Iran has presented the world with many archaeological sites, and its cultural heritage is still carefully studied by scientists from around the world. This country was able not only to preserve, but also to increase its wealth, being a state with a clear separation by religious and gender.
Iran: briefly about the most important
Iran can be safely called a state where it is difficult to be different from others. The majority of the population are Persians, and they have a direct impact on the country's domestic policy. Despite the fact that in many matters it is difficult to find such an advanced country as Iran, religion plays the most serious role here. Absolutely all inhabitants of the state, starting from the head of the country and ending with simple artisans, repel religious prohibitions and rules in their ordinary lives.
The official language of Iran is Farsi, it is spoken by the overwhelming majority of the population. He is taught in schools and universities of Tehran. Women in the country do not have to study, this is due to religious traditions that clearly prescribe gender inequality. Female representatives are also prohibited from holding important government posts and becoming clergy. In other matters, women's rights are not too infringed. Many Western analysts even recognize Iran as a modern state, far from medieval Muslim prejudices and doctrines.
Religion of Ancient Iran
The population of Ancient Iran was represented by disparate nomadic tribes, therefore the religions of the first civilizations of Iran are contradictory and have different roots. The most powerful tribes of the Iranian highlands were the Aryans, who were able to spread their beliefs among the other tribes living in this territory.
In the pantheon of Aryan gods, you can count more than a thousand different spirits and deities. All of them are conditionally divided into two categories:
- gods of order;
- gods of nature.
Each deity had its own priests and special rites of service. Gradually, these rituals became more complicated, and settled life brought about changes in the religion of the ancient Iranians. By the second millennium BC, they especially singled out the god of wisdom, who belonged to the brightest deities from the entire pantheon. Scientists believe that his prototype was the veneration of fire, which brought sacrifices in the form of animals and gifts of nature. During the sacrifice to the fire, the Aryans took a stupefying drink. It is known as haoma, and has been used separately from religious rites for several millennia.
Towards the end of the seventh century BC, a new religious movement of Zoroastrianism was formed on the territory of Ancient Iran, which quickly spread among the population and became the most influential in the country.
Zoroastrianism - the birth of a new religious cult
Many legends go about the birth of Zoroastrianism on the Iranian highlands, but in fact the founder of the cult was a real historical figure. Historians managed to find evidence that Zoroaster was an influential priest of the Aryans. All his life he preached good and at the age of forty-two years received a revelation, which served as the basis for the emergence of a new religion. The priest began to actively carry the light of faith in the masses, traveling throughout the country, and after a while the sermons of Zoroaster were collected in one holy book - the Avesta. He himself was endowed with unusual abilities and over the course of several centuries turned into a mythical personality, the existence of which almost all Western scientists doubted.
The basics of Zoroastrianism
For many years, Zoroastrianism conquered Iran. Religion surprisingly superimposed on the ancient rites of the Aryans, we can say that Zoroaster united all the famous cults into one. The most important deity in Zoroastrianism is considered Hormuzda, he personifies all the most light and good. He has to constantly fight with his dark brother Anhra-Manyu, who is ready to destroy humanity if he manages to gain power over him.
According to the basics of Zoroastrianism, each deity rules on the Earth for three thousand years, for another three thousand years they fight among themselves. Each time, such a struggle is accompanied by disasters and natural disasters. But a change of rulers is inevitable and humanity must be prepared for this.
Avesta: The Holy Book of the Ancient Iranians
All the rules and foundations of Zoroastrianism were initially passed on by word of mouth, but in the end they found their embodiment in the Avesta. It consists of three parts. In the first, hymns to the deities are collected, in the second are the prayers of Ormudze, and in the third are all the rites and the main principles of the religious cult.
Zoroastrianism: Rites and Ministry
The most important attribute of serving the cult of Zoroastrianism was fire. He was always supported by the priests of the temple and was the first witness to the initiation rite of young Aryans. By the age of ten, every boy received a dedication to the deity, it was always held near the fire, which on the eve of the rite was necessary to "feed" five times a day. Each time, putting fuel, the priest had to read a prayer.
Special ceremonies corresponded to all events in the life of the community, the most complex manipulations were carried out during the burial of the bodies of deceased Iranians.
Arabs conquer Iran: change of religions
In the seventh century, Arab conquerors infiltrated Iran. The religion of the Arabs, Islam, began to actively displace the usual Zoroastrianism. For several centuries this was almost imperceptible, all religious movements peacefully coexisted in the country. But by the tenth century, the situation had changed dramatically, Islam began to be implanted everywhere. Those who disagree with the new religious regime were persecuted. In many areas of Iran, Zoroastrians were killed, and they did it with great cruelty. During this period, a large part of the adherents of the old faith moved to India, where Zoroastrianism became known as Parsism and is still a rather influential religious movement in the country.
Islam: the establishment of the state religion of Iran
Historians have no doubt what the state religion of Iran was after the expulsion of the Zoroastrians - Islam for many decades has firmly taken its place in the minds and souls of Iranians. From the tenth century, he only strengthened his position and actively influenced the secular life of the country.
Since the sixteenth century, the Iranian people have become a participant in the struggle of two currents in Islam - the Sunnis and Shiites. Most often, these warring parties clashed in armed battles that divided the country into two camps. All this adversely affected Iran. Religion has also become decisive in foreign policy, which virtually eliminated the possibility of a meaningful dialogue between Iran and the Western world.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Iranian philosophers made an attempt to revive the traditions of Zoroastrianism in the country, but already in the eighties of the last century, the Islamic revolution put an end to some liberties in religion and finally established the power of Shiite Muslims.
Which religion in Iran is the most influential today?
It is worth noting that, despite the rigidity of the Iranian rulers, various religious movements periodically appeared on the territory of the country. They did not receive mass distribution, but one of the branches of Islam still managed to gain a foothold in the country. This trend is Baha'ism, which is often called the religion of unity. At the moment, this religious minority has the most followers in Iran.
But still, the state religion of Iran is one, because more than ninety percent of the total population are Shia Muslims. They hold public office and become the most influential clergy. Eight percent of the population consider themselves Sunni Muslims, and only the remaining two percent of Iranians practice Baha'i, Christianity, and Judaism.
Many Western politicians have mixed opinions about Iran and its state system. They believe that a religious movement with strict postulates, such as Shiism, significantly limits the development of the state. But no one can really predict how the life of ordinary Iranians will be built if religion plays a lesser role in the country's domestic and foreign policy.