Why bother with Zoroastrianism?

For me, as a westerner who has converted to Zoroastrianism, the answer to this question is easy:
If Zoroastrianism did not exist, we would have to invent it. So if it ceased to exist, we have to reawaken it.
I could easily see a Spinozist religion as an alternative. But since there is already a Zoroastrian religion, there is no need for a separate Spinozist faith. That's my ten cents.
However, an isolated Parsi inbred community is an entirely different matter. This is something we have to prepare for doing without. That community is slowly killing itself. But Zoroastrianism is and always was a lot more than Parsi isolationism.
To begin with, there is now a growing Parsism which is not isolationist. Sooner or later, it will take over in Indian Zoroastrianism.
Ushta
Alexander

2009/10/27 Parviz Varjavand



Dear Bahman,

Mr. Khojeste Mistry uses this same argument of yours, yet his Zoroastrian reality is not mine anymore. If you try to not use the Doxma for the dead, he feels you are killing all that "HIS" Zoroastrianism is all about. So we need to define WHAT Zoroastrianism are we talking about. Parts of Zoroastrianism is dying every day, yet other parts of it are coming to life too. This is Freshokerti to me, having a religion that is alive and not afraid of being alive and changing. Please define your version of Zoroastrianism so that we may have more of a feel for it before we start shedding tears about its death.

Ushta te,
Parviz Varjavand

--- On Mon, 10/26/09, Bahman Noruziaan wrote:


From: Bahman Noruziaan
Subject: [Ushta] Why bother?
To: "Ushta Ushta" , "mainstream main" , "Mazdayasna Mazdayasna"
Date: Monday, October 26, 2009, 7:44 PM




Is Zoroastrianism worth surviving, I have asked myself times and again?



This I believe is the most essential question that any Zoroastrian whose heart and soul is longing for the continuation of this old and ancient tradition, should be asking and answering.



Why, Zoroastrian tradition and religion is worth surviving? What will happen, if and when no more practicing Zoroastrian remains on the face of the Earth?



At times when I hear on the news that a prominent actor, a musician, an artist, a writer, a philosopher, a scientist, a singer, a poet, a person with elevated soul has passed away: I wish that had not happened. I think and feel that the world is from now missing a great soul, a creative individual, a man or a woman who could still have contributed through his or her talent and acts and words for the betterment of the world. I guess, not many, if any, would feel and think the same if and when one day I depart from this world.



How about us collectively? How about Zoroastrian heritage and tradition that is still living among the 200,000 or so scattered souls in various corners of the globe? Will the world lose a worthy and distinguished part of its existence, like losing a great soul, when there is no more Zoroastrian remaining; or there world will not see a big loss like when an ordinary individual is gone?



Have you thought about this? Have you pondered on this question? Do you have your answers for this question? Are we, as Zoroastrian community worth surviving? What is our most significant contribution to the world that makes us worthy of being around? What is the biggest loss for the world and humanity, if and when no more Zoroastrian prayers are recited and no more flames of our fire do their dance of life in our Atash Bahrams?



What is it that we bring to the table as they say; that others are not having? After all, if other living religions and beliefs are leading humanity to the same path, then why bother keeping this tradition alive? Why not join the bandwagon of a much larger community of hundreds of millions and do contribute to the progress of the world with much larger pool of resources, material and human?


Why bother?



Regards

Bahman