Review by Choice Review
This passionate and engaging overview of the remarkably diverse manifestations of the Iranian religious imagination ranges from Zoroastrianism to currently popular New Age beliefs. Foltz (Concordia Univ.) identifies various characteristics of Iranian religions, the most important being the idea of life as an ongoing struggle between opposing forces, between light and dark, order and chaos, spirit and matter. Much space is devoted to pre-Islamic beliefs, dualistic and apocalyptic creeds such as Zoroastrianism, the worship of Mithra, and the cults of Mani and Mazdak, which thrived long before the emergence of Christianity and Islam. In analyzing the beliefs and rituals of these faiths, Foltz shows how many of the world's major religions are indebted to ancient Iranian religions--from the notion of the afterlife to the idea of Satan. The chapter on Islam is far shorter than the discussion of Judaism and Christianity, and less interesting than the book's observations about alternative religious trends or modern Zoroastrianism in Iran. Though oriented to nonspecialists, this volume may be difficult for beginners. Nonetheless it is immensely rewarding for showing how--underneath the exterior of Muslim exclusivity--Iranian religiosity retains its flexibility via its never-ending inquiry into the nature of God and the meaning of life. Summing up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-level undergraduates; general readers. R. P. Matthee University of Delaware
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review