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Zoroastrianism

This thread has been started to cover the history, religion and belief system:

The religion was founded by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster in Greek; Zarthosht in India and Persia). Conservative Zoroastrians assign a date of 6000 BCE to the founding of the religion; other followers estimate 600 BCE. Historians and religious scholars generally date his life sometime between 1500 and 1000 BCE on the basis of his style of writing.

Ref. https://www.religioustolerance.org/zoroastr.htm

Zoroastrianism

During my normal blog surfing, I found this site. The author seems to have some background in the religion of Zorastrianism. In particular, I am finding this page very interesting, as it describes what happened to the religion when Islam invaded Persia.

Zoroastrianism Religions East of Studies

Can someone summarize their beliefs for me. I did a google search and found information, but nothing that really does a clear job of explaining what they believe. Apparently there is a guy who lived in the 17th century named Zarathushtra. He had a wife and 6 kids. I found the names of his wife, children and parents but no explanation of beliefs. He taught certain principals. Did he claim to be a prohet?

Zoroastrianism

Here is a quick summary of their beliefs.

Zoroastrian Beliefs:

Beliefs include:
- A single god Ahura Mazda who is supreme. Communication between Himself and humans is by a number of Attributes, called Amesha Spentas or Bounteous Immortals. Within the Gathas, the original Zoroastrian sacred text, these Immortals are sometimes described as concepts, and are sometimes personified.
- One school of thought promotes a cosmic dualism between:
- An all powerful God Ahura Mazda who is the only deity worthy of being worshipped, and
- An evil spirit of violence and death, Angra Mainyu, who opposes Ahura Mazda.
The resulting cosmic conflict involves the entire universe, including humanity who is required to choose which to follow. Evil, and the Spirit of Evil, will be completely destroyed at the end of time. Dualism will come to an end and Goodness will be all in all.
- Another school of thought perceives the battle between Good and Evil as an ethical dualism, set within the human consciousness.
- Asha is a form of righteous, all encompassing, natural law.
- Legends, which are probably not those of Zarathushtra's original teachings are:
- After death, the urvan (soul) is allowed three days to meditate on his/her past life. The soul is then judged by a troika Mithra, Sraosha and Rashnu. If the good thoughts, words and deeds outweigh the bad, then the soul is taken into heaven. Otherwise, the soul is led to hell.
- The universe will go through three eras:
- creation;
- the present world where good and evil are mixed. People's good works are seen as gradually transforming the world towards its heavenly ideal;
- and a final state after this renovation when good and evil will be separated.
Eventually, everything will be purified. Even the occupants of hell will be released.
- A Saoshyant (savior) will be born of a virgin, but of the lineage of the Prophet Zoroaster who will raise the dead and judge everyone in a final judgment.

https://tenets.zoroastrianism.com/ is another site you can visit in addition to the one in the first post.

Zoroastrianism

That was very insightful, konquererz. I have always been curious about the Zoroastrian religion. As a person who believes much of the Bahai faith (but cannot call myself a Bahai because I do not live like one), which speaks of Zoroaster, I was seeking that type of insight. It is said that the wise men that brought gifts to the infant Jesus were Zoroastrian Priests following prophecy. It's funny how close minded people really are. Many people have never even heard of this religion or the Ba'Hai religion. Zoroastrianism was the first recognized world religion. The Ba'Hai Faith is recognized as the world's most recent world religion. Speaking of the wise men, fairy tales (and that is what they are) say there were three. I'm curious where people get that from. Is it because the Bible states they brought three gifts so therefore there were three wise men?

Zoroastrianism

Very true JNC, Zoroastrianism was the first known monotheistic type religion. It was the first dualistic religion siting two separate entities of good and evil, one being purely good and one purely evil. In fact, perhaps your texts on the zoroastrian priest are correct. Magi are priests of Mithras, which is heavily based on zoroastrianism as well.