“Prayers in the pandemic”

Your editorial, "Prayers in the pandemic” (Parsiana, July 21-August 6, 2020), is a clear, hard-hitting yet compassionate one. You do not mince your words to point out the stark future faced by the Parsi community, and the pathos underlying its present.
The plight of elderly Zoroastrians, unable to visit the fire temples, perhaps their only outing and contact with the outside world is truly pathetic. The Covid-19 induced isolation has affected much younger people badly, so the loneliness of the old is not difficult to imagine.
Going beyond the dark present you examine the probable future of our religious institutions. I agree with you that many of our more sensitive youngsters are totally put off by religious hypocrisy, and their respect for their elders has taken a beating. Much more vocal than we were at their age, they do not hesitate to argue their point and it is difficult to refute their arguments as they have truth and justice on their side.
Unfortunately the Parsi community of this country would rather help extinguish itself than consider more enlightened views to help it remain in existence. All warnings are ignored just as Cassandra’s pleas were to her fellow Trojans. The perverted communal ego refuses to see reason.
The questions you have raised need to be seriously considered. Introspection is the need of the hour! ABAN MUKHERJI
mukherji.aban@gmail.com

Our community seems to have a death wish as is evident from the editorial "Prayers in the pandemic” (Parsiana, July 21-August 6, 2020). There is inertia from the silent majority as well as the trustees, and blind opposition to the slightest change needed in today’s times when over 40% marry out of the community and the children of such marriages adopt other religions that welcome them to participate fully in their places of worship.
Instead of closing down many of our places of worship, why not make them available for families of intermarried Parsis who could patronize them, look after their upkeep and provide income to priests who are willing to serve them? It is high time the open-minded majority took back the resources of our community from the direct and indirect control of some ultra conservative members, instead of bowing down to their vocal propaganda and mistaken beliefs.
MANECK BHUJWALA
Southern California, USA
mbhujwala@socal.rr.com