It’s rock ’n’ roll and religion

Freddie Mercury film depicts family clash over their ancient faith

In the new film about Freddie Mercury, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” there’s a scene in which a family member scolds the lead singer of glam rock band Queen.

“So now the family name is not good enough for you?”

“I changed it legally,” Mercury responds. “No looking back.”

He was born Farrokh Bulsara. His was a migrant family. Their first home was in India. Then they moved to Zanzibar, before settling in England, and they were Zoroastrians, members of one of the world’s oldest religions.

Zoroaster, a prophet who lived in modern-day Iran, is viewed as the faith’s founder around 1200 B.C. He is believed to have composed the Gathas, hymns that make up much of the Yasna, the liturgical texts of the Zoroastrians for whom Ahura Mazda is the supreme lord and creator who represents all that is good. In this aspect, the religion is one of the first examples of monotheism, the belief in one god.

Scholars have noted the historical influence that Zoroastrianism has had on concepts in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, including monotheism and the duality of good and evil.

Fleeing religious persecution from Muslims in Persia between the seventh and 10th centuries, the Zoroastrians settled in India, where they came to be called “Parsis.”

In India — and wherever they have gone — Parsis have adopted some of the customs of the land they live in, while maintaining their culture, religious rituals and beliefs.

Today, Zoroastrianism has a shrinking but devout following, estimated at between 128,000 and 190,000 members around the world, with 18,000 living in the United States. Parsis count a number of famous musicians, scientists, scholars, artists and entrepreneurs among their ranks.

Like his ancestors, Freddie Mercury integrated into a new culture and became a Western pop icon.

“What his Zoroastrian faith gave him,” his sister Kashmira Cooke explained in 2014, “was to work hard, to persevere, and to follow your dreams.”