Spirituality in the Land of the Noble: How Iran Shaped the World's Religions - Softcover

Foltz, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1851683364 ISBN 13: 9781851683369

Publisher: Oneworld Academic, 2004

Synopsis

An evocative journey into a diverse culture, this is the engaging yet long-neglected story of Iran s influence on the beliefs, practices, and scriptures of the world s religious traditions. Spanning the full spectrum of Persian history from the earliest settlers right up to the present age, Foltz offers a fascinating and invaluable insight into not only Iranian identity, but also the way in which religious traditions grow and change.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

( left flap) - An informative journey to a diverse and much-misinterpreted culture, this is an authoritative account of Iran's pivotal influence on the development of beliefs, practices and scriptures within all the major religious traditions of the world

Tracing everything from the migration of the Jews to Iran in 7BCE to the paths of the Iranian merchants who carried Buddhism along the Silk road to China, this comprehensive account reveals the diverse impact of Persian culture on Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and the Baha'I Faith. Scholar Richard C. Folz probes beneath the surface of world history, uncovering a wealth of Iranisn influences and ideas, from the sacred formulas of the earliest Aryan settlers to the inspired architectural designs emerging from Iran's holiest sites. His survey encompasses the full sweep of Persian history, right up to the modern era, and provides a rounded insight into not only Iranisn identity, but also the way in which religious traditions are shaped and formed.

Accompanied by a detailed bibliography, glossary, and chronology, this volume will prove indispensible to students and scholars of the middle East, in addition to being a long overdue tribute to Iran's rich spiritual heritage and diverse future possibilities.

Synopsis:

Although today associated exclusively with Islam, Iran has in fact played an unparalleled role within all the world religions, injecting Iranian ideas into the Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, and Manichaean traditions of the merchants who passed along the Silk Roads. This concise and readable introduction explores the manner in which Persian culture has interacted with and transformed each world faith, from the migration of the Israelites to Iran thousands of years ago, to the influence of Iranian notions on Mahayana Buddhism and Christian thought. The author also considers Iran?s role in shaping the Muslim world, not only in the Middle East but also in South Asia, in an evocative and informative journey through the spiritual heritage of an ancient and influential region.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oneworld Academic
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1851683364
• ISBN 13: 9781851683369
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224