The Last of the Zoroastrians
TIME / Deena Guzder
09-Dec-2008 (7 comments)

Far removed from Tehran's bustling tin-roofed teashops and Isfahan's verdant pomegranate gardens, the deserts known as Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut meet at the city of Yazd, once the heart of the Persian Empire. Walking across the wind-whipped plains of the forgotten city, a young Iranian woman dressed in colorful floral garbs points out a sand-dusted tower hovering in the distance like a dormant volcano under a relentless sun. "This is where we put tens of thousands of corpses over the years," she explains with a congenial smile.

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gol-dust

May be don't want Indians to convert,because of caste system!

by gol-dust on Wed Dec 10, 2008 09:56 PM PST

May be a white westerner is not considered to be a lower cast, then it is ok! I am just guessing. If they were mixed with hindis (lower caste), then they wouldn't be persian anymore. Then who would care! As a Persian Iranian, I think, I should be able to convert anytime that  I wish, as long as I truly beleive in it. It is my ancestral religion!


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javaneh29

Conversion via marriage

by javaneh29 on Wed Dec 10, 2008 04:26 PM PST

 Im talking 30 odd years ago in Tehran... I had to attend a few classes, which was difficult because I didnt understand farsi so well then. There was an initiation ceremony and that was it. It wasn't such a big deal, except I was told I was the first westerner to be converted, which was a pretty big deal!! I assumed it was only made possible because I was marrying a zortushti.

I dont remember all the details of the classes .. sorry I cant tell you more about it,

Javaneh


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Javaneh

by Monda not logged in (not verified) on Wed Dec 10, 2008 08:29 AM PST

I did not know that was possible. What does the conversion through marriage entail? I wonder if you could share a bit on that process.

Over the years, I have heard stories of how couples had to end their relationships because their families would not accept the non-Zoroastrian's religion.


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javaneh29

Zartushti through marriage

by javaneh29 on Wed Dec 10, 2008 04:38 AM PST

Zartushti religion does accept newcomers .... I am proof of that. I was for all intents and purposes, a non practicing christian and I was accepted into the zartushti religion in 1978 in Tehran.

I know other family members have married non iranians in more recent years and they too have been accpeted.

We were all taken in  through marriage .. I dont know about otherwise. Javaneh


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That's a shame

by Yek-Irani (not verified) on Tue Dec 09, 2008 07:56 AM PST

I wish they would accept new comers to their/our religon


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I Have a Crush on Alex Trebek

LOL I think that's true in all cultures

by I Have a Crush on Alex Trebek on Tue Dec 09, 2008 06:46 AM PST

Which culture do you know of, that has a religious identity, that holds up those values? In America it's the same. Iranians are too much perfectionist that's why we're so shocked about the shit around us? LOL NOthing neek is the best phrase though. Thank you ALIP jan.

p.s. in christianity, wealth is not good. you're supposed to "relinquish all your material possessions" since they are useless in heaven. Sound familiar?! Anyway, look at these christian republicans who are so worried about socialism all the time. Their religion has the makings of early communism!  


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> Lost Heritage

by Another Lost Iranian in Paris (not verified) on Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:05 AM PST

Guys, let's be honest seriously . Everyting we got from our Zartoshti ancestors is just LOST today. Let me explain myself.

Goftar neek = we just keep talking crap 24/7, empty conversations with plain hypocrisy and fake tarof bazi.

Kar e neek = all we do is either fill up our bank accounts (when lucky) or just hang around malls. nothing neek.


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