Introduction A. Imagining Zoroastrianism
1. How Zoroastrianism Imagined Itself
2. Ancient Greek, Indian and Chinese Knowledge of Zoroastrianism (a) Recasting Zoroastrian Dualism within the Greek Philosophical Imagination (b) Imagining Zoroastrianism in the light of the Maga Brahmanas and the Kambojas (c) Zoroastrianism in the Chinese Imagination
3. Persian Religion and Judaism (a) Zoroastrianism/ Persian Religion in the Hebrew Bible (b) Zoroastrianism in the Babylonian Talmud
4. Manichaean, Christian, and Mandaean Views of Zoroastrianism
5. Zoroastrianism in early Arabic Sources
6. The European ‘Rediscovery’ of the Ancient Persians and their worldview
7. The History of the Study of Zoroastrianism
8. Zoroastrianism and Freemasonry in Colonial-Era India and Britain: Imagining Zoroastrianism and Re-imagining Freemasonry
9. A ‘Persian History’? Achaemenid history and Zoroastrian reception in Gore Vidal’s Creation 10. The Fascination of the Flame: Zoroastrianism and Tourism B. The Developing Zoroastrian World HISTORY
10. Imagining Ahura Mazda: the Earliest Form of Zoroastrianism
11. Reconstructing Regional and Chronological expressions of Zoroastrianism in Imperial Iran (a) Persian Religion in the Achaemenid Empire (b) Zoroastrianism in the religious context of the Arsacid Empire (c) Zoroastrianism in the Sasanian Empire
12. From the Arrival of Islam to Modern Times: The Bridge from Ancient to Modern (a) Zoroastrianism in Iran from the Arab Conquests to the mid-Nineteenth Century (b) Zoroastrianism in India: From the Migrations of the Parsis to the Late Eighteenth Century SOURCES
14. Sources, Approaches, and Core Characteristics of Zoroastrian texts. (a) The Developing Zoroastrian World and Orality (b) The Oldest Sources for Zoroastrianism: Avestan and Old Persian (c) “A Jewel of Wisdom Literature in the Pahlavi Tradition of Zoroastrianism” (d) The Meaning of Persian Zoroastrian literature (e) An Historical Overview of Parsi Writing in Gujarati (f) Zoroastrian literature in English from the Nineteenth to early Twentieth Centuries MATERIAL EVIDENCE
15. Zoroastrianism in Central Asia (a) Central Asian Expressions of Zoroastrianism (b) Central Asian Zoroastrianism: Can a case be made for Sogdiana?
16. Zoroastrianism in Anataolia, the Caucasus and Georgia (a) Zoroastrianism in Anatolia and the Caucasus (b) The ‘Fire-worshippers’ of Georgia C. Living Realities: Zoroastrian Narrative and Symbol in the Modern World
17. The Role of Parsi Zoroastrians in British Colonial-era India
18. Zoroastrian Politics in the era of the Constitutional Revolution in Iran (1905-1911)
19. Reconciling Persianate and Western forms of knowledge: esotericism as Zoroastrian hermeneutics in colonial India
20. Calling on Divine Help: Parsi Religious Expressions in Mumbai, Navsari, and Surat
21. Zoroastrian communities in diaspora (a) Zoroastrian Communities outside India and Iran (b) A Personal Account of migrating to North America
22. Teach your Children Well: Zoroastrian Religious Education
23. Digital Approaches to Zoroastrianism (a) The use of digital resources in studying the Zoroastrian religion (b) Digital projects in Zoroastrianism (c) The Impact of the Digital World on Internal Zoroastrian Discourse D. Contemporary Challenges in the Zoroastrian World INTERNAL CHALLENGES
24. Demographic Issues and Identity in Twenty-first Century India: Jiyo Parsi
25. The reverberations of the dokhmenashini debate in Mumbai and Zoroastrian death rituals practiced in India
26. Perspectives on the Zoroastrian Priesthood (a) Perspectives on the Parsi priesthood in India (b) Perspectives on the Zoroastrian priesthood in Iran (c) Perspectives on the Parsi priesthood from the UK: an interview with Ervad Yazad T. Bhadha (d) Perspectives on the Parsi priesthood from the US: an interview with Zerkxis Bhandara
27. Who Speaks for Zoroastrianism Today?
28. The Changing Roles of Men and Women (a) The Changing Roles of Men and Women within the Iranian Zoroastrian community (b) The Changing Roles of Parsi Men and Women in India
29. A Caring Model for the Elderly (a) Care for the Zoroastrian Elderly in India (b) A Caring Model for the Elderly in the UK EXTERNAL CHALLENGES
30. Zoroastrianism and Human Rights
31. Zoroastrianism and the Environment: Reviving the Forests of Doongerwadi in Mumbai, India
32. Zoroastrian Approaches to Business Ethics and Sustainable Development in Contemporary Times E. Creative Contributions from the Zoroastrian World
33. Modern Literature. ‘First Darling of the Morning’: An Interview with Parsi Novelist, Thrity Umrigar
34. Theatre. A larger laughter: the unique legacy of Parsi theatre
35. Music, Devotional Poetry and Songs (a) The House of Song (b) Devotional Poetry and Songs of the Zoroastrians of Iran
36. Visual Art and Textile (a) “I yam what I yam:” A Conversation with Screenwriter, Director and Photographer, Sooni Taraporevala (b) The Garden of the Universe: An Interview with Artist Hormazd Narielwalla (c) Identity and Silk: The Emergence and Re-emergence of Sino-Parsi Trade Textiles
37. Food (a) “You have to crack a few eggs to make a Parsi omelette:” An Interview with Chef and Culinary Author, Farokh Talati (b) Memories of growing up in Iran, Persian food, Zoroastrian festivals, and life as an author and cookery writer: An Interview with Shirin Simmons
38. Sport. How Parsis helped make India a cricketing nation