Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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!

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.

As a passionate amateur of the Shahnameh which led me to the history of ancient Persia, to the Avesta and to the zoroastrianism, I am so glad I found many answers in Mary Boyce book. I choosed this one because she is a reknowned scholar on the subject and I am looking for objectivity. I wish other scholars had done this attempt to address to amateur by writing so serious a book.

As a fellow Parsee and Zarathusti, I am very glad to have found this book!! It provided be incredible insights into my religion's ~2500 year old history. Thanks to this book, I have truly rediscovered my faith. Boyce has done a terrific job!! She was an authority figure for her knowledge regarding the Zoroastrianism faith. I wish it were possible to thank her today for her tremendous contributions!! I recommend this book to all enthusiasts...

The books focuses a lot on the history of Zoroastrian beliefs and practices. It's not so much a thorough dissertation of Zoroaster's original teachings. This isn't a book if you're interested in something that focuses on the life and teachings of Zoroaster (a.k.a. Zarathustra), himself.

Mary Boyce's Zoroastrians is an historical overview of the birth, development, and ultimate withering away of this ancient religious community. Laying the foundation of the religious culture of ancient Indo-Iranians out of which Zoroastrianism grew, she gives some basic but comprehensive details as to the Zoroastrian's religious beliefs (and some few facts about Zoroaster himself). A Monotheistic culture, with an angelic pantheon that in some respects seems polytheistic, Zoroastrians fight to maintain their belief in Ahura Mazda and the forces of good, which they believe is humankind's chief ally against the forces of evil, the Angra Mainyu. Although this book may be a bit in depth for introductory readers, to get beyond the basic facts of most world religion books, Boyce's book is a recommended read. Rich in historical detail, sometimes a bit thick and heavy, Boyce packs a lot into 230 pages.

This book is a detailed history of Zoroastrianism from its begining 3700 hundred years ago to 1970s. I found the narrative interesting and informative and Ms. Boyce's treatment of this great relegion objective and unprejudiced. She informs on the strength and weakneses of the theology and the practitioners of the relegion. I highly recommend the book for learning about Zoroasterianism.

I agree the title is a bit of a misnomer; this is moreso a general history of Zoroastrianism than a close analysis of its daily practice. There is some discussion of the change of rituals over time, but the actual given information the specificity of the ritual is not the centerpiece of this work. That said, the history is very well written and covers a disparate group over people through several millennia. Boyce writes great prose, and hers is really the only layman's history on Zoroastrianism out there. The book is a bit pricy; also, it could be aided with pictures.

Boyce's book is a classic study in comparative religion. It is full of insights into the origins of Zoroastrianism, and how it strongly shaped all later religious traditions of the Western world. She shows how much of what Jews, Christians and Muslims commonly consider "fundamental" to their faith is borrowed from the Zoroastrians.