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GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY BACHELOR OF ARTS IN LIBERAL STUDIES PROGRAM

ZOROASTRIANISM: AN INTRODUCTION

BLHV 452-01 Three Credits Summer Semester, 2015 Thursdays: May 21 – August 6 6:00-9:20 pm 640 Mass Ave Campus. Room C230

Joseph E. Jensen, Ph.D. Email: [email protected]

Office hours: By appointment on Thursdays after class at the Chinatown campus. Other times by appointment. Use e-mail to make appointment or to contact me. I respond to all e-mails within thirty- six hours.

Ashem Vohu © The British Library Board

Righteousness is the best . It is radiant . Radiant happiness comes to the person to whom is for the sake of the best righteousness alone. (“Ashen Vohu, The Main Motto”; tr. Jafarey)

Truth is best (of all that is good). As desired, what is desired is for Him/him who (represents) best truth. ( , Y:27:14, Clark, p. 124)

Order is the best good reward/possession there is. There are wished-for things in the wish for this one when one’s Order is for the best Order. (Harvard coursebook)

Catalog Description:

“Zoroastroism: An Introduction” offers an overview of what is generally acknowledged as one of if not the oldest of the world’s living and practiced . The content will include the origins of , its long history, doctrines and teachings, scriptures, , and the varieties and structures of the as it is practiced today. Attention is given to careful reading the (The Book of the Law), especially the , and other scriptures, comparing different English translations. Consideration is also given to the historical relationships between Zoroastrianism and the Abrahamic , , , and , and Zoroastrianism’s influences on and contributions to those faiths.

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Course Objectives: At the completion of this course: 1.) Students will have explored the characteristics that typically constitute a religion, and be able to illustrate how these characteristics apply or do not apply to ancient and modern Zoroastrianism. 2.) Students will have acquired and be able to articulate a basic understanding of the nature of Zoroastrianism as a religion, and its significant doctrines, ethical values, rituals, and practices. 3.) Students will have explored the historical ambiguities and uncertainty surrounding the dates and times of Zarathustra’s life, ministry, and teachings. 4.) Students will have read from multiple English translations the Zoroastrian sacred Scriptures, especially the Avesta, and from , be able to discuss the difficulties that arise when anyone seeks to understand and interpret any other’s ancient sacred texts. 5.) Students will be able to outline and trace the history of Zoroastriansim from the Persian empire down to modern times, and show how this history relates to the two branches of Zoroastrianism that we find today. 6.) Students will have explored the similarities and possible relationships between Zoroastrianism and the three “Abrahamic faiths [Judaism, Christianity, and Islam]”, and demonstrate a familiarity with the on-going debates regarding Zoroastrianism’s possible doctrinal contributions to these three faiths. 7.) Students will have become familiar with contemporary Zoroastrianism including doctrinal and cultural issues between its two branches, and the difficulties modern Zoroastrians face in striving to maintain religious and cultural identity in the midst of Western cultural settings. 8.) In keeping with the major goals of the Liberal Studies program, students will be able to address the relevance of Zoroastrian values in discussions of relationships between the human and the divine, the individual and society, and identity and , especially as this relates to gender roles, to authority [how it is construed, exercised, and challenged] and to and .

Required Textbooks: Peter Clark. Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to an Ancient . Sussex. 1998. ISBN 978-1- 898723-78-3 Jenny Rose. Zoroastrianism: An Introduction. I.B. Tauris, 2011. ISBN 978-1-84885-088-0. . Textual Sources for the Study of Zoroastrianism. University of Chicago Press, 1990. ISBN 978-0-226-06930-2. Paul Kriwaczek. In Search of Zarathustra: Across and Central to Find The First . Vintage, 2004. ISBN 978-1-4000-3142-9. M. C. West. Hymns of : A New Translation of the Most Sacred Ancient Texts of Iran. I.B. Tauris. 2010. ISBN 978-1-84885-505-2

All are available from the University bookstore, and from dealers on the internet. All other readings for this class are available online or will be available on Blackboard. For each class, we will read a selection from the Avesta, the Zoroastrian scriptures. Your experience in reading the Avesta could vary wildly depending on the translation you choose. For each 3 assigned reading from the Avesta, in addition to West’s text, please refer to at least two other translations. You can find these easily on-line. Make copies and bring them copies to class.

Useful websites: http://avesta.org/ http://fezana.org/ http://www.zarathushtra.com/ http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~iranian/Zoroastrianism/

Attendance: Students are expected to be on time and present for each meeting of this class. In accord with BALS policy, students with two or more absences, excused or unexcused, may receive a failing grade for the course.

Class Requirements: Attendance and participation (5% of grade). One 5 - 6 page paper on the topic “What Constitutes a Religion” (15 % of grade) due Thursday, June 4. One 7 – 9 page paper on the topic “ and the Problem of in Zoroastrianism” (25 % of grade) due Thursday, July 9. One 7 – 9 page paper on the topic “Zoroastrianism’s relationships with Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: Similarities and / or Influences” (25 % of grade) due Monday, August 10. Weekly Reflections: (together 30% of grade). The reflection is to devote at least one page [c. 360 words] to a question or concept posted on Blackboard regarding the week’s readings, and the remainder to the student’s questions and insights from the readings as a whole.

Reflection is an essential counterpart to reading. For this class, you will be asked to do this actively, reflecting on the assigned readings by writing 2-3 pages to be completed and submitted to Turnitin prior to the beginning of class. The Reflections will be graded on Turnitin within two weeks. Reflections will be graded with: A “meets and exceeds expectations” B “meets expectations” C “adequate” but some spelling, grammar, or content problems D “not adequate” because of significant spelling or grammar issues, or content not related to the assigned readings. After you have responded to the weekly question or posted topic, You should prepare a paragraph or two of concise summary of the readings or passages that motivated your insights and questions. You are not expected to expound expert theories, or detail vast amounts of independent research. You are, however, expected to offer a genuine response to the reading, which includes raising questions, drawing connections to earlier readings, exploring similarities between Zoroastrian and non-Zoroastrian texts, teasing out murky passages, chasing elusive concepts, etc. For example, at the beginning of class during Week 2, your reflection will be a collection of your insights about what makes something a religion. At the beginning of class in Week 3, you would might focus your questions and insights to 29 or on Chapter 1 from Kriwaczek’s book, In Search of Zarathustra, or both. Final Reflection: Your final reflection paper should “reflect on the entire course and its pertinence to the major themes of the core curriculum” discussed in the “Course Objectives” section above. “Student insights into these topics will” also “be the discussion material for the last class”.

Late papers will be accepted up to one week after the due date and will be penalized by one grade reduction, i.e. a late “B” paper will receive a “B-“. All papers will be graded on Turnitin within two weeks of receipt. [See scoring for essays above]. 4

Grading: The final grade for the course will be calculated as follows: 93-100 % = A 77 - 79 % = C+ 90 - 92 % = A- 73 - 76 % = C 87 - 89 % = B+ 70 - 72 % = C- 83 - 86 % = B 67 - 69 % = D+ 80 - 82 % = B- 60 - 66 % = D Below 60 % = F

Effort: This is a content intensive course. Students should expect to spend on average 350 minutes [about 6 hours] each week in reading, preparing assignments, and writing essays and papers for this course. Keeping up with the readings and written assignments is essential. There are no tests and no final exam for this course. Evaluation of student performance is based on attendance, preparation reflected in active class participation and weekly essay submissions, and timely submission of three assigned papers.

Incomplete grades: Should a student require an extension of time to complete the required coursework, the student must discuss this with the professor, fill out the Request for incomplete form, and submit it to the Associate Dean prior to the last regular class session (Thursday, August 6).

Disabilities: If you are a student with a documented disability who requires accommodations or if you think you may have a disability and want to inquire about accommodations, please contact the Academic Resource Center at 202-687-8354 or [email protected].

Georgetown Honor System: All students are expected to follow Georgetown's honor code unconditionally. We assume you have read the honor code material located at www.georgetown.edu/honor, and in particular have read the following documents: Honor Council Pamphlet, What is Plagiarism, Sanctioning Guidelines, and Expedited Sanctioning Process. Papers in this course will all be submitted to turnitin.com for checking. Submitting material in fulfillment of the requirements of this course means that you have abided by the Georgetown honor pledge: In the pursuit of the high ideals and rigorous standards of academic life, I commit myself to respect and uphold the Georgetown Honor System: To be honest in any academic endeavor, and to conduct myself honorably, as a responsible member of the Georgetown community, as we live and work together.

Plagiarism: The sources for all and ideas in your assignments must be documented, following the style rules of the Modern Language Association. In addition, all quotations must be identified as quotations, using quotation marks and indicating the source of the quotation, as mandated by MLA style. Anything less than these standards is plagiarism. 5

MLA style is not taught in this course; a summary of MLA style is available at https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

In accord with university policy, all incidents of suspected plagiarism or other Honor Code violations will be reported to the Honor Council without fail. If the Honor Council finds that a student has plagiarized or has violated the Honor Code in any other way, the student will receive a grade of F for the specific assignment.

Turnitin.com: Students acknowledge that by taking this course all required papers must be submitted for a Textual Similarity Review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be added as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers in the future. Use of the Turnitin.com service is subject to the terms of use agreement posted on the Turnitin.com site.

Policy Accommodating Students’ Religious Observances: Georgetown University promotes respect for all religions. Any student who is unable to attend classes or to participate in any examination, presentation, or assignment on a given day because of the observance of a major religious holiday or related travel shall be excused and provided with the opportunity to make up, without unreasonable burden, any work that has been missed for this reason and shall not in any other way be penalized for the absence or rescheduled work. Students will remain responsible for all assigned work. Students should notify professors in writing at the beginning of the semester of religious observances that conflict with their classes.

Extreme weather, Emergencies, and Instructional Continuity: During inclement weather or other emergencies on a day when we are scheduled to meet face-to- face, check the university’s Web site or call (202) 687-7669 for information on whether the university is open. If the university is open, this class will meet. If the university is closed, this class will meet through distance means such as online videoconferencing; check your e-mail for a message from me on how we will proceed in that situation. Due dates for written assignments submitted through Blackboard will not be changed due to campus closings. The university recently has acquired the capability to send text messages and recorded messages about emergencies to cell phones and other mobile devices. Sign up on MyAccess.

Class Schedule and Assignments [Subject to modification]

MODULE 1: OVERVIEW

Week 1: Thursday, May 21 - A Zoroastrian Experience

To Prepare For This Class: - Read over the Course Syllabus - Read Yasna 27, “Ashem Vohu.” - Read Clark, “Preface” pp ix – xii 6

“I: An Ancient Faith: Zarathustra – Prophet and ” pp 1 – 26 - Read Boyce, “1 Introduction” (pp. 1-22); “5 The Life and Legend of Zarathustra” (pp. 71-77). - Read Rose, “Zoroastrianism: An Introduction” pp xvii – xxiv. - Do some casual exploration of Zoroastrianism, for example, on YouTube, or in the news. You will have a chance to share your informal discoveries in our first class.

- Prepare and submit a two page, typed, double spaced self-introduction, telling something about your background, your ambitions and goals, your expectations from this course, and something about how familiar you are with scholarly study of religion. You are free to share your religious (s) or lack thereof should you choose. - Write reflection on the syllabus, Yasna 27, and your explorations. In Class: - Introduction to the course. Review Syllabus - Watch film - Discussion.

Week 2: Thursday, May 28 - What is a Religion, anyways? For This Class: - Read Yasna 29. - Read John Bowker. . . DK. 2006. Pp. 5-10. [Blackboard] - Read Jeffrey Brodd. World Religions: A Voyage of Discovery. 3d ed. Winona, MN. St. Mary’s. 2009. Pp. 11-19. [Blackboard] - Read D. Coogan (ed.) The Illustrated Guide to World Religions. New York. Oxford University Press. 2002. Pp. 6-13. [Blackboard] - Read Russell T. McCutcheon, “What is Religion” pp. 10-18 in Introduction to World Religions. Christopher Partridge (ed.) Minneapolis, MN. Fortress. 2005. [Blackboard] - Read Nancy Ring, Kathleen S. Nash, Mary N. MacDonald, and Fred Glennon (eds.). Introduction to the Study of Religion. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis. 2012. Pp. 79-83.

- Think about the question, “What is a Religion?” In the five readings on Blackboard note especially how quickly the discussions move on from the almost impossible to define answer to the question to a consideration of characteristics that are common to most but not necessarily present in all religions. Use the Internet to further explore the question. Choose two or three specific religions (or pseudo- religions), and analyze their ‘religiousness’ based on your thoughts and observations. Besides the obvious major religions (which are definitely helpful to look into), some specific movements you could include are , movement, yoga, , Native American and African religious practices, , , , , , , Unitarian , Opus Dei, Alcoholics Anonymous, the Cult of Oprah, etc. - Come to class prepared to actively engage in a two-hour, student-driven class discussion on this question. - Write reflection paper. In Class: - The question, “What is a religion?” will form the basis for our meeting, which will be a more formal, student-driven, class discussion.

Week 3: Thursday, June 4 - Zara-who?-stra Your first paper “What Constitutes a Religion” is due at this class.

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For This Class: - Read Yasna 30 - Read Kriwaczek, “Chapter One: An Idea for Now” (pp 3-16). - Read Rose, “Chapter 1: “Zoroastrians Present and Past” pp 1 – 29. “Chapter II. The Ancient : Truth-Tellers and -builders” (pp 31-63) - Read Clark, “ Mazda, Spenta Mainyu and the Divine Heptad” (pp 27-58) - Write reflection paper. In Class: - Pre-Zoroastrian climate - Divergent theories and beliefs about the life and time of Zarathustra - Introduction to the Gathas: in the context of an orientation to the broader Avesta, which includes the Yasna, the , the , and the

MODULE 2: ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT

Week 4: Thursday, June 11 - Early Iranian Empires

For This Class: - Read Yasna 33. - Read Clarrk, “Zoroastrian ” (pp 59-76) - Read Boyce, “9 Dogmatic Passages from Ninth-Century Pahlvai Books” (pp. 99-101); “10 Historical Texts” (pp. 104-131). - Read Kriwaczek, “Chapter Seven: By the Grace of .” (pp. 171-194) - Read Rose, “Chapter III: A Zoroastrian Presence from Seleucia to : The Parthian Period” (pp 65 – 97) - Review “History of the Iranians” chart. [Blackboard] - Review Rose, “Appendix 4: A Selective Historical Timeline” (pp 249 – 250) - Write reflection paper. In Class: - The - Cyrus II (599-530 BCE) - Cambyses (530-522 BCE) - Darius I (522-486 BCE) - The Seleucids (ca. 306-170 BCE) - The Parthians (ca. 238 BCE-226 CE)

Week 5: Thursday, June 18 - The Sasanians and Later Zoroastrianism

For This Class: - Read Yasna 34. - Read Niels, et al., “Zoroastrianism: The Battle Between ” (pp. 61-9 [Blackboard]). - Read Clark, “The Two Existences and the Problem of Evil” (pp 77-88) - Read Rose, “Chapter IV Eranshahr: The Sasanian Center of the World (pp 99 - 134) - Read Rose, “Chaper V “The Zoroastrians of ” (pp 135 – 158) - Read Kriwaczek, “4. The Religion of Light” (pp 88 - 115) - Write reflection paper. In Class: - The Sasanians (ca. 226-637 CE) - The Manicheans - 8

- Sogdian Zoroastrianism

Week 6: Thursday, June 25 - The Encounter of Zoroastrianism with Islam; The

For This Class: - Read Yasna 43 & 44 - Read Clark, “Zoroastrianism and Fire” (pp 89-98) - Read Rose, “Chapter VI -Mahalle: Zoroastrians in Islamic Iran” (pp 159 – 188) - Read Stepaniants, “The Encounter of Zoroastrianism with Islam.” [Blackboard] - Read Rose, “Chapter VII Parsipanu: Zoroastrianism in ” (pp 189-216) - Read Whitehurst, “The Zoroastrian Response to Westernization: A Case Study of the Parsis of Bombay.” [Blackborad] - Read Menant, “Zoroastrianism and the Parsis.” [Blackborad] - Read Luhrmann, “Evil in the Sands of Time: and Identity Politics among the Zoroastrian Parsis.” [Blackboard] - Write reflection paper.

In Class: - Discuss the Islamic conquest of Iran - Discuss Zoroastrianism under Islamic Rule - Discuss the emigration, theology, and the social and religious standing of the Parsis as Indian Zoroastrians.

MODULE 3: INFLUENCES AND PERSPECTIVES

Week 7: Thursday, July 2 - Religious Resemblances (to Judaism and Christianity)

For This Class: - Read Yasna .45 - Read Boyd and Crosby, “Is Zoroastrianism Dualistic or Monotheistic?” [Blackboard] - Read Clark, Appendix 1: “Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity” (152-156); Chart 1: “The historical relationship between Zoroastrian and Judeo-Christian religion” (162-3). [Blackboard] - Read Hinnells, John R. “Ch. 2, Introduction: Zoroastrian Influence on Biblical Imagery.” Zoroastrian and Parsi Studies; Selected Works of John R. Hinnells (29-45). [Blackboard] - Read Jackson, “Zoroastrianism and the Resemblances between It and Christianity.” [Blackboard] - Read Kriwacez, “3. “The Great ” (pp 57 – 87) - Write reflection paper. In Class: - Discuss the similarities between Zoroastrianism and Judaism and Christianity.

Week 8: Thursday, July 9 - Western Historical, Literary, and Philosophical Uses

Note: Your second paper: “Monotheism and the Problem of Evil in Zoroastrianism” is due at this class.

For This Class: - Read Yasna .46 - Read , (1.131-140).[Blackboard] - Read Plutarch, Isis and Osiris (46-49) [Blackboard]. - Read Nietzche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Zarathustra’s Prologue) [Blackboard]. - Read Kriwaczek, Chapter Two, “The True Philosopher” (28-49). [Blackboard] 9

- Using JSTOR or other journals, research other Western references to Zoroastrianism. - Write reflection paper. In Class: - Discuss Zarathustra and Zoroastrianism in ancient and more recent literature - Watch parts of Mozart’s “Magic Flute.” - Listen to “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

MODULE 4: BELIEFS AND RITUALS

Week 9: Thursday, July 16 – Theology: Ethics, Symbols, Rituals, and

For This Class: - Read Yasna 47 - 48 - Read Boyce, “2 Tradition and Doctrine” (27-45); “3 Worship, Prayer and Confession” (53-60); “4 Rules and Observances” (61-67) - Read Clark, Chapter VI: “A Living Faith - Zoroastrian Worship, Rituals and Other Observances” (99-123) [Blackboard]. - Read Clark, Chapter VII: “A Living Faith - Zoroastrian Ethics” (125-135) [Blackboard] - Write reflection paper. In Class: - Zoroastrian worship, , and observances. - Zoroastrian theology and ethics. - Watch video, “ - Zoroastrianism.” This video depicts a wedding, an ceremony, the thread-tying ritual; fire and sea worship; and discusses Zarathustra and the Avesta; etc.

Wednesday, July 22 is the last day for undergraduates to withdraw from classes.

Thursday, July 23 No Class

MODULE 5: CONTEMPORARY PRESENCE

Week 11: Thursday, July 30 - Zoroastrianism Today?

For This Class: - Read Yasna 51 & 53. - Read Clark, Chapter VIII: “Identity, Unity and Disparity - Zoroastrianism Today” (137-151) [Blackboard]. - Read Rose, “Chapter VIII Zoroastrians Present: Revisited” (pp 217 – 232) - Read Rose, “Chapter IX Zarathushtra Present and Past” (pp 233 – 242) - Read “Zoroastrianism Keep the Faith, and Keep Dwindling” by Laurie GoodStein << http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/06/us/06faith.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 >> -Read“Keeping the Flame Alive” Interview by Alice Chapan << http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Zoroastrianism/Keeping-The-Flame-Alive.aspx >> - Read “Zoroastrian Priesthood” by K.E. Eduljee << http://heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/priests/index.htm >> - Read “The Zoroastrian Priest in the Avesta” by A. Jafarey << http://www.zoroastrian.org/articles/Zoroastrian%20Priest%20in%20the%20Avesta.htm >> - Write reflection paper

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In Class: - Discuss the and issues relating to Zoroastrians everywhere: - priesthood - declining membership - identity.

Week 12: Thursday, August 6 – Wrap Up Session

For This Class: - Review progression of classes and journals - Review your reflection papers - Write longer reflection paper In Class: - Students will lead a discussion of their learning and insights as noted in their reflection papers. - Faculty will share concluding thoughts on the course.

Monday, August 10 – Your third Paper: “Zoroastrianism’s relationships with Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: Similarities and / or Influences” due at noon today.

%%%%% With sincere gratitude and appreciation to my former Georgetown Students Emily O’Connor and Jennifer Sherman who in an independent study contributed much to the development of this course and syllabus.