Zarathustrisme

Avestan is the sacred language of the Zoroastrians in which they perform most of their rituals. It is known only from its use in the rituals of modern Zoroastrians and the manuscripts reproducing these rituals since the 13th century. Although sure dates cannot be provided, it is very likely that the creation of the liturgical corpus extended from the end of the 2nd millennium BCE until the end of the Achaemenid period (4th cent. BCE). This corpus includes texts in at least three linguistic layers (Old, Middle and Young Avestan). The present manual aims to provide a tool for facilitating the teaching of Young Avestan but keeps in mind also the possibility of self-learning since Avestan is not well-represented in the actual academic landscape. It includes a progressive presentation of the complex phonetic evolutions that are very characteristic of the Avestan language as a consequence of the evolution of the recitation until its fixation (6th cent. CE) and also of the Avestan grammar, complemented with exercises including samples of original texts of increasing difficulty. In each lesson, one text is reproduced in a manuscript, introducing the students to the direct work with manuscripts.

Early Zoroastrianism was transmitted orally, as is now generally accepted by scholars. There is no consensus, however, regarding the implications of that insight. The few scholars who have referred to the question so far generally based their approach on the assumption that academic theories on orality are valid for all forms of oral transmission, which is demonstrably untrue. Moreover, whilst progress has been made on individual aspects of Avestan texts, the early history of Zoroastrianism as such has received scant attention in recent decades.Philip G. Kreyenbroek has combined an almost life-long study of Zoroastrianism with empirical research on the oral traditions of two modern Iranian religious groups. In this book he applies his first-hand knowledge of the workings of oral transmission and his familiarity with early Zoroastrian priestly practices to extant Avestan texts in order to uncover their history in the light of their earlier oral transmission. Taking into account a number of recent discoveries by other scholars, the work arrives at new conclusions about the genesis and early development of the Zoroastrian tradition.

Zoroastrianism is the major spiritual faith of ancient Persia. It was founded by the Prophet Zarathushtra Spitama (Zoroaster), author of The Gathas, or Divine Songs. The Gathas is the oldest surviving literature known to humanity attributed to a single author. The religion of Zoroastrianism co-existed alongside Iranian Mithraism and heavily influenced the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The Avesta is the holiest book of Zoroastrianism and is similar to the Bible in many ways. The Avesta contains knowledge of one true and loving Lord God, holy angels, morality, Satan, devils, reverence of the Earth and its ecosystems, the idea of Heaven and Hell, spiritual laws, principles of righteousness, the power of prayer, Conscience, personal judgment, the coming Savior or Christ, and numerous prophecies that have been historically fulfilled or are ongoing, including the Savior's resurrection and the renovation of the universe. Zoroastrianism is founded on the idea of Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds as its organizing principle, and one prayer given by God to Zarathushtra, the Ahuna Vairya.This edition of the Avesta of Zoroastrianism includes the Yashts, or Hymns, and Vendidad, or Law. It has been lovingly and carefully edited and re-translated from public domain sources by Alan Lewis Silva. This book features easy-to-read font, logical organization, and the fruit of numerous years of Zoroastrian and Christian study and practice. This book contains dozens of helpful footnotes and guides from a non-judgmental perspective focused on highlighting very illuminating and impressive contents attributive of the spiritual and religious development of Iran, the Iranian peoples, and humanity as a whole.

This book delves into the historical evolution of women's rights within the context of Islam, focusing on the period following the rise of the faith during Mohammad's lifetime. While initially witnessing the establishment of certain women's rights, these advancements faced a decline in the aftermath of Mohammad's death. It was during the early Abbasid period, a time of expansive growth for Muslim societies, that Islamic laws and jurisprudence (fiqh) began to take shape, transforming the image of Muslim women to be more in line with the civilized cultures of antiquity, drifting away from the early Muslim community of Medina.

The Sacred Books of the East, a 50-volume series, encompasses the seven non-Christian religions of Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, and Islam. Translated into English by authorities in their respective fields, these sacred texts have been edited by F. Max Muller and have profoundly influenced civilization. Pahlavi Texts, Part 2 (1882) translated by E. W. West is one of The Sacred Books of the East, a series available from Cosimo Classics. This book in five parts, focuses on Zoroastrianism and contains the Epistles of Manuskihar, as well as a book of questions, Dadestan-i Denig, that are answered on various philosophical, social, ethical, and cosmological issues. This text is a valuable addition to the personal library of scholars and of those interested in Zoroastrianism.

The Sacred Books of the East, a 50-volume series, encompasses the seven non-Christian religions of Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, and Islam. Translated into English by authorities in their respective fields, these sacred texts have been edited by F. Max Muller and have profoundly influenced civilization. The Zend-Avesta, Part 3 (1887) translated by L. H. Mills, is Volume XXXI of The Sacred Books of the East, a series available from Cosimo Classics. This book, in three parts, focuses on Zoroastrianism. Part 3 contains Yasna, the main liturgical text of Zoroastrianism, dating back to the religion's earliest period and is still used today. This is an excellent addition to the personal library of anyone interested in Zoroastrianism.

The Sacred Books of the East, a 50-volume series, encompasses the seven non-Christian religions of Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, and Islam. Translated into English by authorities in their respective fields, these sacred texts have been edited by F. Max Muller and have profoundly influenced civilization. The Zend-Avesta, Part 2 (1883) translated by James Darmesteter, is Volume XXIII of The Sacred Books of the East, a series available from Cosimo Classics. This book, in three parts, focuses on Zoroastrianism. Part 2 contains the mythical lore of Yast, Sirozah, and Nyasis. A more poetic text, readers will broaden their knowledge of Zoroastrianism with this book.