Religion in Iran

Abstract: Religious beliefs and doctrines in Iran have passed under many names and appeared in many different and sometimes violently opposed forms. But throughout the whole periods of Iranian history there has been both continuity and consistency of ideas, and a steady progress and evolution. Shi‟ism became the most formidable belief throughout the Iranian history. After the Iranian Revolution, Zoroastrianism, Christianity (Armenians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans) and Judaism were recognized religious minorities and were treated as the Ahl Kitab (people of the Book) or ahl al Dhimma (the protected people under the Islamic rule). However, the Baha‟i faith never achieved recognized recognition and faced severe persecution since its emergence. So far as the relevance of the present study is concerned, its pros and cons need to be analyzed and evaluated objectively. Study of religion usually influences common people in so far as the legitimate force that operates behind the principles and ideals of religion are concerned. The objective of this article is to give the reader a sense of religious faiths emerged and also their religious freedom in Iran. It is in this context the present paper has been analyzed.