A tradition of acceptance

Zoroastrianism: a universal religion

What does our religion teach on this issue? I would like to show you the evidence

of Zarathushtra’s own words in the Gathas

of other ancient texts and prayers written over a period of more than 1,000 years after Zarathushtra

of formal opinions given by ancient (and some modern) religious authorities

of our ancient religious traditions and customs.

All this evidence tells us that Zoroastrianism is a universal religion, open to anyone who may wish to become a Zoroastrian. Indeed, no proponent of exclusion has been able to come up with any evidence to the contrary in any ancient Zoroastrian text.

There are those who say that we must accept non-Zoroastrians into the religion if we wish to survive. With due respect, I do not agree. Our Ashem Vohu prayer teaches us that we should do what is right because it is the right thing to do. In my view, we should practice acceptance — not to survive, but because it is the right thing to do.

Zarathushtra’s teachings

There are many verses in the Gathas (quoted from the translation by Prof Stanley Insler) which show that Zarathushtra considered his religion to be a universal one and hoped that all the living would come to believe in it. Here are a few examples. There are many more.

In Yasna 31.3 he says: "…that commandment which is for Thy adherents – speak, Wise One…in order for us to know (all) that by means of which I might convert all the living.”

Some Zoroastrians who advocate exclusion argue that this translation is incorrect. But a review of many translations by major scholars, both eastern and western, consistently shows that in this verse Zarathushtra expressed the wish to convert all the living to the belief system which came to his mind from Mazda. For now, I would like to discuss just four translations, but 10 more are available.

The oldest translation of the Gathas that we have today is the Pahlavi translation (as translated by L. H. Mills). It translates this verse as "…declare it, that we teach all living the Faith.”

The next oldest is by Neriosangh, a Zoroastrian who lived in India many centuries ago and translated a number of Avestan texts into Sanskrit. An English version of his Sanskrit translation (also by Mills) of this verse says: "…which wisdom is enlightening or awaking all the living.”

Thus the two oldest translations of the Gathas support the notion that the religion is for all the living.

In the late 1800s one of the finest Avestan scholars was Bartholomae. His student Irach Taraporewala quotes Bartholomae’s translation: "…that I may convert all living men.”

More recently, we have the translation of the late Mobed Firouz Azargo­shasb who was the president of the Council of Mobeds of Teheran — the highest Zoroastrian priest in Iran, which reads: "…so that I may convert all the people into the right path.”

There are those who argue that this verse, Y31.3, should be interpreted as pertaining to the choice between good and evil, and that there is nothing in the Gathas about choosing the religion. But the evidence of the Gathas is to the contrary. Zarathushtra describes Maz­da’s message as "…that word which is to be heard as the best for men… ” Y45.5 — not as the best for any particular tribe or clan, but as the best for mankind. And he himself made the choice. He says: "…I choose (only) Thy teachings, Lord.” Y46.3.

Section of the audience

Zarathushtra makes no mention of restricting his teachings to those whose parents were Zoroastrian, for the simple reason that before Zarathushtra, no one’s parents were ‘Zoroastrian.’

There are those who argue that Zarathushtra did not convert anyone. He merely reformed the existing religion. Well, no one knows today whether Zarathushtra’s original homeland was in the north, south, east or west of the Iranian steppes and mountains, which in pre-Achemenian times, and also today, consist of a number of different countries. There is much speculation on this subject, but no direct evidence. We do know, from his own words, that he was persecuted and ostracized for speaking out against the tyranny of priests and rulers, and had to flee from the region in which he was born. He says in the first verse of the Ushtavaiti Gatha: "To what land to flee? Where shall I go to flee? They exclude me from my family and my clan” Y 46.1.

Zarathushtra fled to the kingdom of King Vish­taspa, and was successful in converting the royal family and the people of that land to his vision of religion.

Continued in the next issue