Parsee in Afghanistan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Other / Small (Zoroastrianism)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Parsee people, which literally means inhabitant, are of the Indo-Iranian affinity bloc.
They are known as Zoroastrians, Zarathushti, Parsees, Parsis, and Zarthusht.
This people group traces its origin to the Persian Kings of the Old Testament including King Darius, Cyrus, and Xerxes who aided in the rebuilding of the Temple. In the Old Testament, Cyrus is noted as the only Gentile who was called "anointed". The magi who came to worship at Jesus' birth are also believed to have been Parsee. Because of their ancient heritage, which is dated at before 3000 BC, they are very proud and cling to their identity of royal heritage. They are known as the Zoroastrian Iranians who refused to adopt Islam during the Arab conquest.
Fasli (seasonal), Kadmi (ancient) and Shahenshahi (kingly) are their different calendars. The Parsee (Zoroastrian) calendar has twelve months, and each month has thirty days. At the end of the 360-day period, there are five additional days called Gathas. Each day of the month, and each month is named after an angel. Zoroastrian calendar does not have a leap year. The Zoroastrian calendar cycles, called Fasli, Kadmi, and Shahenshahi, begin at different times of the Gregorian calendar.
They are found in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Canada, India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, the United States and the United Kingdom. Parsees are also found in Canada and have fire temples and associations there.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Parsee communities are tightly knit closed groups that view themselves as superior to all other religious groups and races. Parsee women who marry outside their people group are no longer considered Parsee. One must be born Parsee and must participate in the blood covenant ritual to truly be Parsee. This ritual takes place just before children reach puberty. The child is bathed and then offered bull's urine, considered to be the blood of their god, by the temple priest and thus establishes a covenant allowing their soul to be one with god. Then the child is given a white shirt and a band of the covenant that is tied around the waist. These articles are never to be removed and are to be worn the rest of their lives as a reminder of the covenant. The Parsee people hold to a code of conduct which is summarized as, "good thought, good word, good deeds."


What Are Their Beliefs?

Their primary religion is Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism has fire as its supreme deity of worship believing it to be the son of god. All religious rituals and rites of passage are performed with burning fire present, and it is often lit by sandalwood and oil. Fires burn continuously in homes, and the temple fire is forbidden to burn out. Fire worship may include one falling prostrate before the flames.
They do hold to the belief in a Wise Creator god and wisdom is the most valued character trait by Zoroastrians. Guardian angels, who are treated more like a magical genie to disperse wishes, are also primary to religious beliefs -- conscience is the most important of such angels. Resurrection and salvation are part of their religious terminology, though they differ in meaning from Christian definitions.
Ancestor worship is an emphasized aspect of worship. Pictures of deceased loved ones hang in homes and are prayed and bowed to. August marks a time dedicated to ancestor worship during which forgiveness is sought and the spirits are asked to join the people. Demons manifest themselves in the likeness of lost family members.
The Parsee people celebrate six seasonal festivals known as Gahambars. Each festival lasts five days and is a time of worship dedicated to Ahura Mazda. After worship, there are assemblies of feasting, fellowship, and acts of goodwill. Upon a baby's birth, mother and child are confined with a lamp to ward off demons. Children are often given three names, the first is a personal name, the second is the father's name, and the third is the family name.
Parsees respect other faith systems and gods. The Bible is treated honorably as a religious text and Christ is also seen in a positive light and as a Messiah, though multiple idols may be worshiped.
Zoroastrians are extremely generous to the poor and needy. They believe they go to heaven by reading or reciting their Zoroastrian scriptures. Zoroastrian scriptures are the biggest and most difficult obstacle to their conversion to Christianity.
Zoroastrian's highest temples are in Udwada and Mumbai, India.


What Are Their Needs?

An important trait for a missionary to Zoroastrians must be unconditional agape love as in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:
"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
Zoroastrians are prejudiced against non-Zoroastrians, but that prejudice can be negated by a missionary who is highly educated.


Prayer Points

Pray for the spiritual hunger it will take for them to embrace and obey Jesus Christ.
Pray for loving workers.
Pray for disciples who make more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Parsee in Afghanistan.


References

Corrective edits have been made to the original profile from a reputable, anonymous source.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Parsee
People Name in Country Parsee
Pronunciation PAR-see
Alternate Names Parsis; Parzi; Zarathushti; Zardasht; Zarrushti; Zarthusht; Zarushti; Zoroastrians; पारसी
Population this Country 2,600
Population all Countries 165,000
Total Countries 9
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 14322
ROP3 Code 107901
Country Afghanistan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 10  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Country Afghanistan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 10  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Primary Religion: Other / Small (Zoroastrianism)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
100.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Dari
Language Code prs   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Dari, Zoroastrian
Primary Language Dari
Language Code prs   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Dari, Zoroastrian
People Groups Speaking Dari

Primary Language:  Dari

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1974)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1982-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2008)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Dari Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Dari YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Dari Bible کتاب مقدس دری General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Khabar-e Khush General / Other
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Dari YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Dari Bible General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Bible Gateway scripture Bible Gateway
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Ramniklal Mod - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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