Religions of Iran: From Prehistory to the Present

by Richard Foltz

Overview

Although today associated exclusively with Islam, Iran has in fact played an unparalleled role within all the world religions, injecting Iranian ideas into the Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, and Manichaean traditions of the merchants who passed along the Silk Road. This vivid and surprising work explores the manner in which Persian culture has interacted with and transformed each world faith, from the migration of the Israelites to Iran thousands of years ago to the influence of Iranian notions on Mahayana Buddhism and Christianity. Foltz considers Iran’s role in shaping the Muslim world, not only in the Middle East but also in South Asia in an evocative and informative journey through the spiritual heritage of an ancient and influential region.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780743080
Publisher:	Oneworld Publications
Publication date:	10/22/2013
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Richard Foltz is a professor of Iranian studies at Concordia University and the founding director of Concordia's Centre for Iranian Studies. He lives in Montreal.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

A Note on Transliteration xvii

Historical Timeline xix

List of Illustrations xxi

Part 1 Ancient Iranian Religions 1

1 The Origins of Iranian Religion 3

2 Mithra and Mithraism 19

3 In Search of Zoroaster 32

4 Mazda and His Rivals 44

5 Iranian Goddesses (Manya Saadi-nejad) 56

Part 2 Foreign Religions in Iran 75

6 Judaism 77

7 Buddhism 94

8 Christianity 106

9 Mandaeism 125

Part 3 Challenges to Sasanian Zoroastrianism 135

10 Manichaeism 137

11 Undercurrents of Resistance: Mazdak and His Successors 153

12 Islam 164

Part 4 Islamic Iran 179

13 Persian Sufism 181

14 Shi'ism 192

15 Zoroastrianism After Islam 207

16 Two Kurdish Sects: The Yezidis and the Yaresan 218

Part 5 The Impact of Modernity 229

17 The Bábí Movement and the Bahá'í Faith 231

18 The Islamic Republic 247

19 Iranian Zoroastrians Today 256

Conclusion: The Ever-Expanding Pool of Iranian Religion 269

Endnotes 271

Bibliography 297

Index 309