Shahin Vatani
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2012
- Messages
- 2,025
- Reaction score
- 0
Abii, how come you want to convert to Zoroastrianism? Being an atheist and all...
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Iranians NEVER talk openely about religion and if somebody asks, they will not answer before trying to change the subject. Outside Iran they are open.
I've shown you statistics of Iranian Americans and their religious beliefs. Those stats represent millions of voices. Only 4/10th of those that responded called themselves muslims.
Do you think me, or other anti Islam Iranians, would ever spend 10 minutes in real life with you???
How many times have you been to such parties to know people like us?
This is in Tehran and hundreds of these parties are thrown every day in every Iranian city
Those people that are against conversion need to wake up.
And please believe me when I tell you that a LOT of us have massive wrong misconceptions about you guys. That too need to change.
One of the reasons I haven't converted yet is exactly that. My mom knew a convert a few years ago and she wanted to give me books to read and I told her I aint interested. But zoroastrianism is a peaceful religion these days. It can be a way of life as much as a religion, sort of like budhism. Good words, good thoughts and good deeds, I can go with that. There are probably many Zoroastrians today who don't believe in god. I rather be a zoroastrian that doesn't accept all of the teachings and beliefs, but maybe half or even most of the teachings, than a statistical muslim atheist.Abii, how come you want to convert to Zoroastrianism? Being an atheist and all...
What are the misconceptions that are held?
One of the reasons I haven't converted yet is exactly that. My mom knew a convert a few years ago and she wanted to give me books to read and I told her I aint interested. But zoroastrianism is a peaceful religion these days. It can be a way of life as much as a religion, sort of like budhism. Good words, good thoughts and good deeds, I can go with that. There are probably many Zoroastrians today who don't believe in god. I rather be a zoroastrian that doesn't accept all of the teachings and beliefs, but maybe half or even most of the teachings, than a statistical muslim atheist.
I now feel like I have a duty to know more about the faith and advertise it among my peers. Fine, be an atheist, but try hard to remove the chains of Islam completely. Most Iranian atheists wouldn't mind converting, but their lack of faith means that they don't want to spend time learning about zoroastrianism and its teachings. If there were more converts, people like us would be enticed to read and learn about it and go the extra mile. I feel pity for the people in my family who have no interest at all in converting. They're not muslim and most probably believe in god, but the idea that they can convert has never been part of their mindset. If Zoroastrians tried to advertise the religion, things would be different among the Iranian community outside Iran.
Mainly that most of you hate the religion (pagan, backward, etc.) but only are reverting to the symbols as part of nationalism in the face of the pressure being applied by the West plus to spit in the eye of the Arabs and the mullas.
All the Iranians I have known were in Western countries where they were free to, and did, discuss their religious issues openly. Not one single person -- NOT ONE -- professed a desire to convert to Zoroastrianism, even though they were open about attending Zoroastrian rituals and very proud of the heritage. I don't deny that there is churn and there are conversions, but it is a small, elitist minority.
How exactly does 'not religious' translate into 'convert to Zoroastrianism'? Being non-observant does not equate to Zoroastrian. Your own chart shows that, even after all these decades in the US, there is hardly any wholesale reversion to Zoroastrianism.
Most of the people I knew in Los Angeles were Jewish Iranians who were not particularly pro-Islam. We had no problem discussing things openly and calmly.
I went to plenty of such parties with Iranians over the whole spectrum of religiosity. What is that supposed to signify? As you yourself stated in another thread, having Western-style parties does not mean Iranians will become pro-America.
There are plenty of such parties in Karachi, too. So, what?
Remember, we are not talking about outward religiosity. The claim was that Iran would "revert" to Zoroastrianism and my contention is that there is no evidence of that -- a small minority notwithstanding.
For me personally, while I respect Zoroastrianism, I indeed see the faravahar as a nationalistic sign. I wear it and am proud of it because it represents Iran and our past.
There are more bahais outside the country advertising their religion than there are zoroastrians. Zoroastrians need to start advertising for younger people to know that they have a choice.
For me personally, while I respect Zoroastrianism, I indeed see the faravahar as a nationalistic sign. I wear it and am proud of it because it represents Iran and our past.
lol I have a farvahar around my neck right now. I found a leather band last week and put one of the many farvahar pendants (you know how it's. Every birthday somebody in the family is bound to give you a gold/silver farvahar lol) on it.
lol I have a farvahar around my neck right now. I found a leather band last week and put one of the many farvahar pendants (you know how it's. Every birthday somebody in the family is bound to give you a gold/silver farvahar lol) on it.
It is your past as well as who you are. And will always be.
The Bahais are Zoroastrian. We have them here as well. Many in fact.
Abii Zoroastrianism is very very old brother. We have seen it all done it all and we are still here.
I repeat. You are born a Zoroastrian. It is already in you.
But YOU need to reach out and accept it.
Zoroastrianism looks at faith and religion very differently.
The angst of Parsis is NOT against Islam.
It is against being driven out from our land.
Not by invaders alone. But eventually by our own people.
Our faith is personal and only between us and Ahura Mazda.
You want to make that connect, we are there. You do not, neither we nor Ahura Mazda change in anyway.
See this is something most of us here in India do not know. Till I read it here I was under the impression that the only place the Faravahr could be seen openly in Iran was on the rocky ruins of Persepolis and some old texts/National Geographic.
nah man, it's insane how every boy and girl has at least 5 gold farvahar pendants by the time they're 20. My grandma is a practicing muslim, but she's responsible for 3 of my farvahar pendants lol. It's sad that most people only wear it as a nationalist reason and some even completely remove it from its religous nature.See this is something most of us here in India do not know. Till I read it here I was under the impression that the only place the Faravahr could be seen openly in Iran was on the rocky ruins of Persepolis and some old texts/National Geographic.
I hate the chains that come with them. What I do is buy cheap cotton/leather bands and put the pendants on those. It's comfortable and fashinable at the same time. The gold/silver chains are so stupid lolAngeldust, do you think if Iran became a Zoroastrian (or at least a Zoroastrian friendly) country that most Parsis in India would move to Iran?
I ask because I have read several times from both you and vsdoc of anger at being forced out of Iran.
Yeah I have 3 Faravahar necklaces, 2 gold and 1 silver. I also have one with a sotoon of takht e jamshid.
But I don't wear them much, find it uncomfortable wearing rings/necklaces. Only a watch I can deal with wearing for extended periods of time.