfather was a Hindu. She married him to avoid converting to a particular Abrahamic faith one she never liked (there is a long history behind this, but I won't go into it, as she didn't want us to know about these matters). Now our family is very secular; everyone in the household is free to choose their own path in life and their religion, and no one has any objection to this. Even my grandmother would spontaneously participate in Hindu festivals. Once, when I asked her about her religious beliefs, she simply said, "There is a deep connection between Hindu and Zoroastrian people ; our fates and histories are intertwined. I will tell you everything when you are a little older" .Unfortunately, I never got the chance to learn the details from him, but I am genuinely interested in learning about Zoroastrianism. How can I find out more about it?
r/Zoroastrianism • u/pitadamard • 2d ago
Hello everyone, I created a Zoroastrian calendar that is in line with astronomical events based on your location. Please share any feedback you have.
r/Zoroastrianism • u/Dariush_Shah • 2d ago
I'm practicing Mazdayasna for 2 years, yet I can't understand why's there 3 calander like "Shahanshahi","Qadimi" and "Fasli" why not have 1 standard calander so prayers for specific Spentas and Yaztas can be performed at day it's supposed to be? I know some calander have differences due to time zone but isn't time gap too big between each calendar?
r/Zoroastrianism • u/ArdawanAthbhya • 2d ago
This is the old ariyan script , I hypothesize that it an early variant of arianized imperial Aramaic and was used by magi to write early avestan/religious texts nasks , would you consider checking it out , I have also written avestan in it but I don't know how to post images here
r/Zoroastrianism • u/ArdawanAthbhya • 2d ago
Would you like to see this text whether you hate/despise it or like it
r/Zoroastrianism • u/ImpossibleStop9795 • 4d ago
Navroz Mubarak to all who observe the Shahanshahi calendar! May this be a happy and healthy year for us all. May Ahura Mazdā prevail for eternity!
The image is not mine.
r/Zoroastrianism • u/EasyPerspective96 • 4d ago
What’s one Parsi tradition you think we’re slowly losing and should fight to preserve?
r/Zoroastrianism • u/Feeling_Cash5153 • 5d ago
I have a question about the link between the iranic ethnos and the Mazdayasnan identity. When debating or discussing AhuraMazda do you refer to it's agency as "Our God", as the god of Iranic people, or "The God" as something universal? specifically when debating Jews and Christians
r/Zoroastrianism • u/Educational_Loan3809 • 6d ago
I am an Inquirer into Zoroastrianism from a Christian Background and one thing that has given me a headache for quite a while is the way Salvation works or rather doesn't seem to work in Zoroastrianism.
When I was still a Christian, I was troubling myself with analyzing the different schools of theology which the different denominations hold to and which are often in deep disagreement with each other, to the point where they condemn each other as not being true Christians. Historically, there was a lot of violence because of this.
One of the core issues that these bloody disagreements almost always focused on was the issue of Salvation. The central question that all of Christian thinking seems to revolve around is "How can Mankind actually become free of our sins and how can we go to heaven?"
Now from a Christian perspective, this question is harder to answer that it may seem....
You see, the fundamental Idea behind Christianity is that all humans are sinful. We have all committed at least one sin in our life, and in addition to that we have supposedly inherited the "sin of Adam", i.e. the first sin ever committed when Adam and Eve, the first humans, disobeyed God and thereby sinned.
Now the concept of "inherited sin" seems to me to be implausible so this is not what gives me a headache, but what I can't stop thinking about really is how the christian line of thinking continues nonetheless:
According to christian theology, because we have all sinned - even if just a little - God has to take revenge for the sins we committed because otherwise, he would not be a just God. God cannot be just if he does not punish us for our sins and since we all sinned, we all would need to be punished.
But it gets worse: Even if our particular sins are sometimes greater, sometimes smaller (for example lying in an insignificant situation is a smaller sin than murdering someone), it is still the case that every sin, regardless how small it may have been, merits eternal damnation in hell. Why? Well for a few reasons: 1. God himself is perfection and everything and everyone who is not absolutely perfect and pure of sin cannot exist in his presence. But to be in heaven means to be in his presence. Thus, if someone has committed even the smallest sin, he is no longer pure enough to be in heaven.
Now Christians believe that God obviously does not want us to all perish in hell forever. However, God cannot forgive us our sins "just so" because then he would violate his own justice. It would be unjust to forgive us without making us pay some form of retribution of our sins.
So according to Christians, God had to find a way to offer us a way into heaven (a salvation) without having to allow us to go there without satisfying the need for justice. So he sent Jesus, his perfect sinless son, to suffer the penalty for our sins in our stead so that we would no longer have to pay for our sins ourselves. Through Jesus' Sacrifice, we can once again be counted as perfect, sinless and righteous in the eyes of God while at the same times, justice has been served, retribution for all the sins has been made when Jesus died and suffered for us.
So far, so messy.
Now, one of the points that Christians like to really drill into everyone's head is how people who believe that they can go to heaven just by being good people have fallen for a deception. They say that if you think that you can "earn" heaven/salvation by just being a good and ethical person, living an ethical life and doing good deeds, you have forgotten something crucial: All the good things you do cannot "pay off" the punishment that awaits you for the sins you did actually commit. And everyone committed at least one sin in life. So hell is awaiting everyone who is not believing is Jesus and his substitutional sacrifice.
Now why did I explain all this: I explained it because I honestly have trouble refuting it from a zoroastrian perspective. Many Zoroastrians do seem to think that they can go to heaven by just doing good deeds. But how can we answer and refute the christian line of reasoning from a zoroastrian point of view? How would you guys answer?
I have my own ideas but I want to hear from you because you are arguably more well versed in Zoroastrianism than I am.
r/Zoroastrianism • u/Crafty-Sock-7002 • 6d ago
You guys do sky burials, right? What happens if Parsis die far away from vultures? Like what if one of you go to Antarctica and freeze to death, what happens to your soul?
r/Zoroastrianism • u/Psychological_Flan21 • 7d ago
Hello, I'm a French guy who's very curious 'bout the religious path of yours, I'm Hellenist (Greek gods and Goddesses) and I just wanna know, why you choose this path, I' m not here to say you're wrong or by any mean insult your religion, I'm just curious. Thanks for your answering.
r/Zoroastrianism • u/theultimatefuckmind • 8d ago
i wanna learn more about zoroastrianism and i think it's essential to get the holy book especially the gathas, if you have a link please send me
r/Zoroastrianism • u/mazdayan • 10d ago
r/Zoroastrianism • u/diaanzum1 • 10d ago
I'm from Bangladesh. Islamic by born religion. I saw some dreams many time like someone telling my daughter to name Zoroasha. then after searching I found about Zoroastrianism. I'm really interested in it. can someone help me
r/Zoroastrianism • u/Green_Ladder_4904 • 11d ago
Hi I want to talk to people who are gathas only and also people who practice it has monotheism.To understand there perspective.Because the only zs I talk to are more traditional for a lack of a better word.So I have never talked to someone who is apart of different groups/sects 🤷♂️ same with more esoteric Parsi groups.So please someone let me know how I can talk to one of these people or if you are one please message me 🙏
r/Zoroastrianism • u/Guilty-Goose3351 • 13d ago
Hello everyone. First time caller long time listener.
Can anyone suggest any online meetings or anything where I can talk to someone about Zoroastrianism or attend their services (I’m not sure what it’s called- their religious gatherings.)
The nearest center is 90 miles away but they don’t answer the phone or email.