# How would I go about converting to Zoroastrianism? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 29, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-i-go-about-converting-to-zoroastrianism/337604 "2005-12-29T18:31:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-i-go-about-converting-to-zoroastrianism/337604/1 "2005-12-29T18:31:52Z")
I know Zoroastrians don’t proselytize. I know that the Parsi traditions don’t accept converts. But let’s say I was moved by Zarathushtra’s message and wanted to convert to Zoroastrianism. How would I go about doing that, here in the US? Where would I be likely find a Gathas temple to join? What would I need to do? (I’m not actually looking to convert, but I’m curious about the process.) ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-i-go-about-converting-to-zoroastrianism/337604/2 "2005-12-29T18:38:47Z")
They generally do not allow converts although there is some debate about this. The best you can do is marry and Zoroastranian so your children can be in the faith. > **[Zoroastrianism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)** > > Zoroastrianism or Mazdayasna is one of the world's oldest continuously practiced religions, based on the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster (also known as Zaraθuštra in Avestan or Zartosht in Modern Persian). Zoroastrianism has a dualistic cosmology of good and evil and an eschatology which predicts the ultimate conquest of evil by good. Zoroastrianism exalts an uncreated and benevolent deity of wisdom, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), as its supreme being. The unique histori With po... ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-i-go-about-converting-to-zoroastrianism/337604/3 "2005-12-29T18:45:18Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > They generally do not allow converts although there is some debate about this. The best you can do is marry and Zoroastranian so your children can be in the faith. > > [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism) But even then, a lot of Zoroastrians won’t consider the children “real” Zorastrians. I used to know a guy whose father was Parsi but his mother was from Mexico. He was brought up in the Zoroastrian faith but had great difficulty with acceptance by other members. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-i-go-about-converting-to-zoroastrianism/337604/4 "2005-12-30T18:32:48Z")
I know that many Zoroastrian traditions don’t accept converts. But I’m interested in the ones that do – what’s the process? Baptism? Circumcision? Regular attendance at the temple? A simple declaration that you’re a Zoroastrian now? Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-i-go-about-converting-to-zoroastrianism/337604/5 "2005-12-30T19:10:46Z")
[The Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America](http://www.fezana.org/) Their page fucks with my firefox browser. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-i-go-about-converting-to-zoroastrianism/337604/6 "2005-12-30T22:44:19Z")
> [@Interrobang!?](#): > > I know that many Zoroastrian traditions don’t accept converts. But I’m interested in the ones that do – what’s the process? Baptism? Circumcision? Regular attendance at the temple? A simple declaration that you’re a Zoroastrian now? > > Anyone know? My mother is a Parsi. As far as I know, Zoroastrianism does not permit conversion. Parsis accept children of [inter-married] Parsi fathers into the faith, but not children of Parsi mothers. Children have to undergo a ceremony called Navjote, which is similar to Baptism. From [here](http://www.lifepositive.com/Spirit/world-religions/zoroastrianism/parsi-community.asp) > [@](#): > > Parsis have distinct rites > of passage that start at birth and solidify with the Navjote (literally, new light) ceremony (similar to the Jewish Bar Mitzvah and the Hindu thread ceremony). The child (male or female) is blessed and inducted into the Zoroastrian way by donning a sacred thread (kusti) and a soft muslin undershirt (sudreh or Sudra), a tradition that pre-dates Zarathustra. She/he is initiated into the faith through prayers and community blessings. There is no ceremony (that I am aware of) to accept adults or non-Parsis into the faith. Non-Parsis are not permitted to enter the fire temple in India. Although I am an atheist, I have always wanted to visit a fire temple. The first time I visited a Parsi fire temple was this year in the US.