Religion in Tajikistan occupies a special place in public life. First of all, it should be said that this country is the only post-Soviet country where an Islamic party is officially registered, but the people of Tajikistan had to pay a very high price for this.
Ancient history
The history of religion in Tajikistan dates back to ancient times, connected with the amazing period of the conquests of Alexander the Great, who brought Greek civilization to these lands far from Europe and, accordingly, the Greek religion, which bizarrely combined with local cults.
The oldest cults that existed on the territory of present-day Tajikistan were associated with the assignment of various qualities to natural phenomena, elements and celestial bodies, such as the Moon, stars, and, first of all, the Sun. Subsequently, these primitive beliefs, in a highly revised form, served as a favorable substrate for the spread of Zoroastrianism in the region.
Spread of Zoroastrianism
Given the fact that the Tajik language isthe closest relative of the Iranian language Farsi, it is not surprising that the religion of Zoroastrianism has become widespread in this country. What it is? Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religions that has ever existed in the world. It is believed that the prophet Spitama Zarathustra acted as its founder, whose image subsequently became widely used.
First of all, it is worth saying that Zoroastrianism is a religion of ethical choice, requiring from a person not only external piety, but also good thoughts, sincere deeds. Some researchers, finding both dualistic and monotheistic features in Zoroastrianism, classify it as a religion of a transitional type, which served as a kind of stepping stone on the way to the emergence and widespread dissemination of monotheistic religions. The most important book of this religion is the Avesta.
Religion in Tajikistan
The history of modern Tajik civilization begins during the Sasanian Empire, whose rulers, along with the majority of the population, professed Zoroastrianism. The empire arose in the lll century and included territories in which, in addition to Zoroastrianism, Christianity was also widespread. However, Christianity in Tajikistan was represented mainly by heretical movements, whose representatives tried to move as far as possible from the generally recognized centers of Christianity with their diktat and dogmatism.
Manichaeism in Central Asia
Religion in Tajikistan has always been of great importance, but in the ancient period, especially duringSasanian Empire, this territory was characterized by a high degree of religious tolerance. It was this religious tolerance that became one of the reasons for the emergence of Manichaeism - a rather bizarre religion that combined in its dogmatic basis elements of Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, as well as various Christian sectarian ideas.
It was from the arid lands of Central Asia that Manichaeism began its triumphal march west until it reached Rome. However, the fate of the followers of the doctrine turned out to be sad - everywhere they were subjected to persecution and extreme pressure. Subsequently, Manichaeism became extremely widespread on the Eurasian continent, but could not get rid of the stigma of the world sect.
Jewish community
Since the history of the country has more than one century, it is not surprising that a variety of religions are represented on its territory. Judaism has become one of these religions in Tajikistan, although the number of its adherents has never been large. The small number of Jews in these lands was due to the fact that the rabbis never showed an inclination to proselytize and recruit new supporters, limiting themselves to ideas about the exclusivity of the people of Israel.
The Jewish community in Tajikistan existed under Zoroastrianism, and after the spread of Islam, it exists there today, although on a very small scale, since most Jews moved to Israel immediately after the liquidation of the Soviet Union. Today the vast majorityof the inhabitants of Tajikistan profess Islam, there is a political party in the country that expresses the mood of religious citizens.
