In "Religious reins” (Parsiana, December 7-20, 2022), a report on the 12th World Zoroastrian Congress, Ervad (Dr) Arda-E-Viraf Minocherhomjee has been quoted as saying: "Unless we change the way we operate in North America, we will not be very successful. We lack focus, we lack effective, strategic vision.”
Although (or because) priests have kept the community together even before the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) was visualized, laypersons in a hurry to create a unifying organization somehow did not embrace religious needs within their purview. This has finally led the priests to redress the situation. One hopes it is not too late as at least one-and-and-a-half generations have already been conditioned to the current situation. Nonetheless, our future depends not only on how well both parties work together but also how hard they will strive to fulfill the needs of the other, acting as collaborators rather than rivals.
The "demise” of the Seth Mancherji Faramji Cama Athornan Institute and the reported dwindling of enrolment of students at the Dadar Athornan Institute will make it difficult, if not virtually impossible, to secure well trained priests not only for North America but everywhere. In North America we have been able to obtain local funds to establish a chair in Zoroastrianism at a university; however, the true needs of the community to ensure its very survival remain unmet. Establishing such chairs is welcome, though of late some scholars have raised issues regarding which laypersons require guidance. For example, whether Zoroaster ever existed was questioned by a Harvard chair; whether the Avestan texts are authentic as they are based on an oral tradition; or Zoroastrianism propagating marriages with sisters, daughters or mothers (khaetwo-datha); the Gathas being ritualistic and apparently following the Vedic mode; about Zoroastrianism being dualistic and not monotheistic, etc. I have addressed all these matters at avesta.org to the best of my ability.
Your article serves as an eye-opener as hitherto we were mostly fed news about the community’s progress even though there are many undercurrents that undermine its very survival. I had written about this in an article in the erstwhile Kaiser-i-Hind weekly in the 1960s. The situation has become much worse today. The initial Zoroastrian immigrants to North America were rooted in our culture, but with overemphasis on material prosperity, religious commitments have been compromised. Most of us here gladly accept and welcome children of interfaith marriages. Their numbers are fast outpacing those of children of both Zoroastrian parents. The lack of educated priests to win people’s allegiance to the faith, along with many other factors, is leading to the decrease in our strength.
It may be helpful for priests to keep track of all intermarriages and provide necessary support to the families so that they remain within the Zoroastrian fold before they are enticed to other forms of worship. I have seen many Zoroastrians not only converting to Christianity but also becoming ministers of that faith.
Zoroastrian priests have made many sacrifices to keep the ship sailing despite unfavorable weather. I have had to brave snow storms and place my child with friends in order to go out of state to perform the last rites of community members.
Your article has accurately described the lack of support for priests and the sacrifices they will have to make to save the future of the community.
Ervad (Dr) KERSEY H. ANTIA
Chicago, Illinois, USA