Zoroastrianism

Timely Celebration of Afghan New Years

March 30, 2003

Source: Contra Costa Times

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/counties/alameda_county/5517617.htm

On March 30, 2003 the Contra Costa Times reported that "from Mustafa Hakimi's perspective, the Afghan new year celebration comes at just the right time... 'This is perfect," said the 18-year-old San Leandro [CA] resident and Afghan native. 'We want everybody to realize we are a friendly people, a...

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Ground Breaking for First Zoroastrian Center in Virginia

March 26, 2003

Source: Daily Press

On March 26, 2003 the Daily Press reported that "members of one of the world's oldest religions broke ground Wednesday for one of the newest places of worship in Virginia... The Zoroastrian Center and Darb-e-Mehr in Vienna, which will serve a growing community of Zoroastrians in the Washington area, will be the first temple ever built in Virginia to serve the religion that is more than 3,000 years old... The Washington area's Zoroastrian community is not the largest in the country, but it has been growing, due in large part to sectarian...

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Washington Baha'i Community to Celebrate Naw Ruz

March 20, 2003

Source: Spokesman Review

On March 20, 2003 Spokesman Review reported that "members of the Baha'i Faith in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene will celebrate Naw Ruz or New Year on Friday, the first day of spring... This holy day is observed around the world, not only by Baha'is but also by Shi'ite Muslims and Zoroastrians in Iran."

Californians to Celebrate Persian New Year

March 20, 2003

Source: Los Angeles Times

On March 20, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "at precisely 15 seconds before 5 o'clock tonight, a million Southern Californians of Persian descent will mark the beginning of their new year... Thanks to the Internet, the ancient story is recounted on a handful of Persian Web sites. The two-week celebration is the most important in Persian culture. Because invaders hate the old traditions, whenever Persia -- modern-day Iran -- was conquered through the millennia, the new leaders tried to erase the celebration from the...

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Interfaith Prayers for Peace at Washington's Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

March 20, 2003

Source: The Associated Press

On March 20, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "each Wednesday, four veterans of the U.S. military kneel and offer prayers for peace - using words of the faithful from all over the world - at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in the Yakima Valley... There are Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Bahai and even Zoroastrian prayers... 'We just don't think we have an exclusive voice to heaven,' said Bill Flower, 66, an Army veteran and a lifelong member of Holy Trinity... The idea came from the church's Spokane Diocese, which...

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Interfaith Thanksgiving 2002

November 27, 2002

Source: Chicago Daily Herald

On November 27, 2002 the Chicago Daily Herald reported that "a smorgasbord of religions will emphasize the spiritual side of Thanksgiving next week. Participants in the DuPage Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will include Muslims, Catholics, Jews, Zoroastrians, Hindus, Sikhs, Bahais and theosophists. The annual service began in the early 1990s after members of the DuPage Interfaith Resource Network decided they could find common ground in recognizing that Thanksgiving goes deeper than turkey and football. The ceremony will...

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Interfaith Thanksgiving 2002

November 25, 2002

Source: The Plain Dealer

On November 25, 2002 The Plain Dealer reported that "Zoroastrians celebrated bountiful harvests in Persia long before the storied fall gala the Pilgrims put on near Plymouth Rock in 1621. Ditto for the Jewish faithful, who call their harvest festival Sukkot, and for followers of many of the world's other religions. So last night, four days before the Thanksgiving holiday, John Lecky brought together Buddhists and Christians, Hindus and Jews, Muslims and Zoroastrians to reflect on the thanks they all give in one way or another....

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North American Zoroastrian Congress Meets in Chicago

July 26, 2002

Source: India Abroad

On July 26, 2002 India Abroad featured an article on the 12th North American Zoroastrian Congress in Chicago which "drew about 600 delegates from across the United States and Canada, about one-third of them young people... They discussed ways to foster inter-generational dialogue and spirituality, and promote Zoroastrian identity in the continent.. Other topics at the congress included... 'Interfaith: building bridges - the Zarathushti imperative'... There were representatives from all the 24 Zarathushti associations and small groups in...

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Book to Focus on Religious Diversity of Ohio

July 12, 2002

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On July 12, 2002 The Columbus Dispatch reported that "the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio... and the Religious Experience Advisory Council of the Ohio Bicentennial Commission are planning [a new] book, Religion in Ohio: Over 200 Years of Experiences... As the state approaches 200, Christian and Jewish bodies remain prominent, but now they have plenty of company. [The] book for Ohio's bicentennial in 2003 also will discuss the beliefs of American Indians, Baha'is, Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, Muslims, Sikhs and...

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National Interfaith Alliance Expands Membership and Programs

June 15, 2002

Source: New York Daily News

On June 15, 2002 the New York Daily News featured an article on "the Interfaith Alliance, with headquarters in Washington, [which] claims 150,000 members who represent 69 faiths, ranging (alphabetically) from African Methodist Episcopal to Zoroastrian, a religion dating to ancient Persia. Members represent themselves, not their denominations... [and membership] grew by 20,000 last year alone... The alliance was founded in 1994 to counter the political activities of the religious right... The Interfaith Alliance plans to...

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Zoroastrian New Year's Celebration with a Newly Arrived Afghan Family

March 21, 2002

Source: The Detroit Free-Press

http://www.freep.com/news/mich/dyear21_20020321.htm

On March 21, 2002, The Detroit Free-Press featured the story "Afghan family reflects on new life in America." It reported on the experiences of the Sadat family in Lansing: "Wednesday, the first day of spring, was a special day for Lansing's struggling Afghan community. It was Nowruz (pronounced No-ROOZ), a New Year's holiday that's a major celebration of the year in Afghanistan, Iran and...

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New Zoroastrian Temple in Pomona, New York

August 26, 2001

Source: The Journal News

http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/082601/26zoroastrian.html

On August 26, 2001, The Journal News reported "Zoroastrians celebrate move to Pomona." It noted, "One of the world's oldest — and smallest — religions has made Rockland its home after purchasing a vacated temple. An organization of Zoroastrians, an ancient religion founded in what was originally Persia, was to hold its first official, full-scale celebration in its new...

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Iranians in California Celebrate Iranian New Year

March 14, 2001

Source: Los Angeles Times

On March 14, 2001, the Los Angeles Times reported that "thousands gathered [the night before] at an Orange County beach to mark the Iranian new year with a ceremony dating back centuries."

Mixed Reactions to Funding of Faith-Based Organizations

February 26, 2001

Source: Dayton Daily News

On February 26, 2001, the Dayton Daily News reported on the concerns of members of the religious community and others "about how [Bush's new faith-based initiative] would work. They fear a blurring of the First Amendment-sanctioned line between religion and state. They wonder about the possibility of religious groups' misusing tax dollars to woo converts, religious institutions losing autonomy, and the government slighting less mainstream religions." Another concern is that Bush may be "attempting to 'push the burden on the...

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