Fwd: Vada Dasturji Cyrus Dastur and Surat Athornan condemn reformist and inter-marriage. Says it will destroy the community

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From: TZML Admins
Date: Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 3:06 AM
Subject: Vada Dasturji Cyrus Dastur and Surat Athornan condemn reformist and inter-marriage. Says it will destroy the community
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PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS EMAIL TO ALL YOUR PARSI CONTACTS SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT MISLEAD BY THESE MISGUIDED REFORMISTS

VADA DASTURJI CYRUS DASTUR AND SURAT ATHORNAN MANDAL CONDEMN "REFORM AND REFORMISTS" AT THE UDVADA UTSAV

Reformists should stop misleading the community  

Inter-marriage & conversion will destroy the community.

Jame Jamshed Weekly, 24 January 2016

Vada Dasturji Cyrus N. Dastur, High Priest and President of the Surat Athornan Mandal, says with anguish: "Regarding the Iranshah Udvada Utsav, it is quite disturbing to note that some of us have still not understood our religion and, directly or indirectly, are trying to reform the religion with our own personal ideas and views, proclaiming to be 'Reformists'. This, to our understanding, is not a good attitude for a true Zoroastrian."

Vada Dasturji Cyrus Dastur adds: "From the speech made by some noted persons at the Udvada Utsav, it was clear that they are trying to strongly impose reforms in our religion, without considering the original Zoroastrian laws. The Utsav was meant to bring forth positive aspects of our religion. However, such negative aspects will weaken the overall strength of our religion. Inter-marriages, conversion and not following our original Zoroastrian laws, which was reportedly promoted at the Utsav, falls in the category of negative aspects. Inter-marriages are very often recommended by the Reformists to increase our numbers, but they fail to understand that intermarriage is not the solution."

Vada Dasturji Cyrus Dastur emphatically asserts: "Genes play an important role and because of these genes a Parsi can be easily differentiated from a non-Parsi; even the culture depends on the genes and Parsis are noted for their unique culture. It is like adding water to pure milk to increase the quantity of the milk, but the quality deteriorates. 'So also for our community, the numbers (quantity) increases by inter-marriages and conversion - but what about the quality?

For the Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian comnunity, quantity is of importance -- but so is the quality. By intermarriage and conversion, the community will suffer. Our culture will lose its authenticity; our way of thinking will also change. In short "aapru Parsipanu" will vanish and so will the Zoroastrian religion and faith. What dire and drastic consequendes this will lead to is something all 'Reformists' should seriously think about and stop misleading the community".  

Vada Dasturji Cyrus Dastur concludes by stressing: "We at the Surat Athornan Mandlal protest and condemn such reforms and the Reformists too, who instigate and mislead the common, general Zoroastrian community. To convert and get converted is a shameful and sinful act for Zoroastrians. May Almighty Dadar Ahura Mazda bestow upon these 'Reformists' His blessing and show them the right path of Humata, Hukata, Hvrashta."

(end of report)

Thank you Vada Dasturji Cyrus Dastur and Surat Athornan Mandal for the good guidance given to the community. We also thank the other Vada Dasturjis for their joint statement made some days ago condemning conversion and inter-marriage. 

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS EMAIL TO ALL YOUR PARSI CONTACTS SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT MISLEAD BY THESE MISGUIDED REFORMISTS