Arash Zeini

Bruce Lincoln’s book has been reviewed by Tytus Mikolajczak:

Bruce Lincoln, Religion, empire, and torture. The case of Achaemenian Persia, with a postscript on Abu Ghraib. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007. Pp. 192. ISBN 978-0-226-48196-8

Read it at Bryn Mawr Classical Review.

Washingtonpost.com has a multimedia-like feature on Zoroastrians in Iran. A quick scan of the first page does not reveal any date for the feature, but I think it could be from the year 2000 or so. It is available in an HTML and a flash version. I did not have the time to go through it myself but decided to post the link here. Enjoy it:

Among the Zoroastrians - Washingtonpost.com

Following the invasion of Iraq statements like this have appeared all over the Internet:

As a minority in Muslim societies, the Kurds often tell their children that Islam was forced on them by Arab conquerors. In recent years, many have returned to the original religion of Zoroastrianism, a condition that suggests a greater ethnic rather than religious identification. [1]

I wonder what the background to this is? Since Zoroastrianism is a non-proselytising religion and conversion numbers as one of the most heated debates within the Zoroastrian community, it is unlikely that official conversions take place among the Kurds. The recent and ongoing conflicts between the Yazidis and Muslims demonstrate that the current sectarian climate in Iraq is near boiling point, and that conversion carries grave repercussions and is thus virtually unthinkable. As the title of this particular post suggests, all these statements seem to be politically motivated. Now, I do not understand politics, nor do I desire to understand or analyse politics. I only wonder, if it is true that conversions take place, who is the religious authority that converts these “many” Kurds who “have returned to the original religion of Zoroastrianism”? In which part of Kurdistan do the conversions take place? What are the numbers of people converted? Does anyone know? Strange news, isn’t it?

[1]: London: An American alliance with the Kurds?

I found an interesting article on the Transoxiana website. Considering literary sources as well as archaeological evidence it discusses Buddhist activity in pre-Islamic Iran. The article concludes that caves dating to the Ilkhanid era remain the only certain traces of Buddhist activity in Iran.

Read the article here.

Date: 28.11.2007, 09:00 - 19:00 Uhr
Location: Einsteinsaal der Berlin-Brandenburgischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Jägerstr. 22/23, 10117 Berlin

Vortragsreihe zur Sogdiana, veranstaltet von der Turfanforschung (BBAW)
Der Workshop am 28. November 2007 widmet sich dem Austausch zwischen Archäologen und Philologen zur Sogdiana im ersten Jahrtausend u.Z. Die Vorträge von auswärtigen und in Berlin ansässigen Archäologen und Philologen sind in englischer Sprache. Kleine Veränderungen im Programm können sich noch ergeben.

Read more…

According to Press TV a joint Iranian-Polish team has started excavations at the site of the Azar Barzin Mehr fire temple in Sabzevar, northeastern Iran. This fire temple dates back to the Sassanid era.

Read more…

No comment, whatsoever:

Perhaps one option would be to counter the Islamic takeover of Iran in 733. Western countries could send in groups of Missionaries to preach Zoroatrianism, the religion of Iran before 733.

The practice of Isalm in Iran incorporates some of the rituals from the Zoroastrianism Religion. The holy book, the GATHAS, could be provided by the missionaries.

Missionaries to preach Zoroastrianism could be recruited from Western jails. Volunteers could receive reduced sentences for studying Farsi and volunteering to go preach the GATHAS. Zoroastrianism is similar to the Old Testament in the Holy Bible.

I previously started a thread on Zoroastrianism under Religion.

http://www.debatepolitics.com/religi…nst-islam.html (Zoroastrianism for Iran Against Islam)

State Sponsored illegal immigration is causing consternation in the US. Why not use unwelcome immigrants as part of a strategy against Iran’s Islamic Militant government, which deposed Zoroastrianism?

The West should oppose the Islamic Militant Regime of Iran by supoprting hte Religion of Zoroastrianism, in Iran.

The missionaries could be given a Colt Peacemaker, 5 shot, 6 cylinder 45 Caliber Revolver. They would agree not to be considered hostages if put in jail, or otherwise detained. The objective is Peace.

I discovered this joke at Debate Politics Forums

The work of writing makes one lose one’s sight, it hunches the back, it breaks ribs, and bothers the stomach. It pains the kidneys and causes aches throughout the body. Therefore you, the reader, turn the papers carefully and keep your fingers from the letters. Because just as hail destroys the fields, the useless reader erases the text and destroys the book.

Nunio & Dominic, April 18, 1091

Today I visited Sacred the exhibition at the British Library. It was a wonderful and informative exhibition, offering a scholarly overview not only of the scriptures of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, but also of matters such as festivals, worship, rituals and ceremonies. Whoever did not visit the exhibition missed one of the once-in-a-lifetime chances to see some truly beautiful old books and pages of ancient scriptures.

The continuous process of remaining open and accepting of what may reveal itself through hand and heart on a crafted page is the closest I have ever come to God.

Donald Jackson, Senior Scribe to Her Majesty’s Crown Office.

Vor etwa zehn Tagen habe ich beim Stöbern in der VUB “Die Schiiten” von Professor Heinz Halm entdeckt. Das Buch ist im Jahre 2005 in der Reihe WISSEN bei C. H. Beck erschienen. Bereits beim ersten Durchblättern fiel mir die klare Gliederung des Buches auf. Und das Inhaltsverzeichnis lockte mit Kapitelüberschriften wie: “Die Basis der Macht der Mollas” oder “Monarchie und Klerus als Rivalen”. Obwohl die Zeit nicht günstig war, konnte ich der Versuchung nicht widerstehen und mußte es kaufen.

Das Buch hält, was das Inhaltsverzeichnis indirekt verspricht. Das Thema wird sehr klar und wissenschaftlich angegangen. Die wichtigsten Themenbereiche werden angesprochen, und der Autor vermittelt eine sehr klare Übersicht über die geschichtliche Entwicklung der Schia. Neben der religionsgeschichtlichen Darstellung werden die Beziehungen zwischen den ethnisch verschiedenen Schiiten der Region dargestellt. Dabei wird die Bedeutung des Schiitentums für die iranische Revolution von 1979 und umgekehrt sehr deutlich. “Theologische” Grundsätze der Schia werden klar und verständlich beschrieben. Der Stil ist ansprechend und macht die Lektüre des Buches zum reinen wissenschaftlichen Genuß.

Eine komplexe religiöse Strömung auf 128 Seiten so klar und deutlich darzustellen, ist eine wahre Kunst.

According to Press TV Takht-e Soleyman, in West Azerbaijan, will become a museum, which should result in many benefits for the site. Takht-e Soleyman is believed to be one of the holiest shrines of Zoroastrianism.