Zoroastrianism, an Ancient Religion on the Verge of Extinction

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Description: Zoroastrians/Parsees are Faceless and how can someone save a 8000/7500 year-old religion on the brink of extinction? Zoroastrianism the oldest religion, whose followers subscribe to the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster, is possibly the worlds wealthiest and most influential faith, but it faces a crisis. Its bachelors tend to marry late, if at all, while women who marry outside the community are excommunicated. As a result, there are only 120,000 Zoroastrians left, a third of whom are over 60. A dwindling birthrate has raised fears that adherents — known as Parsees in India, the religions main stronghold — are dying out. Excommunicating the children of Parsi women who marry non-Zoroastrians, They hope that the key to survival is to create a database of its young that will encourage them to intermarry. • Founded by the Prophet Zoroaster in Iran more than 8000 years ago •Thought to have influenced Christianity, Islam and Judaism, all of which developed later • Emphasizes living life to the fullest under the maxim Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds • Zoroastrians believe in one god called Ahura Mazda, who battles the force of evil, or Angra Mainyu. • They believe good will eventually triumph, with a tidal wave of molten metal purging evil from the Earth • Often described as fire-worshipers, Zoroastrians actually believe that fire represents Gods light or wisdom and usually pray in the presence of fire • About 120,000 still adhere to the religion, with the largest population in India • In India the bodies of the dead are disposed of by ritual exposure to birds of prey to avoid the contamination of dead bodies coming into contact with fire, water or earth. www.nytimes.com/2006/09/06/us/06faith.html?_r=1&ex=1158206400&en=e538b35ac61e0ac6&ei=5070&emc=eta1 www.nytimes.com/packages/khtml/2006/09/02/us/20060906_ZOROASTRIAN_FEATURE.html Tags: Pure-bread Purebred Zoroastrianism Zoroastrian Zoroaster Added: 02-04-11 Views: (593)