MUMBAI–Growing up in Milwaukee, Wis., Jasmine Bhathena led an all-American life of Coca-Cola afternoons and slumber party weekends, but she always knew she was a little different. Bhathena never left home without wearing a soft cotton undershirt and a hand-woven wool cord—external symbols of her Zoroastrian faith. And, every evening, while her classmates were finishing their math homework or watching their favorite sitcoms, Bhathena joined her family in lighting a floating candle and reciting ancient Persian prayers as her ancestors have done for centuries in Iran where Zoroastrianism, the world’s oldest monotheistic religion, originated.
Her Iranian mother and Indian father shared their ancient religion with her by celebrating the Persian New Year every March and sending her to Zoroastrian summer camps in Chicago. And, like most Zoroastrians, they taught Bhathena that she must preserve her faith by marrying within the religion since neither converts nor interfaith children are traditionally accepted by the tight-knit and often self-secluded community. “For over twenty years, my parents told me that Zoroastrian boys are best,” said Bhathena.
When Bhathena left for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, her father heard through an aunt that a Zoroastrian boy from India was also attending. “My parents kind of set me up with this guy with the hopes that something would work out,” said Bhathena. They became fast friends and occasionally went out for dinner and beer at the student union, but something was missing. “We had a lot in common and we enjoyed each other's company, but there was just no chemistry,” said Bhathena.
A few months later, Bhathena eventually fell in love. But she fell in love with the wrong boy—Carlos Marquez, a Christian of Bolivian and Mexican heritage. “My parents’ first reaction was utter shock,” Bhathena recalled. “They said, ‘We sent you to college to study and instead you met a boy? And he’s not even Zoroastrian!’”
Five years later, Bhathena is still dating Marquez and very much in love. “I know people say that you can make a conscious choice about who you fall in love with, but I don’t believe that anymore,” said Bhathena, now a 24-year-old law student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “All of the factors in my relationship with the Zoroastrian boy and my boyfriend were the same . . . but getting romantically involved with the Zoroastrian boy was never even a possibility.”
Bhathena is one of the thousands of Zoroastrian young adults who feel a deep obligation to preserve their dying faith but are torn by their community’s demand that they marry within a small, rapidly dwindling number of adherents.
Despite their shrinking population, Zoroastrians remain fiercely divided over whether to recognize interfaith families, let alone accept non-generational Zoroastrians. And the question of conversion is creating a deep rift as some Zoroastrian clusters liberalize faster than others. “Conversion is not part of our religion,” said Ramiyar P. Karanjia, principal of Dadar Athornan Madressa in Mumbai, India. “We have always been small but steady in numbers and there’s no need to allow conversion.” Yet, in India, home to the majority of Zoroastrians, the community is declining by about 10 percent every decennial census, according to a report released by UNESCO. There are as few as 124,000 Zoroastrians worldwide, according to a survey in 2004 by Fezana Journal, published quarterly by the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America.
On the other side of the world, in New York City, some of the world’s most liberal Zoroastrians are already embracing outsiders. While many Zoroastrian communities allow only generational adherents to observe their ceremonies and rituals, the weekly prayers held by the New York chapter are often frequented by those who were not necessarily born into the Zoroastrian faith. Unlike in Iran and India where only children of two practicing Zoroastrians are allowed to visit places of worship, the 250 households that constitute the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York include children of mixed marriages.
Three of the organization’s democratically elected governing board members are interfaith couples. Ferzin Patel is one of the board members of the New York group who decided to break an unspoken taboo by marrying outside of her tightly knit community when she fell in love with Rajan, who is a Jain. Today, Patel runs a support group for 25 interfaith couples who meet five times a year for a potluck and discussion group. “The mission was to integrate people into the community and help them come together as well as show the spouses what they have in common,” said Patel.
Patel, who has a four-year-old son, says many outsiders are intimidated by Zoroastrians, given the community’s reputation for self-isolation. “There’s a falsehood that we are not accepting of those born outside of our fold, so it’s important to support interfaith couples and outsiders interested in Zoroastrianism,” said Patel.
Many conservative priests are shocked by the new level of tolerance in their once carefully sealed-off religion. “We have survived as a very close community only because we refused to assimilate in the ethnic sense,” said Jal Birdy, a priest in Corona, Calif., who said he will not perform weddings of mixed couples because he believes religion and ethnicity are interlinked and nontransferable.
A conservative priest in Houston, Texas who wished to remain unnamed said he is angry at the liberties taken by his fellow Zoroastrians in New York. He insists conversion is strictly forbidden in Zoroastrianism. “Who am I to go against what god gave me at birth?” said the elderly priest. “If I am to convert from one side to another, I am forgetting that God gave me my religion for a reason.”
Although the vast majority of Zoroastrian youth contacted for this article said they want their religion to become more inclusive, orthodox priests are at no loss for sympathizers among the younger generation. “Intermarriage is one of the biggest sins in our religion,” said 22-year-old Neville Cyrus Saiwalla, a student at Kalina University in Mumbai, India. “My principle is, if I don’t get a pure Zoroastrian girl, I’ll remain single forever but I will never dilute my blood and make it impure with a non-Zoroastrian.” Saiwalla added, “A person who has married outside the faith will face severe punishment because his soul will not be able to go out of this world [since the death prayers will be ineffective].”
Dr. Kaikhosrov D. Irani, a professor of philosophy at the City University of New York who at 83 is considered one of the world’s preeminent scholars on Zoroastrianism, believes that unyielding priests and their young sympathizers misunderstand the teachings of their faith. “You can inherit your height, the tone of your voice and a genetic disease. But how can you inherit a belief?” he asked.
Irani spent his life studying Zoroastrian liturgical scriptures and translating the Avesta into English.
“The fundamental point is we must respect the judgment of an individual’s conscience,” said Irani who is in favor of his community embracing anyone who accepts the Zoroastrian faith as her own. “Who is to say what another may believe? The conservative priests are trying to turn a universal religion into a tribal cult.”
Irani said he believes Zoroastrians once allowed conversion but years of persecution made the religion artificially self-isolated.
While many Zoroastrians in Iran, India and North America remain unwelcoming of converts, members of the New York group say they pride themselves on their diversity and believe tolerance is the best way to keep their faith alive. Kaizad Cama, a 25-year-old member of the New York group, says his community does a huge disservice by worrying about who can and cannot call himself a Zoroastrian. “Bastardization of our beliefs is more likely to come from within our community than from the outside. So I don’t think intermarriage is any more dangerous to the preservation of our religion than having two ‘Zoroastrian’ parents who do not understand their own religion,” said Cama who teaches Zoroastrian children religion classes in Pomona, New York.
Many children of interfaith couples say Zoroastrianism plays an important part in their lives but they wish their community was more welcoming. “Internal racism and segregation is destroying the community, not intermarriage,” said Dina Collector, 22, a Houston resident who was born to a Zoroastrian father and Christian mother but who considers herself fully Zoroastrian. “People will choose not to be the victims of prejudice by turning away from the religion,” Collector added.
As the question of conversion and acceptance continues to divide an already tiny community, many Zoroastrians in New York say they will keep their doors open to all those interested in learning more about their ancient faith. “In social matters, the community should treat people who accept Zoroastrianism with decency,” said religious scholar Irani. “Of course, if one is bigoted this will not be the case but I hope the bigots will eventually evaporate.” Irani added, “I believe reason will ultimately prevail because that is what Zoroastrianism teaches us.”
Bhathena says she hopes to one day marry the love of her life, Marquez, and teach their children about both Zoroastrianism and Christianity--while ultimately letting them decide which faith to follow. “I want my kids to be part of a larger Zoroastrian community,” she said, “but, more importantly, I want to protect them from being hurt or mistreated by people who should accept and embrace them.”
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Firouzeh Majidulla, 2007-06-21 01:13:00 -- Flag for review
It is a very enlightened article and I can only hope that the likes of Neville Cyrus Saiwalla don't go around making such absurd statements that intermarriage is one of the greatest sins of the zoroastrian religion. The greatest sin is not to have Good Thoughts, Good Words or Good Deeds and frankly with his bigotted point of view he has sinned already.
ava a cowasjee, 2007-06-21 01:45:29 -- Flag for review
being a zoroastrian i would like to know where in the zoroastiran religious books it bans converts? also, i would like to know how pure the zoroastrians of india think they are in terms of lineage and blood? do the young zoroastrians of india know that certain of their rituals are hindu? bigots are what is reducing our gene pool and any religion only strengthen it self by accepting those of other faiths. i would also like to know how one is born a zoroastiran? one is a zoroastrian defacto as ther parents are zoroastrian. a person embraces the faith at the navjote ceremony.
taronish, 2007-06-22 00:06:51 -- Flag for review
I think most people including priest make statements that have been taught to them by their adults. I wish our generation woould be more educated about the religion before they made statements that were harsh and far from reality. Like family and relatives religion is not something one opts for at the time of birth. Parents teach the child the religion they practice .I wann ask that young man Neville Saiwalla if he was born in a hindu religion what would he do then. If that is how young zoroastrains think today its a shame. I thought we were an interllectual , educated and broad minded community. I can only pray for each zoraostrain to first understand the religion in complete light before tehy decide who can and cannot practice the religion and mroe so who is mroe or less of a zoroastrain
MAHNAZ, 2007-06-22 11:59:00 -- Flag for review
I'm 100% percent agree with conversion. Zarathustra's message is for everyone in the world not just certain people. People who don't beleive in conversion have never read GATHA. The whole relegion is based on happiness, celebrations, obtaining knowledge, helping others and imporving the world by using the ASHA law. I always encourage non Zoroastrian to know about our relegion by giving them books and answering their questions and encouraging them to have more knowlege as it's what Zarathustra wanted us to do. Spread the good words all over the world. We all should be united in doing what is right and not to be so narrow minded.
Natashah Torki, 2007-06-22 22:35:36 -- Flag for review
I think this is an excellent article for people to open their eyes and see that conversion is not such a bad thing, and same with intermarriage. It is sad that we are pushing away so many people who truly want to be Zoroastrian, and we are accepting of those who are 'full blooded' Zoroastrian, but a good thought, good word, or good deed rarely comes from them. I hope one day people can open their minds and realize what they are doing to their own religion and their own culture.
Anonymous, 2007-06-25 20:10:11 -- Flag for review
On issue of acceptance into Zoroastrian religion, one should look at Zarathushtra’s own words in the Gathas.
I recommend all to visit California Zoroastrian Center’s publication website at: www.czcjournal.org and read the article “Zoroastrianism: A Universal Religion” by Dina G. McIntyre which was featured in 2 parts in issues 144 and 145 of Chehrenama. In addition to compiling many different translations of verse Y31.3 by scholars in one place for comparison, Dina also covers conversion based on later texts and prayers, ancient and modern Zoroastrian traditions, laws, and practices.
Below is a very brief excerpt from the article.
"... that commandment which is for Thy adherents -- speak, Wise One, ..... in order for us to know (all) that by means of which I might convert all the living." Y31.3 Insler translation
“…..so that I cause all men to put faith in the Religion.” Kanga
“…..(that...) I may make all the living believers!” Mills
Zarathushtra describes Mazda's message as
"... that word which is to be heard as the best for men..." Y45.5
not as the best for any particular tribe or clan, but as the best for mankind. And he himself made the choice.
"... I choose (only) Thy teachings, Lord." Y46.3.
Nevil Cyrus Saiwalla, 2007-06-26 12:02:26 -- Flag for review
In our religion there are seven ‘ Foundations’ . ‘ Buniad Pasbani is the first foundation in Zoroastrianism. I quote ‘Vaksuhre- Vakshuran Zarthustra Sahib when asks one of the questions to ‘ DADAR AHURA MAZDA’ Whom you be disappointed the most ?
DADAR AHURA MAZDA reveals to Zarthustra that a person who dose not preserve the seed in his/her given faith but indulges in act of mixture of two different faiths; I am the most disappointed . I un-quote.
1400 years ago, our fore fathers came down to India with women and children. We lost the battle at ‘ Nehavand’ with Arabs who had tried their level best to exterminate our Zoroastrians and demolished our sacred Atash Kadeh (Fire Temples) and Dokhmas. In one night our hundreds of pious Dasturjis were lined–up and asked I quote Do you want to convert into Islam or to prefer to get slaughtered ? I un-quote. Our pious Dasturgis thought in unison to lay their lives for "preservation of Zoroastrian faith". This is the moral lesson to be learnt from pious souls.
Our ancestors settled down in India and prospered due to hard work, honesty and faith in religion. They earned well and built religious places like Fire temples,educational institutions like schools, colleges and Dokhmas for the last rites. And the last but not the least the Parsee colonies with beautiful gardens and parks. They gave us lot of comfort, with the result Parsees educated well and ventured outside the country for better greenery.
Now think that if our fore fathers did not use money on our selves but used money on themselves and their families; then, where we would stand and lived to-day ? Can U imagine ?
We could have lived in filthy huts (Zopadpatis)with no comfort and lack of education. Now can U imagine that what could be the fate of our community ?
We thank Ahuramazda, Zarthustra our prophet and our ancestors that we are living with dignity in the millions of population to-day.
As the late President John F Kennedy said 'Ask not what country can give U but ask yourself that what U can give to ur country'.
Anonymous, 2007-06-26 13:09:54 -- Flag for review
I would like to answer to Nevil Cyrus Saiwalla. I'm so proud and glad that Zoroastrians in India have achieved and accomplished so many thing thru honesty and hard work, but so did Zoroastrians who stayed in their mother land, IRAN. According to you Nevil, the greatest sin is conversion and mixing the blood of Zoroastrian with non Zoroastrian. The greatest sin, my friend, is NOT TO HAVE Good Thoughts, Good Words or Good Deeds.
Just take a moment and think. If Zoroaster was against conversion, he would have been the only Zoroastrian in the world. This good relegion would have never even started. 3,000 years ago he went to so many places to preach about his belief. People with OPEN MIND started asking him questions and then they started believing in him. Afther that, they became his follower. This is called CONVERSION. Was Zoroaster's blood pure when he was borned to a Non Zoroastrian parents or he obtained the purity when he became Zoroastrian? When he was trying to show the right Path to King Goshtasb and his two well educated advisors, was he thinking about the purity of their blood? As Zoroaster wrote in his Gatha (SONGS WRITTEN BY HIM AND HIM ONLY), we should spread the good words and make everybody aware of the right path, Asha. Be open minded and always improve our knowlege and welcome anybody who want to choose the path of Asha. My young friend, with Open Mind look around and see the beauty in everything. WE ALL CREATED EQUAL. We all have a choice to choose our own path. Do not condemn a Non Zoroastrian who loves Zarathustra's Message and wants to become one because he is in love with our relegion. I hope one day you find the Love I am telling you about.
Farah, 2007-06-29 16:18:58 -- Flag for review
Beautifully written article!
Chissta Farahmand, 2007-07-23 18:48:41 -- Flag for review
I am at this moment the President of the Youth Commity in a Mahbed in California. I have read your article, and I would like to say that it was well written. However, I do not agree with what some people believe about being against conversion. I have always been raised and taught to have an open mind about many things, conversion being one of them. One maybe born into a religion, and remain in it because they are indifferent. Yet, a convert chooses that religion and truly believes and lives it. This mentality that we can not accept converts is outdated and narrow minded. If we do not change it, our religion will eventually die out. Our religion is based on the Gathas, and no where in the Gathas does it state that we can not accept converts. With everything said, i would like to state that my father married outside his religion. He married my mother who was luthren, not knowing anything about the religion she became fasinated learning all she could about it. She learned how to speak and cook, even though she was not born into the religion she truly became a Zoroastrian. Because of this marriage my brother, my sister and I were born and raised Zoroastrian. I truly believe that even with intermarriage and conversion we are all true and pure Zoroastrians.
Yury Jakymec, 2007-09-16 18:03:58 -- Flag for review
I read with interest this article where all kinds of views are included. I am a Zoroastrian converted, I follow what is tough in Avesta and Gathas, and I am proud of it. No text in the Avesta bans conversions.
When I was studying the Persian culture, I was deeply impressed by the wisdom of this ancient religion I chose to join.
In London, most of Iranian Zoroastrians welcome me as part of them.
Anonymous, 2007-10-05 02:16:28 -- Flag for review
Fariba, 2007-12-03 21:48:31 -- Flag for review
Dear Deena thank you for bringing up the most controversial issue in the Zoroastrian faith. It makes me sad to see a young Indian Zoroastrian have such an uninformed opinions about the greatest and oldest monotheistic religion in the world. I would like to ask this young man Nevil where he gets his sources? What are "foundations"? I was born and raised a Zoroastrian and my grandfather was a Z. priest and I have never heard of what he is talking about. I wonder if he has ever read the gathas!!! The actual words of the prophet himself that have reached us untouched more than 3700 years later. Has he read where Zarathushtra says: give my message to the "WORLD" not the born Zoroastrians. I hope the likes of Nevil are few and far in between or the future of our religion will only be a reference in an obscure book about an obsolete religion.
Shirin Soroush, 2007-12-04 14:25:52 -- Flag for review
Thank you so much for this article.
Unless the mentality that conversion is not right is changed then our religion Zoroastrianism will inevitably die out. In a way we our the future of Zoroastrianism because our beliefs on conversion and intermarriage are what is going to preserve Zoroastrianism. This ancient religion goes off the main principle, "Good Words, Good Thoughts, and Good Deeds." Who gives us the right to judge WHO is allowed to follow and practice this principle and religion? Hopefully this article can broaden many peoples views and opinions.
jamshid pouladian, 2007-12-05 00:52:31 -- Flag for review
what religion did our forfathers had befor accepting Zoroastranisim belief?defenitely they weren`t Zoroastranism.What belief has to do with blood,that is nonsense.
-, 2007-12-05 02:53:51 -- Flag for review
In the Spirit World, there is no religion.
We worship One God only-
Bhavnagris
Dinyar, 2007-12-05 06:25:19 -- Flag for review
Dinyar, 2007-12-05 06:39:06 -- Flag for review
I agree that those of us born into the faith should accept the children of inter-married couples and those who choose to convert (so many Iranians, born as Muslims, are interested in re-discovering their heritage and original faith; why must we consider this a bad thing?). Contrary to what many might believe, acceptance of inter-married children has happened in India, and it has happened well before the emergence of the modern community in Bombay. But on another level I find the story of Jasmine Bhathena deeply troubling. Intermarriage rates in the US are now 50%--in Bombay, where it is perhaps the lowest, it is 33%. Some, like Jasmine, talk about bringing up their children in both faiths and then letting them decide. Many others simply do not bring up their children in the faith, at all. These are extremely weak foundations for the continuation of our religion, and I must ask where our faith will be in a few generations. Quite honestly, will ours still be a living religion in a few generations? I, for one, am deeply worried. We need to take two critical steps. First, we must embrace those who convert and the children of inter-married couples. Second, we must strongly encourage those who marry out to bring up their children as Zoroastrians.
Nawaz Merchant, 2007-12-05 07:16:17 -- Flag for review
Zarathushtra asked us, each individual to use his reason in every decision. He asked us to communicate our opinions and really hear what others have to say. He asked us to deliberate and act upon our decisions. The use of reason was/is our foremost duty, NOT isolating a single line of text in an ancient and possibly mis-translated text. Reason does not co-exist with dogma.
What makes more sense - acceptance or repulsion of those we care about? If we say we care about our children, does that go well with controlling their most personal decision, who to marry? Yes, interfaith marriages have some conflicts, but so do all marriages. What matters is that the values we hold dear, universal values of reason and goodness, continue.
Sam Motafram, 2008-01-24 03:48:56 -- Flag for review
Gomments from the likes of Nevil Cyrus Saiwalla,originate in my opinion from a situation where individuals either have not used their capability of "Vohu Mano" or have misunderstood the Prophet's teachings. One can infer any meaning to the Avestan texts they desire; and so long as Zoroastrians do not UNDERSTAND the Avestan literature them selves, this controversy will be perpetual.
One over looks the fact that at our Prophet's time there were only two faiths: the Mazdayasni and the Devayasni. Why do we not want to accept an interpretation of marrying in another faith as "DIGRESSION FROM THE MAZDAYASNI FAITH"?
Yes, our Prophet has talked of CONVERSION; the conversion of EVIL TO GOOD. Can one convert evil to good by staying away from evil or being with evil and using the power of our Manthras to alchemize the evil to good?
Have an open mind while studying the Aveatan scriptures and allow our Vohu Mano to understand them. I have no dout the controversy will end on the positive note that Zoroastranism is a Universal religion for all Mankind.
The self isolation fever in all probability got infested in us during the Sassanian period when the Cristian priests were converting the Zoroastrian Persians, and later the Muslims did the same.
happy thinking!!
gaby, 2008-03-12 07:14:06 -- Flag for review
who really cares about these issues... all of you just go out and love the poor, help the sick and be honest with urselves and others...regardless of which God you believe in do you really think he wants you all sitting around debating all of this while others are starving/ dying...Get out of your homes and serve your fellow man.
gaby, 2008-03-12 07:14:37 -- Flag for review
who really cares about these issues... all of you just go out and love the poor, help the sick and be honest with urselves and others...regardless of which God you believe in do you really think he wants you all sitting around debating all of this while others are starving/ dying...Get out of your homes and serve your fellow man.
gaby, 2008-03-12 07:14:38 -- Flag for review
who really cares about these issues... all of you just go out and love the poor, help the sick and be honest with urselves and others...regardless of which God you believe in do you really think he wants you all sitting around debating all of this while others are starving/ dying...Get out of your homes and serve your fellow man.
mccain, 2008-05-03 18:00:42 -- Flag for review
we should bomb iran. those arabs are no-good terrsts.
mccain, 2008-05-03 18:01:03 -- Flag for review
*eye-ran
clinton and obama, 2008-05-03 18:02:22 -- Flag for review
we agree with the two statements above
m. Irani, 2008-07-24 09:54:04 -- Flag for review
to mccain: try bomb iran we will fuck ur white mothers.
God bless all zoroastrians, convert to zoroastrianis,