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Title: In Search of Zarathustra : The First Prophet and the Ideas That Changed the World by PAUL KRIWACZEK ISBN: 0-375-41528-9 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 11 February, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.87 (15 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Diverting but uneven, overly speculative account
Comment: In his journalistic account of the religion of Zarathustra (also known as Zoroaster), author Paul Kriwaczek takes us on a journey back in time from the Iran of the ayatollahs to the ancient days of Persia's pre-Islamic glory. Along the way, we encounter Nietzsche's anti-Zarathustra, the 13th-century crusade against the Cathars, the religion of light preached by the 3rd-century prophet Mani, the mysteries of Mithras in Roman Britain, the Zoroastrian apocalypse and its influence on the Hebrew Bible, and the religion of Ahura Mazda (the ancient Persian name for God) in the days of Cyrus the Great, Darius and Alexander.
There is much to recommend this book, especially to those with little or no prior knowledge of ancient Iran and the nature of its historical influence (even on the West). Kriwaczek is a good storyteller and the book is full of diverting anecdotes of his journey through central Asia in search of the "first prophet". Most rewarding are his discovery of Zoroastrian sun symbols in a mosque in Samarkand -- and the pretended ignorance of local Muslims when asked to explain its presence; his experience of Noruz (Zoroastrian New Year) celebrations in Teheran, including a meeting with a belated follower of Zarathustra who reveals the ironic hidden meaning of the Noruz "haft sin" (seven "S") table; and his account of a sort of Muslim passion play on Ashura, the Shi'ite day of mourning for Muhammad's grandson Hussein, which reveals an ongoing Zoroastrian influence on Shia Islam's conception of an eternal war between good and evil that will only end with the coming of a "messiah", whom they call the Mahdi or "hidden Imam".
The book also contains some wonderful little gems for trivia lovers, such as that the Old Testament figures of Esther and Mordecai are named for Babylonian gods (Ishtar and Marduk, respectively). Also enjoyable is his attention to such ephemera as a 1954 poem written on the occasion of an archaeological find in London that includes a truly delightful play on words ("and the bull dozes").
Unfortunately, Kriwaczek is no scholar and he is given to drawing often fantastic historical conclusions based on nothing more than pure speculation. Furthermore, he is a psychological reductionist who sees religion as nothing more than a psychological comfort and is far too literal-minded in his approach to understand the mythological wealth of the Gnostic tradition (so it is not surprising that he can only refer to their writings as "bewildering"). His chapter on the Cathars is so insensitive to non-materialist interpretive possibilities that I almost stopped reading. Still, I pressed on and would still recommend this book to anyone interested in the origins of the world's three great monotheistic religions -- Judaism, Christianity and Islam -- for they all owe a great debt to old Zarathustra.
Rating: 5
Summary: Let the praise begin...
Comment: I'm going to get right to the point: what a fantastic book!! The subject of the book, the ancient prophet Zarathustra and his world-changing message, is absolutely fascinating, not to mention how important it is to our proper understanding of history and who we are; and the author really does it justice, too! I can only think that if this book isn't widely read and talked about, it will be through no fault of the author's.
"In Search of Zarathustra" is very well-written and an excellent example of how to make history entertaining, without compromising the requirement to accurately inform. But the book is much more than simply history though. It's really a search for something important and very profound, and the author makes it a joy for the reader to join him on the journey. Part history. Part travelogue. Part investigation of the soul... All seamlessly woven together!
I can find very few things to fault with this book, which is why I'm giving it 5 stars. Overall the editing is superb, and I spotted only very few (mostly minor) errors; e.g., in a couple of places incorrect dates related to Cyrus the Great are given, and Yazd is shown as 'Yadz' on the maps. While not a scholar per se, the author clearly is educated, well-travelled, and has done his homework very, very well. There's little in this book that can't be verified easily, and a comprehensive list of sources is given in the notes section at the end. Another thing I think adds real value to the book is the inclusion, in both front and back, of clearly marked maps; something I found to be most useful!! The book has 28 photos, which also helped to bring the subject matter to life.
In some ways this book reminds me of two other books I've read: "In Search of the Birth of Jesus: The Real Journey of the Magi" by Paul William Roberts, and "The Other God: Dualist Religions from Antiquity to the Cathar Heresy" by Yuri Stoyanov (the author here actually cites an earlier edition of Stoyanov's book as a reference). The former is a light-hearted, more entertaining read, while the latter is a thorough, vast and erudite (though still very readable) survey. Both are excellent books, but what I especially like about "In Search of Zarathustra" is that it combines the best of both worlds: highly readable, entertaining, imaginative, and yet complete in its exploration of the subject.
This really is the best book that I've read in quite some time. I'm not sure what more I could say to recommend it. So instead I'll simply end with: Get this book. You won't regret it!!
Rating: 5
Summary: Wonderful story of Zoroaster¿s legacy
Comment: This book is wide in scope and erudite. It is also a delight to read. The travels of the author in his search for the ancient prophet takes him to all corners of the ancient world. From Iran to Great Britain, Spain, the central Asian steppes, and to Germany with the philosophical legacy of the famous existentialist, Nietzsche. The manner in which Kriwaczek makes the topic relevant to all stages of history is fascinating. You will come away with a rich appreciation for the impact that this prophet had on history.
After his adult faith crisis, Nietzsche one day was "visited" by Zoroaster high up the mountains, when night became day, and one became two. You see, Zoroaster innovated strict ethical dualism, the separation of good from evil, and embodied these principles into two beings, constantly at war with each other, with mankind pitted in the middle and compelled to choose between the two. This separation, and its consequent morality was, to Nietzsche, one of the greatest travesties to have ever been invented. It enslaved mankind in a delusional game in which there was no winner, and he dedicated much of his writing to the liberation of mankind from the tangles of restrictive religion, which was doing far more harm than good. His writings became the basis for 20th century existentialism, postmodernism, deconstructionism, and Rorty's antirepresentationalism, oddly connecting Zoroastrianism to postmodern secular culture.
The Cathar heresy of Spain wherein pope Leo had thousands of its followers massacred, believed in two powers, two entities that were equals from eternity and were in battle with one another. This was not Catholic dualism, it was heresy, for it made Satan into God's equal. Individual's spirits would be passed on to the next generation if they had not reached the full maturity required of them. For these beliefs, they paid with their blood, after Leo's famous statement "Kill them all; God will know his own". Kriwaczek speculates on the possible source of their beliefs (unproven), the Hunnish Goths from the central Asian steppes, who passing through the Balkans may have passed on Manichaeism to the Cathars by way of historical tradition. Manichaeism, of course, began as a heretical sect within Zoroastrianism, and the ruler of Persia had Mani put to death. His followers did not abandon him or his Gnostic beliefs but adapted a new religious tradition out of them.
The chapter on Mithras is the least helpful, and considering the recent scholarship of Ulansey on Roman Mithraism, which calls into serious doubt any links to Persia at all, probably contains a lot of inaccurate speculation. Nonetheless, the description of the mysteries of the religion, and the stories of the Mithraeum controversy in post-war Britain are both interesting.
Alexander's conquest slowed the Zoroastrian faith for a time, and a period of syncretism followed for the prophet's faith in which many Greek ideas were incorporated. Biblical Daniel was the Hebrew most profoundly affected by Persian religion and incorporated its compelling ideas into Judaism. The belief in a final eschatological battle, the coming of a messiah, and the future resurrection of the dead were all originally Zoroastrian beliefs. The Qumran community of the Essenes were apocalyptic enthusiasts whose Dead Sea Scrolls reveal a tremendous amount of Zoroastrian influence.
Finally, we come to the first significant group of people influenced by these beliefs: the rulers of ancient Persia, with special attention on Cyrus and Darius. Both were committed Zoroastrians who spread their religion throughout their empire and who both have tombs still visited by tourists depicting the symbol of Ahura Mazda and other religious inscriptions.
The author points out the distinct character of Iranian Islam, and the traces of the ancient Zoroastrian traditions that are still part of Iranian practice and belief, if only unconsciously. The celebratation of Noruz, the Zoroastrian New Year, adapted for Islam. Depictions of Mithra, the Zoroastrian sun god, can still found in Iran. Shi'ite belief (centered in Iran and southern Iraq) in practice is very distinct from Sunni, with its belief in a hidden twelfth imam, who will appear at the end of time, destroy the forces of evil, and establish a kingdom of justice and righteousness. All of this, of course is evocative of the Zoroastrian Saoshyant, who would be miraculously conceived by a virgin in a lake preserving the prophet's semen, and accomplish the same act.
This work is not a profound work of scholarship, so be wary of drawing too many firm conclusions from it. But, it is a joy to read and can be done so in a short amount of time. It is lively and entirely engaging, highly recommended.
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Title: Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices) by Mary Boyce ISBN: 0415239036 Publisher: Routledge Pub. Date: March, 2001 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: The Zoroastrian Faith: Tradition and Modern Research by Solomon A. Nigosian ISBN: 077351144X Publisher: McGill-Queens University Press Pub. Date: December, 1993 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: The Dawn and Twilight of Zoroastrianism by R.C. Zaehner ISBN: 1842121650 Publisher: Phoenix Press Pub. Date: 28 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: The Other God: Dualist Religions from Antiquity to the Cathar Heresy (Yale Nota Bene) by Yuri Stoyanov ISBN: 0300082533 Publisher: Yale Univ Pr Pub. Date: August, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: History of the Persian Empire by A.T. Olmstead ISBN: 0226627772 Publisher: University of Chicago Press (Trd) Pub. Date: June, 1948 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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