Zoroastrian Faith: Tradition and Modern Research

Zoroastrianism has played a significant role in the development of the world's major religions. A tiny world-wide community of Zoroastrians still exists: a small group lives in Iran; others, commonly known as Parsees, are found on the west coast of India; and Zoroastrians from both Iran and India have emigrated and established small communities in most major Western cities. Study of this faith, however, has been hampered by inherent uncertainties: while it is known that the prophet Zoroaster lived and taught in ancient Persia sometime prior to 550BCE, there is little concrete evidence about the precise origin and development of the religion derived from his teachings.

The Zoroastrian Faith is organized around five themes: an account of Zoroaster's life and work; discussion of the development and spread of Zoroastrianism from its beginnings to the present; description of the sacred writings and religious documents of the faith; an analysis of the basic Zoroastrian beliefs and their influence on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; and a description of the prescribed observances.

In this historical and analytical study, S.A. Nigosian cuts through these problems to present a concise, systematic survey of Zoroastrianism. This book will intrigue scholars and general readers alike. A glossary and bibliography are provided as aids for further study.