Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (The Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices) [Hardcover]

Mary Boyce (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415239028 | ISBN-13: 978-0415239028 | Publication Date: February 5, 2001 | Edition: 2

This book traces the continuous history of the faith from the time it was preached by Zoroaster down to the present day - a span of about 3,500 years. First taught among nomads on the Asian steppes, Zoroastrianism became the state religion of the three great Iranian empires and had a remarkable influence on other world faiths: to the east on northern Buddhism, to the west on Judaism, Christianity and Islam. With the conquest of Iran by the Muslim Arabs, Zoroastrianism lost its secular power, but continued to survive as a minority faith. Despite its antiquity, it remains a living religion.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Answers a real need among students of religion ... informative, original and so eminently enjoyable ...' - - Journal of Asian History

'... an excellent series.' - Isabel Wollaston, Univeristy of Birmingham, Reviews in Religion and Theology

About the Author

Mary Boyce is Professor Emerita of Iranian Studies at the University of London and is the author of a number of works on Zoroastrianism and Manicheanism.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 2 edition (February 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415239028
• ISBN-13: 978-0415239028
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,497,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book but the Title is a bit of a misnomer, September 27, 2002

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Blah (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (The Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices) (Paperback)

This is an increcdible book about the history and development of the Zoroastrian religion from ancient times to the present. However, it is not simply an explanation of Beliefs and Practices. If you are unfamiliar with Zoroastrianism I suggest you read Nigosian's book THe Zoroastrian Faith first and then read this one. Boyce's book is the clearest and most well researched work on Zoroastrian religion and is a must for all interested in the relative subject matter.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book impressed me with its excellence, January 26, 2006

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Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices) (Paperback)

This book is nothing short of a tour-de-force! In this fascinating book, Professor Emeriti of Iranian Studies (retired), Dr. Mary Boyce (b. 1920) looks at the beliefs and practices of the Zoroastrian faith, as it has evolved from its beginnings through to the late 1970s. Along the way, the reader is treated to an in-depth understanding of Persian and Iranian history, how it affected Zoroastrianism, and how Zoroastrianism affected Persian and Iranian history.

Now, after having poured out such praise on the book, I must admit to its one great weakness. The book was written in the late 1970s, but before the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, and the rise to power of fundamentalist Islam. As such, the book sees the greatest threat to Zoroastrianism in Iran as being an "increase in secularism," rather than the rise of Muslim oppression that it has actually been subjected to.

But, that said, this is a great book on Zoroastrianism, one that really gives you a good understanding of its history (up to the late 1970s) and beliefs and practices. If you really want to understand Zoroastrianism, then I would say that this is the best book to get. This book impressed me with its excellence, and I am quite confidant that it will impress you in the same way. I give this book my highest recommendations!

29 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Right!, July 19, 2003

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Simplicissimus (Kentucky, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (The Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices) (Paperback)

Goldilocks would like this book. It is perfect for the average reader as far as length, depth, and width of coverage of this topic. Not too deep and not too shallow but just right! In addition to general features of Zoroastianism it also has a large amount of information on ancient Persia as well as particularly strong emphasis on the usually neglected Parthian and Sasanian cultures. The coverage of the Parsis in the Indian subcontinent is also very well done. Highly recommended for the general reader who wants an accessible overall view of Zoroastrianism.