måndag 19 december 2011

The Zoroastrian call for secular democracy

Dear Shahrooz

As long as Zoroastrianism is viewed as a religion rather than a philosophy, all talk about a Zoroastrian state will only do us enormous harm and not any good at all. It is better to speak of a secular and democratic state rather than a Zoroastrian state even if we all know that philosophically speaking Zoroastrianism is the INVENTOR of democracy.

We need to be clever now. The public demand for democracy heard across the Middle East and many other parts of the world (Russia, Congo, Kazachstan, only this week) is a demand for secular democracy with FREEDOM OF RELIGION as an integral part. Any talk of a Zoroastrian state in the midst of all this will just smack of another set of mullah or military dictatorship rule. Let's stop speaking such nonsense once and for all! We all need to be a part of this brand new movement, not be viewed as eccentric enemies of secular democracy!

Ushta
Alexander

Den 20 december 2011 05:35 skrev SHAHROOZ ASH :

Dear Alex,

Hope all is well and good.

As I stated before, a Zoroastrian-State will be compatible with secular society. The Zoroastrian-State will be based on Vohu-Khshathra, with true freedom and liberty for all; including any individual who is not Zoroastrian. This form of state does not exist in our world today. Because, in Vohu-Khshshthra the value is that which is right because it is right and not it is right if it makes money. This is the path to true freedom and liberation. Once we establish this liberation in our own state, then we begin to export it, and liberate the rest of our human brothers. The world is on the wrong path, the path of destruction.
And also, all nations have lead to disaster at some point in their history regardless to the form of the state. The level of success; that Zoroastrian Iran achieved far exceeds its recession.

Wishing you the best (Behesht),
Shahrooz Ash

To: Ushta@yahoogroups.com
From: bardissimo@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:18:22 +0100

Subject: Re: [zoroastrians] Re: [Ushta] Encroachment of Zoroastrian properties in Yazd

Dear Shahrooz

Yes, I believe it would be much better if Israel was a secular state. I would never want to live in a Zoroastrian state where non-Zoroastrians would be treated as inferiors. Ideas should be fought for in democratic elections and not be forced upon people from a religious constitution. And every time there has been a Zoroastrian state, it has lead to disaster to Zoroastrianism as a religion. It was one of the reasons why the Arabs managed to invade Iran in the first place. It is a really bad idea. Zoroastrianism is not suitable to FORCE people to do anything, it is the religion of ethical choice! Zarathushtra would have strongly disagreed with you.

Ushta
Alexander

Den 17 december 2011 23:54 skrev SHAHROOZ ASH :
Hope all is well and good.

1. Israel is a Jewish-State. Should we dismantle this country because it is not a secular society?

2. A Zoroastrian-State, the way I see it can be, by definition a Zoroastrian-state & Secular at the same time; both ideas are compatible. And also, my view of secular is different than what people think secular is today. What this world calls secular today, I call it cultural destruction. I am against the secular system of the world today. Want nothing to do with it. It is a western capitalist scam.

The fall of Iran at the hands of Muslims had nothing to do with the Iranian government at the time. If bunch of invaders come to attack you for no good reason, for example; Changis Khan, and you lose the battle, then this does not necessary mean the government was bad. The fact that the Sassanians are being blamed for the fall of Iran, under the pretense of Zoroastrian Religion is propaganda of the: West, Jews, Christians & most of all the Muslims. I personally do not buy that story, never have & never will. I am not going to get fooled by the hands of the enemy. Zoroastrians have many enemies and not just one.

NO PERSON WILL EVER CHANGE MY MIND IN ANY OF THE ISSUES ABOVE, EVER. And, I will propagate my own position as much as I can and will work towards my own idea of a Zoroastrian-State as long as I am able. And the entire greater Iran must be a Zoroastrian-State. If any person disagrees, then can leave Iran and go some other place. The archeological evidences are all over the place.

Wishing you the best (Behesht),
Shahrooz Ash

To: Ushta@yahoogroups.com
From: behnaz.larsen@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:08:16 +0300
Subject: Re: [zoroastrians] Re: [Ushta] Encroachment of Zoroastrian properties in Yazd

I understand your frustration.
A Zoroastrian Iran might be a possibility in the future but not by law, force, manipulation or mass conversions. We need to inspire people to be Good. If they conclude that being good requires a conversion, so be it. But in no way should we mix our religion/ideology with politics of how to govern a society. Politics in itself is a lie. It is based on how to manipulate the mass in order to guide them towards a common goal. As zoroastrians we cannot lie. Our way of influencing is everlasting and a lie, no matter how convenient, is not a sustainable approach. Our country should be governed by people we choose based on their abilities to tackle challenges and not based on their religious believes. And yes, they will need to lie here and there to get things moving.

God bless our mother land,

Sent from my iPad

On Dec 16, 2011, at 12:12 PM, Alexander Bard wrote:
Dear Shahrooz

No, we don't need any Zoroastrian state. We need a secular, democratic state in Iran where people are allowed to choose any religion they wish and where religion is separated from government. This is the proper Zoroastrian thing. When a religion takes over a state both the religion and the state become corrupt and totalitarian. This is what has happened in Iran now with Shia Islam. And this was the problem wtih Zoroastrianism in Iran before the Arab invasion. It was precisely when Zoroastrianismn became a state religion in Sassanian Iran that it begun to fail and lose its once widespread respect and popularity.

Ushta
Alexander

Den 16 december 2011 04:18 skrev SHAHROOZ ASH :

Hope all is well and good.

This is the reason why we need a Zoroastrian-State. We have paid with our lives for centuries.
The only way we are going to be safe and protected is to have a Zoroastrian-State.
Therefore Iran must become a Zoroastrian-State.

Wishing you the best (Behesht),
Shahrooz Ash