If Armenians stayed Zoroastrian...

[Armenian]

Re: If Armenians stayed Zoroastrian...

I think Armenians would still have set themselves apart from others, even if they were Christians, maybe not to the same degree but still. It's not about Christianity, it's about Armenians' spirit of enlightenment and ingenuity. Look at the Georgians (ok not a good example), but those fools are Christian and Armenians still have managed to develop a culture and art form different from them. Same with Byzantines.

Aper, I agree... {takes hat off and gently bows in enker Karoaper's presence}

[karoaper]

Re: If Armenians stayed Zoroastrian...

Ironically, it was the doing of a Christian Parthian...

At the time in question, one of the world's largest Christian communities (perhaps the largest) lived within the Persian empire.

Had Armenia stayed Zoroastrian we would have have fallen victims to Islamization in the seventh century.

Had Sassanid Iranians listened to us Armenians they would have converted to Christianity and, as a result, the entire course of history would have been different and there most probably would not have been a Turkey today nor Islam as we know it.

But enough of playing dream games.

Islam or not, Zoroastrian or not, Iran and Armenia have always had cordial relations throughout history.

Nevertheless, to a certain degree, I'm glad that Armenia's neighbors have been Muslims. I say this because the "distance" that religion has put between "us" and "them" has kept us Armenians homogeneous and has set us culturally apart from the other nations in the region, thereby preserving Armenian ethnic and cultural characteristics.

I think Armenians would still have set themselves apart from others, even if they were Christians, maybe not to the same degree but still. It's not about Christianity, it's about Armenians' spirit of enlightenment and ingenuity. Look at the Georgians (ok not a good example), but those fools are Christian and Armenians still have managed to develop a culture and art form different from them. Same with Byzantines.

[Armenian]

Re: If Armenians stayed Zoroastrian...

Can anyone explain to me why or how the Armenians converted to Christianity from Zoroastrianism?

Ironically, it was the doing of a Christian Parthian...

At the time in question, one of the world's largest Christian communities (perhaps the largest) lived within the Persian empire.

Had Armenia stayed Zoroastrian we would have have fallen victims to Islamization in the seventh century.

Had Sassanid Iranians listened to us Armenians they would have converted to Christianity and, as a result, the entire course of history would have been different and there most probably would not have been a Turkey today nor Islam as we know it.

But enough of playing dream games.

Islam or not, Zoroastrian or not, Iran and Armenia have always had cordial relations throughout history.

Nevertheless, to a certain degree, I'm glad that Armenia's neighbors have been Muslims. I say this because the "distance" that religion has put between "us" and "them" has kept us Armenians homogeneous and has set us culturally apart from the other nations in the region, thereby preserving Armenian ethnic and cultural characteristics.

[skhara]

Re: If Armenians stayed Zoroastrian...

http://satucket.com/lectionary/Gregory_Illuminator.htm

[Shahanshah]

Re: If Armenians stayed Zoroastrian...

Well, the Shah would definetly have put Iran before anything else, as he was secular. The Shah would probably have good relations with both nations, just like the IRI has today.

Iran's relationship is good with both Armenia and Turkey.

Can anyone explain to me why or how the Armenians converted to Christianity from Zoroastrianism?

[Navid]

Re: If Armenians stayed Zoroastrian...

I think that if the Armenians would be Zoroastrians or the other way around, if the Iranians would be Christians, defenitively they would be closer.

However, if one checks Wikipedia "Iran-Armenia relations", it states that Iran is in a lot of heat with Turkey because of its ever going closer ties with Armenia. And this is a reality despite the Islamists, imagine if the Shah would of been there?

[Shahanshah]

If Armenians stayed Zoroastrian, would Armenians and Iranians be even closer than they are today (culturally, historically, etc... I mean, the relationship is already a close one, but would it be even more close)?

There were many Armenians in the Sassanid military, even famous generals.

I would assume that Armenians would have also converted to Islam after the fall of the Sassanids.