Non-Zoroastrians’ names in Zoroastrian prayers?
NAMC Institute of Zoroastrian Studies
Discussion Group – Zoroastrianism outside the Box
Sunday, January 23, 2022, at 2 pm Eastern, 11 am Pacific
Topic: Non-Zoroastrians’ names in Zoroastrian prayers?
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82255067379?pwd=VkI2VDlJa1hyVzdKNUZoRjFsYWxzUT09
Meeting ID: 822 5506 7379 Passcode: NAMCIZS
Could non-Zoroastrians’ names be recited in Zoroastrian prayers and rituals? Are there scriptural restrictions? Are Zoroastrians prohibited from offering prayers for their dearly departed non-Zoroastrian spouse or loved ones? Do meaning of prayers make it inappropriate? – Let us discuss.
Presenter: Ervad Poras Balsara
Ervad Poras T. Balsara is a Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He has been actively serving the Zoroastrian community in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as a volunteer Mobed and in several other capacities.
This event is facilitated by the NAMC Institute of Zoroastrian Studies to promote knowledge through free but respectful discussion and debate. The views and opinions expressed during this discussions are those of the presenter and participants and do not reflect the official policy or position of the NAMC.
For more information, please visit https:/namcmobeds.org/
First off, the name of the discussion group as Zoroastrianism outside the Box seems cute and trendy, but exudes rather a pungent smell of ‘Dravandism”. Those not familiar with the term Dravand may ask the speaker to explain what it means, if at all he could do so. With all due respect, one needs to realize that by providing a blurb on the speaker’s impressive professional qualification doesn’t necessarily give him the license to present, or even moderate a discussion on such an acute religious aspect – he is but just a volunteer Mobed in the community – bringing perhaps an Avesta scholar who can interpret the laws of the Vendidad, or an experienced professional Mobed in good standing might have been a more appropriate decision – but come to think of it, that would have jeopardized the bottom-line goal of this group of Dravands who want to inject their own convenient desires, defile the age old tenets of our religion and thus attempting to completely reform the religious practices of our ancestors. For whatever it’s worth, I’m glad that the NAMC doesn’t officially reflect the views or the position of the speaker.