Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to an Ancient Faith(The Sussex Library of Religious Beliefs & Practice)

Table of Contents:
Contents: Foreword by W. J. Johnson; An Ancient Faith: Zarathushtra -- Prophet and Priest; The Gathas of the Prophet Zarathushtra; The Transmission of the Gathas; The Authorship and Integrity of the Gathas; Dating the Prophet -- the Gathic Evidence (and other suggestions); The Problem of the Prophet's Homeland; Zarathushtra's Death; Ahura Mazda, Spenta Mainyu and the Divine Heptad; Zarathushtra on Ahura Mazda and the Divine Relationship'; Spenta Mainyu and the Individual Amesha Spentas: Their functions and liturgical representations; Divine Heptad and the Individual Zoroastrian; Ahura Mazda and the Amesha Spentas in the Later Literature; Some Other Important Ahuric References; The Eschatology of the Gathas; The Eschatology of the Later Literature; The Two Existences and the Problem of Evil; Menog and Getig; The Problem of Evil Creatures in the Vendidad; Eschatological Considerations: The Stages of History and the Human Journey; Zoroastrianism in Exile; Sacred Fires, Holy Places; A Living Faith -- Zoroastrian Worship, Rituals and Other Observances; The Yasna, an Inner' Ceremony; The Afrinagan, an Outer' Ceremony; Birth and Early Infancy; Initiation -- the Navjote Ceremony; Initiation and Vocation -- the Zoroastrian Priesthood; Marriage; Death and Funerary Rites; Purification : the Barashnum i-no shab; The Instrumental and Expressive Functions of Zoroastrian Ritual; Holy Days, Holy Months and a Disputed Calendar; A Worshipping Community and Three Zoroastrian Prayers; A Living Faith -- Zoroastrian Ethics; Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds; The Five Faculties and Truth; Justice; The Unbreakable Nature of the Contract as an Ethical Paradigm; Putting it into Practice: Charity, Benevolence and the Parsi Zoroastrians; Identity, Unity and Disparity: Zoroastrianism Today; Who is a Zoroastrian?; The Europeans and the Zoroastrians: Orthodoxy and Reform, Text and Praxis; The Status of Women in Contemporary Zoroastrianism; Other Issues in Contemporary Zoroastrianism and a Glance to the Future; Appendix 1: Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity; Appendix 2: The Roman Mithraic Mysteries; Chart 1: The historical relationship between Zoroastrian and Judeo-Christian Religion; Chart 2: The possible thematic relationships between Vedic, Zoroastrian and Judeo-Christian Religion; Chart 3: Ahura Mazda, Spenta Mainyu and the Amesha Spentas 164; Notes; Glossary; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author :
Peter Clark has translated several books from Arabic. He worked for the British Council for thirty-one years, mostly in the Arab world, and is now a freelance translator and consultant on Middle East cultural affairs.

Review :
"Recommended for general readers, all academic levels, and professionals and practitioners." Choice "The author brings new ideas and insight to issues which have long been the focus of academic debate." -- The Expository Times. "Everyone who needs to know about Zoroastrianism must read this well written book." -- Dr Pallan R. Ichaporia, co-author/co-translator of the Gathas. "Zoroastrianism addresses, in a unique and compelling way, ethical issues that are still alive in the modern world. Not only does it raise fundamental questions about what it is to be a human being, and the nature of good and evil, it also considers the relationship of humans to the natural world in a vibrantly positive light." -- Dr W.J. Johnson, Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies, University of Wales, Cardiff.