Iranian poet, writer, and filmmaker Ata Servati says that he has come to believe Eden was located by the city of Tabriz
LOS ANGELES, CA (ANS) -- An Iranian poet, writer and filmmaker says that while researching his book, “In Search of Heaven,” about an American missionary, Howard Conklin Baskerville, the latter made a startling discovery when in 1907 he went to the city of Tabriz in Iran. Baskerville, who sacrificed himself for Iranian freedom, after Russians had bombed and destroyed the Iranian parliament and killed all its representatives, may have discovered the original Garden of Eden.
Ata Servati, who was forced because of the circumstances to leave his homeland and now lives in Los Angeles, told ANS in an interview that he now believes that close to Tabriz is where the original “Garden of Eden” was located.
He said, “When I was done with the second draft of the book, a TV documentary called ‘In Search of Eden’ which was written and directed by David Rohl and aired by The Learning Channel (TLC) about the discovery of the Garden of Eden called ‘In Search Of Eden’ was shown.
“It was then that my belief became much stronger that it was fate that led Howard Baskerville to arrive in Tabriz. After many years of in-depth inquiry, and after examining numerous documents, biblical references, archeological findings, and various holy texts and sources, the producers of the show had finally concluded that all signs pointed toward the city of Tabriz being the actual Garden of Eden.
“Next to Tabriz is the city of Orumiyeh (Rezaiyeh, 1926-1980) which they concluded, was the home of Adam and Eve. It was also the birth place of messenger Zoroaster. In fact the reasons that the researcher were attracted to look in Iran were that many of the old buildings there are designed like the Garden of Eden, as portrayed in the Holy Bible; historical building like Massq of the Shah in Esfahan, Baghe Fen in Kashan and the Taj Mahal in India, which was designed and built by an Iranian architect.”
BACKGROUND ON TABRIZ
He then went on to give some background on Tabriz.
“It is located on the northwestern edge of Iran and is the capital of Azerbaijan, which neighbors Iran within the recently formed of Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia."
Ata Servati then shared why he has become so fascinated with the story of Howard Baskerville.
“First of all, I have discovered that someone else’s life can become more important than your own; that it shows a caring beyond human desire, and an understanding more than average man can arrive at,” he said. “This man has shown me that he had such love for people he had never met before he went to Iran. He was willing to sacrifice his own life at such a young age because of that love, which is beyond human imagination.
“One needs to go through everything Howard went through to be filled with the truth that Howard finally arrived at. And getting to that point one must read the book to feel and imagine what caused Howard to land at such an honorable place – heaven.”
When asked what he hoped the book would achieve, he said, “That we really have to look at each other as human beings. We must learn to love and respect for who we are and who others are. One should and must treat others as one wishes to be treated. And finally with love, respect and understanding we can arrive at a place we would wish this world to be: a peaceful and safe environment. With violence, destruction, bloodshed and hate we never get anywhere. Jesus Christ said that we should love our enemy more than you love your friend, and then you can be full of love. In fact, if we love our enemy we do not have an enemy to be worried about, do we?”
Ata Servati then said that he hoped that present-day all those who believe in violence will learn from the example of Howard Baskerville that “the answer is not in violence.”
He went on to say, “Iranian people can also learn that they have to rise and get their destiny back in their own hand; and claim their God-given freedom back from the radicals. And I believe this important will accomplish by younger generation and brave women of Iran. And let’s not forget this transformation must and will be achieve with a non-violent means. So the world would distinguish between the peaceful Iranian people and the small group of radicals presently in power in Iran, who use the language of killing and torture, to quiet any voice or ideology on the same people that supposedly should serve.
“They must show the real Iranian custom and behavior, part of love, respect for others and human rights part of their spiritually, to the world; the one that Howard had felt and had been fascinated by and died for.”
He concluded by saying, “I want to thank the American people who have welcomed me and over 2 million other Iranians here and were so kind to us all. We all appreciate such hospitality. And thank you again. Also I am hoping they read the book, and then they will be familiar with real side of Iranian people and not what they see in the news these days.”
He is now working on turning his book into a movie.
“In Search of Heaven” can be obtained through www.insearchofheaven.net.
© 2006 ASSIST News Service, used with permission
