Religions of Iran: from prehistory to the present

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 Road. This vivid and surprising work 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 Christianity. Foltz considers Iran's role in shaping the Muslim world, not on.;Cover ; Half title; Title; Copyright; Dedication; Contents ; Preface; A Note on Transliteration; Historical Timeline; List of Illustrations; Part 1: Ancient Iranian Religions; 1: The Origins of Iranian Religion; 2: Mithra and Mithraism; 3: In Search of Zoroaster; 4: Mazda and His Rivals; 5: Iranian Goddesses (Manya Saadi-nejad); Part 2: Foreign Religions in Iran; 6: Judaism; 7: Buddhism; 8: Christianity; 9: Mandaeism; Part 3: Challenges to Sasanian Zoroastrianism; 10: Manichaeism; 11: Undercurrents of Resistance: Mazdak and His Successors; 12: Islam; Part 4: Islamic Iran; 13: Persian Sufism.