The Zarathushtrian Assembly is a Zoroastrian religious organization based in Los Angeles, California, founded in 1990. It is the most visible organized Zoroastrian body to actively welcome and teach non-Zoroastrians interested in the faith, a stance most mainstream Parsi and Irani Zoroastrian organizations reject.
History & Origin
Jafarey and the Assembly describe their teaching as a return to the core message of Zarathushtra own Gathas, distinct from later institutional Zoroastrian tradition, welcoming genuine interest from any background rather than restricting membership by descent.
Facts
Origins
FounderAli A. Jafarey, an Iranian-born scholar raised Muslim who adopted Zoroastrianism as an adult, founded the Assembly in 1990 with seven co-founders: A. K. Amir-Jahed, Darius Irani, Fatane Farid, Parimarz Javanshir, Parviz Koupai and William H. Brawner. 1 FoundedFounded 1990, Los Angeles, California, United States. 1 Controversy
Point in DisputeThe Assembly active welcome of converts is rejected by most mainstream Zoroastrian organizations. The World Zoroastrian Organization has stated it does not accept the conversion activities of the Zarathushtrian Assembly under Jafarey, reflecting a broader Zoroastrian consensus, formed after centuries of restriction under Islamic rule in Iran, against proselytizing or accepting converts. 2 Status
Current StatusActive, based in Santa Ana, California, led by a board of directors. 1 Sources
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