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

Rating:
Summary: One country ¿ a huge influence¿.
Review: Iran is an ancient country with a fascinating history. When it first rose to prominence almost two and half millennia ago it was the world's first superpower. Its fortunes since then have indeed been varied (that's dry British understatement!) and now the popular image is of a country peopled by fanatics and led by a class of intolerant clerics.

In fact through the centuries Iran has been notable for religious diversity and original spiritual thought. It has given birth to religions both ancient (Zoroastrian) and modern (Baha'i) and has influenced others to a remarkable degree. I suspect that most Christians, Muslims and Jews will be amazed at the extent to which Iranian thought shaped their faiths; even Buddhism - not a religion one associates with Iran - had a place here.

Foltz's text is pitched at just the right level for the interested non-academic reader. It is highly informative and very well written. This is a book I recommend highly to - well to just about everyone who has a religious faith or an interest in religion or history.