Customer Reviews

In Search of Zarathustra: Across Iran and Central Asia to Find the World's First Prophet

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This is a lovely little book tracing the influence and mythology of Zarathustra (Zoroaster) through time. Paul Kriwaczek quickly covers Nietzsche, the Cathars, the Manichees, the Roman cult of Mithras, and Zoroastrianism. More accurate and careful books have been written on each of those subjects, but none more enjoyable; and I'm sure this is the only time they have all been dealt with in a single book.

Kriwaczek is an honest layman, enjoying himself as he travels across Central Asia, the Middle East and England, reading the works of scholars (and a novelist) and drawing his own conclusions, exploring the legacy of Zarathustra. He explores some of the most fascinating issues in the history of religion, and he entertains the reader with his description of modern rituals.

This is not scholarly, academic history, and Kriwaczek admits it. But it's also not the kind of ridiculous stuff you find on the History Channel. Kriwaczek's several speculations are within the bounds of plausibility, and he most of the time he admits when he's speculating.

I highly recommend this book because it is so entertaining and fairly accurate. If you wonder why people study ancient religions that no one believes in today, read this and you will know why.

However, if you want to read a book about Zoroastrians, I highly recommend Mary Boyce's "Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices."

Finally, in case you wondered, this is exactly the same book as Kriwaczek's "In Search of Zarathustra: The First Prophet and the Ideas That Changed the World."

The ancient Persian prophet Zoroaster taught that the world was caught in a struggle between good and evil. He believed in one God, called Ahura Mazda, in a struggle with the forces of darkness. He was a theological monist and an ethical dualist. Human beings had the responsibility of working to bring about the good and eliminate the evil. The good would triumph in the end. Zoroaster was one of the first religious teachers to preach the afterlife. He founded a religion called Zoroastrianism which remains one of the fundamental religions of man and, although it has relatively few adherents, it survives today.

Paul Kriwaczek has written a fine book which is travelog, political commentary, history, and study of Zoroastrianism all rolled into one. Mr. Kriwaczek was trained as a dentist but subsequently joined BBC as a specialist in Central and South Asian affairs. It is good to see a nonspecialist who can write on Zoroaster with enthusiasm and knowledge and convey something of both to his readers.

The book is written in the form of a reverse chronology beginning with the present-day and progressing through successive chapters to the hazy early days (perhaps 1800 B.C.) of Zarathustra himself. We see many interesting figures along the way, and Kriwaczek is full of entertaining stories and digressions. This mostly makes the book a pleasure to read, but there are moments when the organization becomes confusing and the story gets a bit off track.

Kriwaczek spends a great deal of time on Frederich Nietzsche and his famous work "Thus Spake Zarathustra." He explains well the sources of Nietzsche's fascination with the ancient Persian prophet and he discusses the advances in scholarship contemporary with Nietzsche that helped make Zoroaster accessible.

The book continues with a mixture of travel, history, and philosophy through a discussion of the Albegensians, the religion of Mani, Mithraism, Cyrus the Great, and the Jews during the period of the Babylonian Exile and the Second Temple.

There are outstanding color photograhps illustrating the places and sites discussed in the book. Kriwazeck's treatments make no pretense of being scholarly or complete. But they are, on the whole, eloquent and thought-provoking. I enjoyed particularly the discussion of Mani, a reformer of Zorastrianism who gave his name to Manicheanism. Kriwazeck's account is based in part upon a recent novel, "The Gardens of Light" by the Lebanese author, Amin Maalouf.

Kriwazeck concludes that Zoroaster continues to have a great deal to teach. He sees Zoroaster has a predecessor of the "American religion" or "universal religion" (pp. 227-228) which emphasizes ecumenisism and toleration in a large society composed of individuals from diverse backrounds. Kriwazeck writes (p.228) that the Universal religion:

"comprises a belief in good and evil, angels, the devil, heaven and hell, the coming of a Messiah, and an eventual end of the world. These are beliefs with which Jews, Christians and Muslims can all agree-- as well as that majority who do not claim to believe in any particular religion. Every one of these ideas first appeared in Zarathustra's teaching long before the start of recorded history, a message as influential today as it ever was."

Kriwaczek has written a fine popular study of Zoroaster. It may awake interest in the fundamentals of Zoroaster's teaching and move the mind and heart of the reader.


Robin Friedman

With the eyes of the news media focused on Iran and its undeniable influence in the Middle East, few have questioned the essential differences between Shiah and Sunni Islam and the history that has led the Shiites to consider Iraq holy ground and Iran the center of a new Islamic civilization. When questions are finally asked, one answer rings clearly: Mesopotamia and Persia are the very cradles of western dynastic civilization, Islamic or otherwise. Few human memories or legends are as old as these places. One tradition in particular echoes throughout the works of scribes and cantors: the faith of Zarathustra, the first messenger of the dominion of one Eternal God.

The downfall of the Shah of Iran and rise of fundamentalist Islam was America's first national experience of Middle Eastern theocratic extremism. The taking of American hostages in 1979 not only placed Shiah Islam in the center of world attention, but also affected American internal politics as it doomed the Carter administration to electoral failure.

Many in the West received a crash course on divisions within Islam as journalists, policy makers, and academics struggled to make sense of this new wrinkle in the rich and varied history of Iran. The many cultures, peoples, languages, and belief systems that have crossed the landscape of ancient Persia and modern Iran have come under intensive scrutiny and careful study in the last quarter century. While travel has been restricted across Iran at various times and for various reasons, scholars, tourists, and pilgrims have had opportunities to explore the rich undercurrents of history and faith that lie beneath the thin, but firm veneer of fundamentalist Shiah Islam.

Paul Kriwaczek is one such explorer who has carefully and honestly nurtured a pointed curiosity about an aspect of our global religious heritage of which many are only periferally aware. In Search of Zarathustra: Across Iran and Central Asia to Find the World's First Prophet is Kriwaczek's candid and personal examination of the far-reaching influence of Zoroastrianism, the national and indigenous religion of Ancient Persia.

Kriwaczek, a dentist by trade who provided care in Afghanistan and Africa, has become an award-winning journalist, documentary film producer and director, and a recognized authority on Persian languages. As a naturalized British subject and member of the Royal Society of Arts, Kriwaczek explores many aspects of world culture, exploring faith, politics, and, of course, ancient and modern languages.

In this examination of Zoroastrianism and its global influence, Kriwaczek begins in France with the tragic history of the Cathars, a Christian heresy which declared, with many of its Gnostic predecessors, that all physical material is evil and that God is the only good. Kriwaczek sees links between this stark medieval "spirit-good/flesh-evil" belief system and the dualistic faith of Zarathustra.

The narrative continues through Zoroastrianism's homeland, the ruins of Sassanid Persia, and its imprint on Roman religion, reaching all the way onto the British frontier. The cult of Mithra, an agricultural deity with origins in Zoroastrianism, leaves only the barest artifacts of its popularity after Christianity nearly wipes it off the face of Europe. Kriwaczek digs even deeper than this into annual observances kept by Iranian Shiite Muslims. These rituals are far older than Islam, but the revolutionary government of the Ayatollahs deems their antiquity worthy of a tolerant attitude, or at least a blind eye. What are the endearing and enduring qualities of this faith that is more ancient than Jerusalem and yet nearly extinct except for pockets of adherents in Iran, India, Afghanistan, and the West?

As Kriwaczek cautiously seeks out the true believers in Iran's mountains, he finds the most ancient fire altars, perhaps the most ancient of all altars, as the setting for a serene and happy private wedding. In the footsteps of the world's first prophet, the author finds a dwindling, yet contented collection of the faithful. His compassionate narrative and thorough research breathe new life into a tradition that has fed so many creeds over so many centuries and brings the image of a forgotten spiritual ancestor into clear, bright relief.

This book will probably make more sense to somebody who is already a student of history, particularly Central Asian, & therefore somebody who can, because of her already existent knowledge on the subject, decipher more meaning from the helter skelter approach that Kriwaczek seems to take.

This book is not a travelogue; it isn't all history, it is not about Zarathustra & his teaching. It primarily is about how the teachings of the prophet have influenced other religions, perspectives & philosophies; how it has been absorbed in different cultures & how it has been changed after such assimilation. However, this kind of approach itself, given that there is lot of speculation & connecting the dots kind of thing, somehow blurs the ultimate direction & subject of the book.

It might be Kriwaczek's own personal discovery of Zoroastrian history; but, by no means, is this a book of discovery. I am no student of history, but I think that though this book tells a few interesting stories, it compromises the interested reader looking for more chronological, structured documentation of Zoroastrian people, history and religion.

S!

Very well-written. Truly enjoyable and uplifting. Particularly welcome in this age of "cultural clashes." It shows the deep relationship and interchange of ideas amongst the major traditions of the world and indirectly demonstrates the fallacy of the arguments behind the folks believing in the "clash of civilizations". Highly recommended.

This is informative because the writer has taken a lot of time to investigate any traces of Zorasterism left in Central Asia. You learn more about what has influenced the people in Afghanistan and Iraq, and how their ancient history is still there despite the iron hands of the Muslim leaders. You go back through history with vivid imagery while getting a different perspective than most western history books will give. Easy read, and share it with an intelligent friend.

Lots of good reasons to read, including the fact that it's well-written and highly entertaining and very informative. I guarantee you'll learn a lot of things you didn't know and you'll be glad you did.

As I've said before, you have to look pretty hard to get good information on the part of the world we know as "IRAN." Iran has a baaaad rap in the West right now AND it's not as "interesting" to Western intellectuals as your Soviet Union's and China's. Of course, any discussion of MODERN Iran has to begin and end with Islam, but such wasn't always the case. Historically, the area of Iranian SPEAKING people extended from the edge of Greece (Scythia), down through Central Asia (Samaritans) into modern Iran and Afghanistan (Persians.) Like other linguistic groups in the Indo European family, the Iranians were horse riding nomads and small-time farmers with an upwardly mobile streak. The Iranians, Turks, Arabs and Mongols are the Asian equivalent of the Greeks, Romans, Germans and Celts of Europe. The Persian Empire of the Classic Period most resembles the Roman Empire of the same period. And in fact, beginning with Alexander the Great and running through the Middle Ages, Persians and Romans (and their succesors) fought amongst themselves in the area of modern day Syria, Iraq and the Caucuses.

Additionally, the more nomadic linguistic relatives of the Persians got swept up in the great wave of Turkish invaders, typified by Attila the Hun. In these armies, Germans (Goths) and Iranians (Alans) served side-by-side, Alans specifically making it into Eastern Europe to settle during the transition between the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages. The Iranian nomadic "style" was instrumental in influencing Germanic/Celtic tribesmen in the Early Middle Ages: Think knights in Armor, riding horses and using lances, think the aesthetic of stylized animal imagery in Medieval coats of arms and royal banners. The "knight in shining armor" was probably a phrase in Samaritan four or five hundred years before you could say that in Gothic or Latin.

Unfortunately, none of this influence is particularly well documented, leaving a reader literally grasping at straws where the over-lap is concerned. Sure, you can get 200 dollar (German language) books from the nineteenth century that talk about these subjects, but they were probably written by Nazis. Into the gap comes In Search of Zarathustra, a mass-market attempt to chart the influence of "The World's First Prophet." Most Western readers know of Zarathustra through one of two sources:

Nietzsche or the sound track to the movie 2001. Kriwaczek is either well aware of this himself, or has been told it by his Editors, so it's unsurprising that he starts from the Present and works backwards in time to discuss Zarathustra, the semi-mythical founder of Zoroastianism. Zoroastianism is widely regarded as the first mono-theistic religion, and it was the state religion up until the conquering of the Persian Empire by Arab Muslims in the Middle Ages.

Unfortunately, Islam has done a pretty decent job of supresing Zorastianism in the same way that Christianity has done a good job of stamping out pre-Christian believes. After reading In Search of Zarathustra I was left with the following impressoin:

Zoroaster was an actual person who lived in south central Asia in the bronze age (1600 BCish). At this time, the linguistic ancestors of Indian and Iranian speaking peoples lived together and practiced a religion analogous to that of the Rig Veda. Zoroaster was an old testament style prophet who basically presented a critique of the existing religion. This critique caught on with the Iranian speaking group, but not so much with the Indian speaking group. At first, Zorasatrianism caught on with isolated tribal (Iranian speaking) kingdoms in Central Asia, but was adopted by the Persian Empire as a state religion. This initial period was brought to a close by the conquest of Alexander the Great, but after that tide receded, Zorastianism was revived as a state sponsored cult, with the Emperor figuring prominently in the practice of the religion. Outside of it's heartland, Zorastianism became known via Roman Cult adoption (Mithraism) and the activities of New Testament era prophet Mani. Mani himself came from a group of Jewish-Christians in the area of the Persian Gulf, but the dominant religion at the time was Zorastrianism, and it was incorporated into his "Manichisism" the same way Judaism is incorporated into Christianity and Islam.

It is unknown, though highly likely, that Zorastrian proselytizers were working in Central Asia during the time of the Huns. It is unknown, though likely, that Zorastrians were included among the Iranian speaking soldiers who fought on behalf of the Huns, Romans and Byzantine Armies, eventually settling down in Europe. It is unknown, though possible, that these soldiers influenced the development Bogomill church in Bosnia and the Cathar Heresy in Southern France: Two putatively "Christian" Churches that were stamped out by the Pope for heresy and had Zorastrian sounding believes. Similarly, it is likely that these same soldiers influenced the aesthetic of the European Middle Ages by their successful example of Knighthood.

Finally, it is known that Zorastrianism was basically eradicated by Islam everywhere except among the "Parsees" of India who have occupied the role of talented minority in that part of the world in a manner similar to the role of the Jews in the West.

Long before Bahá'u'lláh, the Prophet Muhammad, the Christ, and Moses, there was Zoroaster. His message revolutionized the ideas of good versus evil, introduced to us the unwavering truth of one God, and stayed with us through thousands of years of constant human evolution. Who was he? Where did he teach? Most importantly, what was his covenant, and what is his religion all about?

Former BBC producer Paul Kriwaczek's "In Search of Zarathustra: Across Iran and Central Asia to Find the World's First Prophet" (Vintage Books, 2002) brings us to a journey of 3,000 years of human achievement across Europe, the Near East, the Indian subcontinent, and then Central Asia, to help with the answers. Written more in the tone of a travelogue than that of a scholarly treatise, the book explores the relationship between Zoroaster's religion and those of the prophets and messengers that followed him. Mr Kriwaczek's attention to historical detail is fascinating: his descriptions of sacred personages, Biblical cliffs, fifth-century Visigoth castles, and glorious temple sites in France, Britain, and Persia are so vivid I often felt like being there myself.

Some of Mr Kriwaczek's assertions are refutable--he calls Zoroaster the first prophet and Muhammad the last--but he succeeds in showcasing the rejuvenating role of divine messengers and prophets in history's ever-changing social and spiritual conditions. I recommend "In Search of Zarathustra" to those who seek to further understand religious truth.

Kriwaczek does his best to entertain the reader, but it simple isn't enough. This is a poorly organized travel novel that does little more than lightly introduce Zoroastrianism. The work is neither thorough-going nor engrossing. The prose fails to pull the reader forward and listen closely. The idea is here, but the execution was sub-par.