...and the Zoroastrian Empire was established, endorsed and run waving olive branches, I'm sure.
What Zoroastrians did themselves and to others around them to establish their empire and to ascend to the throne was what else but attain power and forcefully establish their rule, often building fire temples in captured territories to promote the religion. I am sure you call it peaceful conversion.
What the Persians did to their enemies was just as gross disrespectful to their one God too.
... and so got the same in turn when they were at the receiving end but but but
... not during the time of the Great Khulafa-e-Rashideen as they were protected by the exalted Muslim Rulers as minorities after the captured Persian empire. It was only later during the Abbasids rule that the real persecution of Parsis began.
Now now now, Why do you go ahead and accuse Islam and other religions of things like folk lore and what not dear, when I have sincerely and most respectfully avoided writing that about your own and merely pointed towards your obvious lack of knowledge about Islam compared to the Zoroastrian religion.
Are you not forgetting Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds?
Getting back to our little conversation without throwing accusations; Its your POV that Other religions borrowed from yours and so it is ours that other religions may have done that instead.
I have merely pointed at the fact that the religions with the largest following around the world have their roots in the religion of Adam AS the first created human, who we believe and recognize as the first Divine sent of Islam.
It is not about the largeness dear, you are having a simple comprehension problem. It is about your claim of being 5000 years old and accusing others of copying from that.
I am talking about being as old as forever, from the time the first human was created, Adam AS, that how old are the roots of Islam and religions like Judaism and Christianity dear...not just 5000 years old, you get it now?
Again, From the POV of the followers of the largest religions, Zaraostrians may well have borrowed form the religion of Adam AS or his descendants if not competed with his followers and descendants and may be a reactionary religion if not its derivative or alternate form. That is purely a historic religious POV against the POV of Parsis.
Leaving the accusations of who borrowed from which, you should be happy with your POV as we are with ours. If not, atleast be happy that we all believe in very first human beings as in Adam and Eve AS that you call Mashya and Mashyana and anything else we may have common in our monotheistic religions. Why bicker over our beliefs when we can rejoice in what is common and keep yearning to learn, seek knowledge and keep trying to find and achieve our own salvation.
The Quran is the word of Allah, The Creator of everything, you call Him by another name. I am sure you will find more similarities in there if you do a comparative study. ( It is only a humble and sincere suggestion.)
Cheers .
I am way past bickering. And as always late in packing (Belgium).
Zoroastrianism like Hinduism (ancient Aryan faiths) believe strongly in blood.
The "conversions" you speak of were state sponsorship of a state religion in the dominions conquered. The building of libraries and Atash gahs. Not individual conversions.
Much like the Hindus with large parts of SE Asia.
That's why, when the empires ebbed, territorial control, those peoples moved to the new political dispensation and it's belief systems.
Not so the DNA core of each faith.
The Persians and the Hindus.
The chosen.
From whom Zarathustra was born.
Which is why even today if Tajiks and Uzbeks and Afghans and Azeris and Kurds and a dozen or more nationalities and people's revert to Zoroastrianism, I and other Zoroastrians would be pleased. But not overly affected.
The main and only bloodlines we care about, before the swing is complete and the Atash returns to its true home, are the Persians.
Hope that clarifies.
Peace. Ushta te.
Cheers, Doc