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Perspectives of Hinduism and Zoroastrianism on Abortion: a Comparative … ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Original Article ____________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________Perspectives ________________________________of Hinduism and________________________________ Zoroastrianism ________________________________on abortion: a ____________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________comparative study________________________________ between two pro________________________________-life ancient sisters________________________________ ____________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Kiarash Aramesh* Assistant Professor, The James F. Drane Bioethics Institute, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Biology and Health Sciences, College of Science and Health Professions, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, Pennsylvania, USA. Abstract Hinduism and Zoroastrianism have strong historical bonds and *Corresponding Author share similar value-systems. As an instance, both of these Kiarash Aramesh religions are pro-life. Abortion has been explicitly mentioned in 164 Cooper Hall, 230 Scotland Road, Zoroastrian Holy Scriptures including Avesta, Shayast- Edinboro, PA 16444, USA. Nashayast and Arda Viraf Nameh. According to Zoroastrian Tel: +1 (814) 732 2147 Email: [email protected] moral teachings, abortion is evil for two reasons: killing an innocent and intrinsically good person, and the contamination Received: 4 Dec 2018 caused by the dead body (Nashu). In Hinduism, the key Accepted: 3 June 2019 concepts involving moral deliberations on abortion are Ahimsa, Published: 5 August 2019 Karma and reincarnation. Accordingly, abortion deliberately Citation to this article: disrupts the process of reincarnation, and killing an innocent Aramesh K. Perspectives of Hinduism human being is not only in contrast with the concept of Ahimsa, and Zoroastrianism on abortion: a but also places a serious karmic burden on its agent. The most comparative study between two pro-life ancient sisters. J Med Ethics Hist Med. noteworthy similarity between Zoroastrianism and Hinduism is 2019; 12: 9. their pro-life approach. The concept of Asha in Zoroastrianism is like the concept of Dharma in Hinduism, referring to a superior law of the universe and the bright path of life for the believers. In terms of differences, Zoroastrianism is a religion boasting a God, a prophet, and a Holy book, while Hinduism lacks all these features. Instead of reincarnation and rebirth, MEDICINE OF MEDICAL HISTORY ETHICS AND Journal of Zoroastrianism, like Abrahamic religions, believes in the afterlife. Also, in contrast with the concept of Karma, in Zoroastrianism, Ahura Mazda can either punish or forgive sins. Keywords: Zoroastrianism; Hinduism; Abortion; Religious bioethics; Pro-life © 2019 Medical Ethics and History of Medicine Research Center, Volume 12 Number 9 August 2019 1 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Perspectives of Hinduism and Zoroastrianism on abortion: a comparative … Introduction comparative study that has assessed the perspectives of these two religious traditions In the history of human civilization, toward abortion. religions have always been major sources of values with huge impacts on the life The aim of this paper is to sketch and decisions of their followers. Originating in compare the perspectives of Zoroastrianism the dawn of human civilization, and Hinduism on abortion in the light of the Zoroastrianism and Hinduism are two unique specifics and characteristics of these ancient traditions/religions that have adopted two religious traditions, their moral a pro-life approach with an emphasis on teachings, and their bioethical approaches. reverence for life. Although these two sister For this purpose, these perspectives must be religions are not compatible in terms of the explained by exploring the main sources of number of followers (see below), their Zoroastrian and Hindu bioethics. These approaches and perspectives are important sources may either pertain to the and influential in the life decisions of theoretical/conceptual teachings of these two countless people and families around the religious traditions, or their practical world. approaches in the real world. By paying attention to the very pro-life nature of these Abortion is one of the first topics that two religious traditions one can clearly see appeared in the texts and scriptures related that despite some major differences in the to medical ethics from the early days of this bases of their moral thoughts, both oppose field in ancient times, and still is one of the abortion except for certain cases under very most debated and divisive issues in the field distinct conditions. of bioethics. Followers of religions always try to resolve issues such as abortion according to their religion and make their Two pro-life traditions and a life own and their families’ life decisions based issue on their religious normative approaches. Zoroastrianism and Hinduism both Zoroastrianism and Hinduism are two originated among Aryans after their MEDICAL ETHICS AND HISTORY OF OF MEDICAL HISTORY ETHICS AND Journal of ancient inter-related traditions/religions with migration to the Middle East and South strong historical bonds that have developed Asia. Although the theory of the Indo-Aryan and taken shape in neighboring countries migration has also been the subject of and societies. Studying the similarities and scholarly criticism, the similarities and the differences between these two religious existence of many common features between traditions with regard to an important life- the Vedic and Avestan texts indicate a related issue shows the divergent paths of strong ancient interconnection (2). While traditions and religions that have the same these two religious traditions had been (or very similar) origins, but have developed interconnected before and at the time of the in different societies and locations (1). Great Migration, they took separate paths MEDICINE This paper is the result of a library-based after the settlement of their followers in different geographic areas. Regardless of the 2 Volume 12 Number 9 August 2019 Aramesh K. causes of this divergence, nowadays there similarities between the two (5). are a lot of differences between these two - Yashtha: This part of Avesta is mostly religious traditions in addition to their poetic and includes verses of worship to original similarities. Ahura Mazda and Amshaspandan (see 1.Zoroastrianism below). Yashtha consists of poems and Zoroastrianism is an ancient Persian religion epics, and does not include moral or that was the official religion of the Persian jurisprudential elements or teachings (5). Empire from 600 BCE to 650 CE (3). - Visparad: Visparad means lords and Estimations on the lifetime of the prophet of leaders. This part of Avesta includes this religion, Zoroaster or Zarathustra cosmological and ontological teachings. (Zartosht in current Persian), vary between It also contains general moral wisdom for 8000 and 700 BCE. However, Moubed Dr. people, describing the best behavioral Jahangir Ashidari argues that according to models for men and women (6). historical facts and events, the most realistic - Vandidad: This is the jurisprudential part estimate of the year of his birth may be 1768 of Avesta. It was compiled centuries after BCE (4). the death of Zoroaster and mostly Zoroaster was born in the present-day explains how Zoroastrian clergy thought Azerbaijan Province in Iran. He moved to or acted in issuing jurisprudential Khorasan and the city of Balkh where he decrees. Vandidad is partly related to declared his prophet hood, and was medical issues such as abortion (5) (see successful in establishing a new religion. below). The king of Balkh was among his followers - Khordeh Avesta: In 400 CE, Moubed at that time (4). Azarbad MehrAspand compiled this part The most prominent source of Zoroastrian of Avesta to teach Zoroastrian rituals to moral thoughts is the religion’s holy book people. At that time, Zoroastrianism was named Avesta (5). Only a small part of the the official religion of the Sassanids, who current Avesta is attributed to Zoroaster were the last dynasty before Islam and MEDICINE OF MEDICAL HISTORY ETHICS AND Journal of himself, as a scripture he brought and left ruled over the Persian Empire for more among his people. This part is named Gatha than 200 years (5). and consists of mystical hymns and no concrete In addition to the Vandidad part of Avesta, jurisprudential or ethical debates (6:155-205). there are other holy scriptures like Arda The other parts of Avesta are as follow: Viraf Nameh and Shayast-Nashayast that are - Yasna: This is the oldest and most
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