“The broken barrier”

The article "The broken barrier” (Par­siana, September 7, 2005) should in fact be called "The rightful barrier” which was long overdue. This would allow those who are considered as "acceptable” and those considered "unacceptable” — according to the time honored "ethos” of the "Mazdayasni Zarathushti din” and its race and religion — to worship and practice their faith freely and independently without encroaching upon each other’s "right to worship.”

The Jewish community when faced with the same dilemma of intermarriages, half breed progeny, conversions and defiance of the fundamental order of the established faith, resolved this matter exactly in the same manner by creating a ‘pseudo Jewish order,’ that of the ‘Reformist Jews’ — giving them the right to worship freely according to their own values and beliefs, putting an end to all the bitter controversies and bringing harmony and peace amongst their race.

This newly formed ‘pseudo Zoroastrian order’ should be welcomed by the orthodox and the reformists alike.

The Wadia brothers and their sponsors should be complimented and thanked for doing the right thing at the right time and in the right place.

Creation of such ‘pseudo religious orders’ is neither new nor wrong as our history has noted.

During the Sasanian period of the mighty Persian Empire, a pseudo form of Zoroastrian religion known as Mithraism was being practiced in medieval Europe — mainly in Germany and in Italy by the Romans. The Mithra temples had perpetual burning fires and they considered Yatha Ahu Vairyo and Meher Yasht as their principal scriptures.

Even today, in other major religions, separations and divisions have taken place among the worshippers on the grounds of difference of opinions, philosophy and beliefs. From Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism took form, giving a totally different and distinguished identity to its worshippers. In Christianity arose the Catholic Church (The Vatican), The Church of England (Protestants), the Greek Orthodox Church, The Anglican Church, The Mammon Church, etc. In Islam, the Whabis, Sunnis, Shias, Khojas, Bohras, etc.

Thus every human being has the fundamental right to worship in accordance with one’s conscience and beliefs but without encroaching upon or interfering with the fundamental established order of any race or religion.

The worship of fire (atash) or worship through the medium of fire is not a monopoly of the Parsi Zoroastrians only. Atash has been worshipped and revered by all religions and mankind at all times since the universe was created through this most pure and fundamental element of nature.

Finally, I am in total agreement with the Editorial Viewpoint, where it says, "Contrary to orthodox theories, the flame burnt as brightly as when only Parsis are present. There was no sign of fire being polluted. No Parsis complained of their spirituality being diluted. No bad vibrations were detected.” Rightly so. The flame that "burnt as brightly as when only Parsis are present,” was not a ‘consecrated atash,’ which demands the presence of an entirely unadulterated Parsi Zoroastrian — in his/her physical and spiritual form to maintain the natural laws of purity. This is the very reason why the pure must be separated from the impure.

Ervad DARIUS N. SETHNA