ZOROASTRIANISM

 

I.        Zoroastrianism defined   A religion that arose from the teachings of the poet Zoroaster (Zarathustra) to ancient Iranians.

 

II.     History of Zoroastrianism

 

A.    Some say Zarathustra lived in ancient Iran sometime between 1750 and 1500 B.C. or 1400 and 1200 B.C.  Older scholarship says he lived between 628 and 551 B.C.

 

B.     His religious upheaval began at age 30.

 

C.     Leaving his body, Zarathustra went to the court of heaven.

 

D.    Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) revealed that immortality would be given to the followers of Zarathustra.

 

E.     Ahura Mazda is opposed by Angra Mainyu who is the evil counterpart to Ahura Mazda.

 

F.      Zarathustra’s visions continued for ten years.

 

G.    Zarathustra continued to teach and serve at the altar of the fire temple until he was 77.

 

H.    He died during a war when he defended the altar from enemies.

 

I.        The scriptures of Zoroastrianism were written over a period of several centuries.  Avesta—book of the law.

 

J.        With the rise of Islam in Iran, Zoroastrianism decreased significantly.

 

III.    Worldview of Zoroastrianism

 

A.    The Absolute

 

1.      Deity worshiped is Ahura Mazda.  The evil force that opposes him is Angra Mainyu. Whether these two are equal in power is debated. Some see Zoroastrianism teaching dualism in the sense that there are two equal supernatural forces in the universe.

 

2.      Zarathustra was a monotheist.

 

3.      Only Ahura Mazda should be worshiped.

 

B.      The World

 

1.      Ahura Mazda created the world.

 

2.      The world is good.

 

3.      Responsible use of the world is important.

 

C.     Humans

 

1.      Humans are both soul and body.

 

2.      Humans are born and die only once.

 

D.    Problem for Humans

 

1.      Humans are alienated from God when they choose to violate his law.

 

2.      There are penalties for those who rebel against Ahura Mazda.

 

E.     Solution for Humans  Reconciliation comes through the worship of Ahura Mazda and keeping his commandments

 

F.      Rituals

 

1.      Fire viewed as pure creation.  Thus, fire is the symbol of Zoroastrianism.

 

2.      Priests are responsible for tending holy fire in the temple.

 

3.      Several festivals and feasts.

 

G.    Community and ethics  Marriage and family advocated—not asceticism.

 

H.     Life After Death

 

1.      At death every person is judged according to his or her morality.

 

2.      People are assigned to either Angra Mainyu or Ahura Mazda.

 

3.      The soul of a person must cross Chinvat Bridge– the bridge of judgment.

 

4.      Hell is a temporary place of suffering for sinners after death. When evil is finally defeated the souls of sinners will be released and purified They will then join God and the saints.

 

5.      Zoroastrianism has an eschatology—a view of the ‘last things.’

 

a)      There is a resurrection of the body.

 

b)     There is life on a renewed earth.

 

c)      All forces of evil will be defeated.

 

I.        View of History

 

1.      A linear view of history—all history is moving toward a final decision between good and evil.

 

2.      Good will triumph over evil.

 

J.        Other Religions

 

1.      Faced persecution throughout history.

 

2.      Does not seek converts to Zoroastrianism.  Today there are approximately 100,000 adherents. The number of adherents is getting smaller.

 

3.      20,000 Zoroastrians in the United States.

 

4.      Some believe Zoroastrianism influenced the three Western religions particularly in the areas of angels, final judgment and hell:

 

a)      Judaism

 

b)     Christianity

 

c)      Islam

 

5.      Zoroastrianism is generally accepting of other religions.