Parsee in United States


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Other / Small (Zoroastrianism)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
More extensive map at peoplegroups.info

Introduction / History

The Parsee people, which literally means inhabitant, are of the Indo-Iranian affinity bloc. Parsees speak a dialect of Gujarati which is considerably different from Gujarati. Some speak Farsi and Dari.
This people group traces its origin to the Persian Kings of the Old Testament including King Darius, Cyrus, and Xerxes who aided in the rebuilding of the Temple. In the Old Testament, Cyrus is noted as the only Gentile who was called "anointed". The magi who came to worship at Jesus' birth are also believed to have been Parsee. Because of their ancient heritage, which is dated at before 3000 BC, they are very proud and cling to their identity of royal heritage. They are known as the Zoroastrian Iranians who refused to adopt Islam during the Arab conquest.
They are found in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Canada, India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, the United States and the United Kingdom. Parsees are also found in Canada and have fire temples and associations there.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Parsee communities are tightly knit closed groups that view themselves as superior to all other religious groups and races. Parsee women who marry outside their people group are no longer considered Parsee. One must be born Parsee and must participate in the blood covenant ritual to truly be Parsee. This ritual takes place just before children reach puberty. The child is bathed and then offered bull's urine, considered to be the blood of their god, by the temple priest and thus establishes a covenant allowing their soul to be one with god. Then the child is given a white shirt and a band of the covenant that is tied around the waist. These articles are never to be removed and are to be worn the rest of their lives as a reminder of the covenant. The Parsee people hold to a code of conduct which is summarized as, "good thought, good word, good deeds."


What Are Their Beliefs?

Their primary religion is Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism has fire as its supreme deity of worship believing it to be the son of god. All religious rituals and rites of passage are performed with burning fire present, and it is often lit by sandalwood and oil. Fires burn continuously in homes, and the temple fire is forbidden to burn out. Fire worship may include one falling prostrate before the flames.
They hold to the belief in a Wise Creator god and wisdom is the most valued character trait by Zoroastrians. Guardian angels, who are treated more like a magical genie to disperse wishes, are also primary to religious beliefs -- conscience is the most important of such angels. Resurrection and salvation are part of their religious terminology, though they differ in meaning from Christian definitions.
Ancestor worship is an emphasized aspect of worship. Pictures of deceased loved ones hang in homes and are prayed and bowed to. August marks a time dedicated to ancestor worship during which forgiveness is sought and the spirits are asked to join the people. Demons manifest themselves in the likeness of lost family members.
The Parsee people celebrate six seasonal festivals known as Gahambars. Each festival lasts five days and is a time of worship dedicated to Ahura Mazda. After worship, there are assemblies of feasting, fellowship, and acts of goodwill. Upon a baby's birth, mother and child are confined with a lamp to ward off demons. Children are often given three names, the first is a personal name, the second is the father's name, and the third is the family name.
Parsees respect other faith systems and gods. The Bible is treated honorably as a religious text and Christ is also seen in a positive light and as a messiah, though multiple idols may be worshiped.
Zoroastrians are extremely generous to the poor and needy. They believe they go to heaven by reading or reciting their Zoroastrian scriptures. Zoroastrian scriptures are the biggest and most difficult obstacle to their conversion to Christianity.
Zoroastrian's highest temples are in Udwada and Mumbai, India.


What Are Their Needs?

An important trait for a missionary to Zoroastrians has to be unconditional agape love as in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:
"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
Zoroastrians are prejudiced against non-Zoroastrians, but that prejudice can be negated by a missionary who is highly educated.


Prayer Points

Pray for the spiritual hunger it will take for them to seek and find the only savior.
Pray for the right workers to go to them.
Pray for Zoroastrian families to study and embrace biblical teachings.


Scripture Prayers for the Parsee in United States.


References

Corrective edits have been made to the original profile from a reputable, anonymous source.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Parsee
People Name in Country Parsee
Pronunciation PAR-see
Alternate Names Parsis; Parzi; Zarathushti; Zardasht; Zarrushti; Zarthusht; Zarushti; Zoroastrians; पारसी
Population this Country 19,000
Population all Countries 165,000
Total Countries 9
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 14322
ROP3 Code 107901
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Primary Religion: Other / Small (Zoroastrianism)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
100.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language English (19,000 speakers)
Language Code eng   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language English (19,000 speakers)
Language Code eng   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking English

Primary Language:  English

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1530-1995)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1380-2011)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1382-2020)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in English Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video Walking with Jesus video Jesus Film Project
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Biblica Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: EasyEnglish Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: EasyEnglish Bible - New Testament General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: English YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: English Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: ERV Bible Bible League
Mobile App Android Bible app: ERV Bible (UK) Bible League
Mobile App Android Bible app: her.BIBLE Women's Audio Bible Cru
Mobile App Android Bible app: John - EasyEnglish Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Plain English Version Bible Vernacular Scriptures Australia
Mobile App Android Bible app: Ruth - EasyEnglish Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: The Bible for the Deaf Bible Society of South Africa
Mobile App Android Bible app: The NET Bible® Scripture Earth
Mobile App Android Bible app: The Pastors Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Translation for Translators Wycliffe Bible Translators
Mobile App Android Bible app: UnfoldingWord Literal Text Bible (English) Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Android Bible app: UnfoldingWord Simplified Text Bible (English) Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Rafa Bible Radio English General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Actified General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Bible Story Handbook Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Community Transformation Handbook Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Grace Ministries Books Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: JM English: Jesus Messiah General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Kande Story - living with HIV Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: LTMP Bible app (Light To My Path) General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: My Talking Bible Stories General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: My Talking Library General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Open Bible Stories (English) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Prayers of a Godly Husband General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Prayers of a Wise Parent General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Prayers of an Excellent Wife General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Praying the Light General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: The Way of Righteousness - Part 1 Rock International
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: The Way of Righteousness - Part 2 Rock International
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App iOS Bible app: English YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: ERV Bible Bible League
Mobile App iOS Bible app: ERV Bible (UK) Bible League
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Grow In Wisdom Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: her.BIBLE Women's Audio Bible Cru
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter EasyBibles General / Other
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Ramniklal Mod - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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