Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (Library of Religious Beliefs & Practices) (Paperback)

by Mary Boyce (Author) "Zoroastrianism is the oldest of the revealed credal religions, and it has probably had more influence on mankind, directly and indirectly, than any other single..." (more)
Key Phrases: seven creations, fire temples, purity laws, Ahura Mazda, Middle Persian, Amesha Spentas (more...)

Editorial Reviews

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

'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

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

Product Description
This book, now re-issued with a new introduction by Mary Boyce, is the first attempt to trace 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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 2 edition (February 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415239036
• ISBN-13: 978-0415239035
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #71,427 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 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

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

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.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Kurt A. Johnson (Marseilles, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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!

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Simplicissimus (Kentucky, USA) - See all my reviews

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.