Zoroastrianism resources?

[Raahim]

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? I basically have no knowledge about this so any additional info is welcome.

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

 

[Rival]

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? I basically have no knowledge about this so any additional info is welcome.

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

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]

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]

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]

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?
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?

 

[Rival]

I see, thanks for the links. Is there any other link you'd like to share with me?
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?

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]

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?

 

[Rival]

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?

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]

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.

 

[Rival]

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

As for the traditional Zoroastrian prayers. They pray five times a day (sound familiar?) and perform wudu (oh!) and recite the prayers in Avestan (oh oh!)

https://authenticgathazoroastrianis...mo-and-the-month-of-bahman-in-zoroastrianism/

 

[Raahim]

As for the traditional Zoroastrian prayers. They pray five times a day (sound familiar?) and perform wudu (oh!) and recite the prayers in Avestan (oh oh!)

https://authenticgathazoroastrianis...mo-and-the-month-of-bahman-in-zoroastrianism/

Nope, doesn't sound familiar at all.
Kidding of course, I'd like to take some time in comparing Zoroastrianism with Islam since they have many similarities in practice.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

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]

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]

I see, thanks for the links. Is there any other link you'd like to share with me?
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?

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

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/

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

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]

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.

Well he was asking about Zoroastrianism in general, not my particular brand.

 

[Rival]

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

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?

 

[Raahim]

Croatia?

There's barely Jewish community in Croatia, I can't imagine Croatia having 100 Zoroastrians. Such community doesn't exist in Croatia, at least as far as I know.