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Zoroastrianism resources?

Raahim

مكتوب
Before I continue on please note that I didn't do much of a research on Zoroastrianism so please do correct me if I made something wrong. I'm looking for a book about Zoroastrianism in general (websites are also welcome, but I prefer books) & is there any Zoroastrian community that gives away free hard-copies of Avesta I could order? I know there are many groups from Islam & Christianity who send their holy books for free so I was wondering is there any with Zoroastrianism, if not is there a website that offers reading the Avesta? :D I basically have no knowledge about this so any additional info is welcome.

(I'd love to get the answer from @Rival :p)
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
Before I continue on please note that I didn't do much of a research on Zoroastrianism so please do correct me if I made something wrong. I'm looking for a book about Zoroastrianism in general (websites are also welcome, but I prefer books) & is there any Zoroastrian community that gives away free hard-copies of Avesta I could order? I know there are many groups from Islam & Christianity who send their holy books for free so I was wondering is there any with Zoroastrianism, if not is there a website that offers reading the Avesta? :D I basically have no knowledge about this so any additional info is welcome.

(I'd love to get the answer from @Rival :p)
In short: no. There are virtually no Zoroastrian communities in Europe.

Also, the whole Avesta is a sticky topic. I'm a Reform Zoroastrian, we only use the Gathas, which we believe are the only text written by the Prophet. The rest is dated to a later time (judging by the language, dialect it's written in etc.) and uses concepts from before Zarathustra. So be warned that if you do read the Avesta, most of it won't apply to Reform Zoroastrians, apart from some of the more older texts like the statement of faith I quoted.

You will need to order it online or read it online.

http://www.mindserpent.com/American_History/religion/zoroaster/avesta.html

You can read the Gathas with commentary here.
 

Raahim

مكتوب
In short: no. There are virtually no Zoroastrian communities in Europe.

Also, the whole Avesta is a sticky topic. I'm a Reform Zoroastrian, we only use the Gathas, which we believe are the only text written by the Prophet. The rest is dated to a later time (judging by the language, dialect it's written in etc.) and uses concepts from before Zarathustra. So be warned that if you do read the Avesta, most of it won't apply to Reform Zoroastrians, apart from some of the more older texts like the statement of faith I quoted.

You will need to order it online or read it online.

http://www.mindserpent.com/American_History/religion/zoroaster/avesta.html

You can read the Gathas with commentary here.

I wasn't aware there were different branches of it, thanks for the info. Are there in general no communities of Zoroastrianism or just Europe?
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
I wasn't aware there were different branches of it, thanks for the info. Are there in general no communities of Zoroastrianism or just Europe?
The Zoroastrian Communities in Iran are still persecuted and no, there are none in Europe. The Parsis in India...I'm not sure they qualify as Zoroastrians anymore lol. It is a very small religion.
 

Raahim

مكتوب
The Zoroastrian Communities in Iran are still persecuted and no, there are none in Europe. The Parsis in India...I'm not sure they qualify as Zoroastrians anymore lol. It is a very small religion.

I see, thanks for the links. Is there any other link you'd like to share with me? :D
When exams end I'll start to research Zoroastrianism a lot more, but don't you feel alone when you're part of a religion that has basically no community? :confused:
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
I see, thanks for the links. Is there any other link you'd like to share with me? :D
When exams end I'll start to research Zoroastrianism a lot more, but don't you feel alone when you're part of a religion that has basically no community? :confused:
No, I rather prefer it in a way. As an introvert, I don't seek community very often.

Not really, I'd recommend you just read the Gathas and then see what you make of the Avesta.

:)
 

Raahim

مكتوب
No, I rather prefer it in a way. As an introvert, I don't seek community very often.

Not really, I'd recommend you just read the Gathas and then see what you make of the Avesta.

:)

I see, it does have it's advantages (being "alone in religion"). And what about the practical part, prayers, diet, law? Are any of those present in it? :D
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
I see, it does have it's advantages (being "alone in religion"). And what about the practical part, prayers, diet, law? Are any of those present in it? :D
There's no law and no diet. We have prayers, but if you're like me you figure that Ahura Mazda doesn't have a set way of making a person pray and it is up to the individual.
 

Raahim

مكتوب
There's no law and no diet. We have prayers, but if you're like me you figure that Ahura Mazda doesn't have a set way of making a person pray and it is up to the individual.

I see, thanks for the answers. I hope other members will share some informations with me on this thread. :D
 

The Emperor of Mankind

Currently the galaxy's spookiest paraplegic
The Zoroastrian Communities in Iran are still persecuted and no, there are none in Europe. The Parsis in India...I'm not sure they qualify as Zoroastrians anymore lol. It is a very small religion.

That's not entirely accurate. The copy of the Gathas I have was commissioned by the European Centre for Zoroastrian Studies - which seems like a pretty flourishy name for an organisation with no members ;) . Also, there's at least two functioning Zoroastrian temples in Europe: one is in Sweden and the other is in England.
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
That's not entirely accurate. The copy of the Gathas I have was commissioned by the European Centre for Zoroastrian Studies - which seems like a pretty flourishy name for an organisation with no members ;) . Also, there's at least two functioning Zoroastrian temples in Europe: one is in Sweden and the other is in England.
Yeah, but they're not exactly mainstream and no-one knows about them. It's not really a 'community' as such, in that sense. But it's not as though you can just drive to a Fire Temple will-nilly. Also, until you can find the Gathas on a bookshop shelf next to the Bible, the Qur'an and the Vedas, it's not much use of an organisation.
 

MD

qualiaphile
I see, thanks for the links. Is there any other link you'd like to share with me? :D
When exams end I'll start to research Zoroastrianism a lot more, but don't you feel alone when you're part of a religion that has basically no community? :confused:

There are Zoroastrian communities in Europe and all over the world, I know for sure there are communities in London and Sweden. There is a thriving community in Toronto, Houston as well as Los Angeles. There are also growing Zoroastrian communities in Vancouver, NYC and other major North American cities. Of course communities exist in India, Iraq and Iran as well, the Parsis are Zoroastrian. Even Hong Kong and Singapore have Zoroastrian communities. I don't think I would be very happy in a religion without a community :D

Europe:

London: http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1875/136544.php
Sweden: http://www.avesta.org/zgroups.html
  • The third Zoroastrians Association of Sweden.
    Post address:
    S.Z.F
    BOX 5020
    42405 Angered
    SWEDEN
    Fax-number: 46-31-256389
    E-mail: [email protected]

    Sweden's zoroastrians Anjoman
    Gothenborg Sweden
Germany: http://www.avesta.org/zgroups.html
  • ZARATHUSTRISCHER VEREIN
    Post Fach 110721 2000 Hamburg II
    Hamburg II
Norway: http://www.bozorgbazgasht.com/English-Contact-us.html

But as Rival said, read the Gathas first and then see if you like it. After which you can contact the community nearest to you. There is also a Zoroastrian subreddit with 700 members you can check out if you like: https://www.reddit.com/r/Zoroastrianism/
 
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The Emperor of Mankind

Currently the galaxy's spookiest paraplegic
Yeah, but they're not exactly mainstream and no-one knows about them. It's not really a 'community' as such, in that sense. But it's not as though you can just drive to a Fire Temple will-nilly. Also, until you can find the Gathas on a bookshop shelf next to the Bible, the Qur'an and the Vedas, it's not much use of an organisation.

Ah, you want mainstream organisations & temples. You should have said that to begin with - and it's kind of strange that you'd say this since you're hardly a 'mainstream' Zoroastrian yourself. :)
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
There are Zoroastrian communities in Europe and all over the world, I know for sure there are communities in London and Sweden. There is a thriving community in Toronto, Houston as well as Los Angeles. There are also growing Zoroastrian communities in Vancouver, NYC and other major North American cities. Of course communities exist in India, Iraq and Iran as well, the Parsis are Zoroastrian. Even Hong Kong and Singapore have Zoroastrian communities. I don't think I would be very happy in a religion without a community :D

Europe:

London: http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1875/136544.php
Sweden: http://www.avesta.org/zgroups.html
  • The third Zoroastrians Association of Sweden.
    Post address:
    S.Z.F
    BOX 5020
    42405 Angered
    SWEDEN
    Fax-number: 46-31-256389
    E-mail: [email protected]

    Sweden's zoroastrians Anjoman
    Gothenborg Sweden
Germany: http://www.avesta.org/zgroups.html
  • ZARATHUSTRISCHER VEREIN
    Post Fach 110721 2000 Hamburg II
    Hamburg II
Norway: http://www.bozorgbazgasht.com/English-Contact-us.html

But as Rival said, read the Gathas first and then see if you like it. After which you can contact the community nearest to you. There is also a Zoroastrian subreddit with 700 members you can check out if you like: https://www.reddit.com/r/Zoroastrianism/
Croatia?
 
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