The article explores tensions in contemporary Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest practiced religions, over who a “real” Zoroastrian is, what, for Zoroastrians, constitutes the essence of Zoroastrianism and how constructed collective boundaries may or may not be crossed. Considering diverse perceptions amongst Zoroastrians, it demonstrates various forms of essentialism that are employed to mark boundaries around and between Zoroastrians. It also reflects how essentialist notions are used, amongst others, to protect the Zoroastrian community’s culture and wealth and to prevent assimilation or expand its boundaries by including newcomers. The article is based on ethnographic data collected at the 2018 World Zoroastrian Congress in Perth, supplemented by fieldwork in the second half of 2019 in the USA.

中文翻译：

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琐罗亚斯德教边界建设中的本质主义

这篇文章探讨了当今世界上最古老的宗教之一琐罗亚斯德教的张力，谁是“真正的”琐罗亚斯德教，对于琐罗亚斯德教徒而言，什么构成了琐罗亚斯德教主义的精髓，以及如何建构或超越了共同的界限。考虑到琐罗亚斯德教徒之间的不同看法，它展示了各种形式的本质主义，用于标记琐罗亚斯德教徒周围和之间的界限。它还反映了如何使用本质主义概念来保护琐罗亚斯德教徒社区的文化和财富，并通过吸收新移民来防止同化或扩大其界限。本文基于在2018年珀斯世界琐罗亚斯德教徒大会上收集的人种学数据，并于2019年下半年在美国进行了实地考察。