Intermarry Me

Date

February 17, 2006

Post by

arZan

Category

Issues

Like other aspects of globalization, social integration threatens cultural uniqueness. And Jews aren’t the only ones sounding the alarm. Among Parsis living in the West, intermarriage rates are roughly the same as those for Jews. But the existential calculus for Zoroastrians is more dire, as a posting on zoroastrian.com points out. “The world Jewish population is about 13,000,000,” the author of “Save the Parsi!” notes. “The world Parsi/Irani population is 130,000 . . . If the Jews are in grave danger due to intermarriage, what would you say about the Parsis?”
Exacerbating the problem for Zoroastrians is their religion’s tenet against conversion, and its policy of not recognizing half-Parsis, such as my husband. Calls to slow the group’s decline by loosening these restrictions are being hotly debated. A parallel conversation is underway within Judaism.

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3 Comments

  1. ardeshir
    ardeshir on June 7, 2020 at 12:18 PM

    I consider myself a devout/orthodox Zoroastrian and know most of Avesta by heart. I also consider myself as an American. On the subject of intermarriage I could assure every zoroastrian that based on our scriptures and pahlavi writings: intermarriage is only acceptable if the non-zoroastrian partner willinging and after careful consideration has made a whole-hearted decision to put the kusti and become a mazdyasni. This is specially true of the female partner that is mostly entrusted with the care and education of the child. For reference please look at the rivayats.

    ardeshir

  2. ardeshir
    ardeshir on February 18, 2006 at 11:06 PM

    I consider myself a devout/orthodox Zoroastrian and know most of Avesta by heart. I also consider myself as an American. On the subject of intermarriage I could assure every zoroastrian that based on our scriptures and pahlavi writings: intermarriage is only acceptable if the non-zoroastrian partner willinging and after careful consideration has made a whole-hearted decision to put the kusti and become a mazdyasni. This is specially true of the female partner that is mostly entrusted with the care and education of the child. For reference please look at the rivayats.

    ardeshir