Here we are: the end of our third month of Project Conversion. March was a turbulent ride, but we are here–we made it out alive, and we are all older and wiser.<\/p>\n
Because this month began on a Tuesday, each week\u00a0begins and concludes on a Tuesday, thus today is officially the last day of normal posts for our Zarathushti month. Don’t worry, a short video is forthcoming.<\/p>\n
What\u00a0I’ve Learned:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 1)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Due to the history and influence of the Zarathushti\u00a0Faith on the Abrahamic traditions, I now have a deeper respect and greater understanding of their theological position. Indeed, I chose this month to explore the faith for that very reason. Few people from the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities understand that many concepts within their theology (such as the idea of “Saviors”, Day of Judgement, Heaven and Hell, One God,\u00a0etc.) owe their existence to the Zarathushti\u00a0Faith. Zarathushtra\u00a0himself was also a product of Aryan stock–the same people who migrated to India and helped develop Sanatana Dharma as we know it today. Therefore, the area around the Aral Sea is a religious nexus–a crossroads\u00a0to which the major faiths of the world owe their lineage and respect. Indeed, how can we truly understand our spiritual traditions if we do\u00a0not understand where they come from? We are all neighbors in the world of religion, borrowing sugar\u00a0from one another to create our own pastries.<\/span><\/p>\n 2) <\/span><\/strong>Tradition has its place until its observance encourages atrophy. My most difficult challenge of Project Conversion thus far was the issue of conversion within the Zarathushti\u00a0Faith. Traditionally, converts are not allowed. Though this sentiment is mainly found within the Parsi (those Zarathushtis\u00a0from India) Community, elements exist in many hamlets of the Faith world-wide. New friends and scholars discovered me and illumined another way to see this problem–not as a religious one–but as an ethnic one. Parsis in particular migrated to India to escape religious persecution. They arrived in a strange land and therefore protecting their cultural, ethnic, and spiritual identity was a good idea at the time. According to the Gathas\u00a0(those hymns written by Zarathushtra\u00a0himself), the Mazdayasnian\u00a0Faith belongs to all. In fact, he actively preached the “Good Religion” to all who would listen. Eventually this faith became the state religion of the Persian Empires. How can we say that conversion is not allowed when an empire adopted the faith? So here is the reality: while you cannot ethnically become a Parsi or Iranian Zarathushti, you CAN follow the path of Asha–the path of Good thoughts, Good words, Good deeds–and become a Zarathushti. There is a difference.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n What I\u00a0Would Change:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 1)\u00a0 <\/strong>Communication is an integral aspect of Project Conversion. Sure, there’s the Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>\u00a0pages where I frequently update, however I’ve found that some of the most interesting and breakthrough moments transpire on the website’s chat. Often there are unanswered\u00a0‘hellos” and “Anyone here?” that haunt the chat box. This is a crime. Though this was a busy month with the recent purchase of a home and school, there’s no reason I cannot schedule dedicated times when I will be on chat to answer questions or just shoot the breeze. These times are forthcoming. Also, one of our “congregation” members suggested the addition of a Project Conversion Forum where everyone can post content and questions relevent to each faith covered. I think it’s a fantastic plan that encourages everyone to share ideas about religion as it influences our lives today. Again, details forthcoming.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n