Parsi fundamentalists

The past two issues of Parsiana (March and April ’05) have been saddening. The controversy over "who should and should not be called a Parsi or a Zoroastrian’ have bubbled over into a war over the world federation of Zoroastrians and their right to represent Zoroastrians and Parsis everywhere. Some members of certain conservative Parsi punchayets have held that bloodlines and tracts from the scriptures are the final arbiter. Others cleave to the idea that all those who honor and profess the principles of the Zoroastrian doctrine should be free to join — whether they are Parsi, Iranian or not.

In the last analysis religions are about ideas — philosophies and principles that help govern a way of life. Concepts of natural phenomenon ("the earth is flat” vs "the earth is round”) or speculation about the past ("The earth was made by God in seven days”) are resolved by improved knowledge in science, anthropology, geology and evolution. New information changes old beliefs and myths based on faith and speculation. Principles and philosophies of life based on logic and universal relevance need not change. Ideas moreover have strength based on their ability to persuade and not by the authority of some past manuscript or spiritual power alone. The notion that books and literature are ‘revealed by divine grace’ may have value for some but are not accepted by many.

The Parsi fundamentalists have joined the ranks of Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Hindu fundamentalists with their strict authoritarian point of view. For many this point of view has all the beauty and appeal of an ancient fossil, but is no longer germane to the present world.

PHIROZE HANSOTIA

Wisconsin, USA