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cbayer

(146,218 posts)
Sun May 31, 2015, 08:23 AM May 2015

Fed Up With Islam and Sectarianism, Some Iraqis Embrace Zoroastrianism

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/31/fed-up-with-islam-and-sectarianism-some-iraqis-embrace-zoroastrianism.html



ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA
05.31.156:45 AM ET

Confused and disheartened by the religious and ethnic divides in Iraq, Kurds, especially, are turning to a faith that dates back 3,500 years.

By Alaa Latif

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq—One of the smallest and oldest religions in the world is experiencing a revival in the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan. The religion has deep Kurdish roots—it was founded by Zoroaster, also known as Zarathustra, who was born in the Kurdish part of Iran 3,500 years ago, and the religion’s sacred book, the Avesta, was written in an ancient language from which the Kurdish language derives.

In this century, however, it is estimated that there are only around 190,000 believers in the world. After Islam became the dominant religion in the region during the 7th century, Zoroastrianism more or less disappeared.

Until – quite possibly – now.

For the first time in over a thousand years, locals in a rural part of Sulaymaniyah province conducted an ancient ceremony on May 1, whereby followers put on a special belt that signifies they are ready to serve the religion and observe its tenets. It would be akin to a baptism in the Christian faith.

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Fed Up With Islam and Sectarianism, Some Iraqis Embrace Zoroastrianism (Original Post) cbayer May 2015 OP
Are special belts like special underwear? Hoppy May 2015 #1
These kinds of rituals are easy to mock, but these people don't deserve that, imo. cbayer May 2015 #4
If you are talking about the Zara's, you are right. If you mean the Mormons, Hoppy May 2015 #5
I was talking about the Zoro's as that seemed to be who you were mocking. cbayer May 2015 #6
nt edhopper May 2015 #7
Maybe you should repost to the person I was responding to. cbayer May 2015 #8
I thought it said edhopper May 2015 #9
nt cbayer May 2015 #11
And what conclusion do you draw from that bit of news? Yorktown May 2015 #2
That picture is obviously staged. Warren Stupidity May 2015 #3
Unless you can read the words on the wall rug May 2015 #10
 

Hoppy

(3,595 posts)
5. If you are talking about the Zara's, you are right. If you mean the Mormons,
Sun May 31, 2015, 05:31 PM
May 2015

given the amount of hurt they have caused with discrimination and hate mongering based on their beliefs, they deserve nothing but ridicule.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
8. Maybe you should repost to the person I was responding to.
Sun May 31, 2015, 07:45 PM
May 2015

as it's their spellcheck that seems to have the sense of humor…. or something.

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