Zoroastrianism Good thoughts good words good deeds Global

Zoroastrianism: Good thoughts, good words, good deeds Global I Honors: Spiconardi

Zoroaster [Zarathustra] As a young man, Zoroaster had visions and conversations with divine beings. He wanted to answer the question: Why should so much suffering and chaos exist in the world? He began to wander & preach that Persians should making sacrifices to minor deities and treat animals more humanely in sacrifices.

Beliefs �Monotheistic �There is one true god: Ahura Mazda � Ahura Mazda is all good and all powerful � Only he is worthy of being worshipped � He is the creator of all that is seen and unseen �Good vs. Evil �Good is represented by light, fire, & water �Evil is represented by darkness � Ahura Mazda’s twin Angra Mainyu [Ahriman]was banished from heaven and sent to hell where he reigns as the principle of evil

Beliefs �Asha vs. Druj �Asha = The Truth �Druj = Lies �All humans have a choice to either do good or evil and will be judged by these choices �The Book of Life �All your actions are recorded, so you can be judged when you die After death, your soul reflects for 3 days on your life � You are then judged by 3 Zoroastrian figures: Mithra, Sraosha, & Rashnu � If you good deeds & thoughts outweigh your bad ones, then your soul is taken to heaven �

Beliefs �The Three Eras of the Universe �Creation �The Present World � Good and evil battle and the world is gradually transformed into heaven’s likeness �The Separation/Final Judgment � Once good wins over evil, the two entities will be separated and everything will be purified by goodness (even the occupants in hell will be released)

Beliefs �The Savior �A Saoshyant will be born of a virgin from the lineage of Zoroaster �The Saoshyant will raise the dead and judge everyone in the final judgment � Sound familiar anyone? Yes? Now check this out…

Beliefs �The Cult of Mithra �Ahura Mazda sends Mithra from heaven to redeem the earth �Mithra is born on December 25 � Mithraism competed with Christianity for followers in the first century of the Common Era � Cult of Mithras was more popular, especially with Roman soldiers � Eastern Orthodox Christianity borrowed many of the cults practices

Beliefs �The Magi �Zoroastrian priests � Absolved [forgave sins] � Dealt out atonement & repentance Where have you heard the term magi before?

Beliefs • The Tower of Silence • Zoroastrians believe the dead body is unclean • Also believe cut hair and nails are too • A demon enters a dead body and contaminates everything it comes in contact with • Bodies are placed on a top of a tower where the sunlight and birds of prey dispose of the body

Practices �Fire is the symbol of divinity, so all ceremonies are performed in front of a fire �Spring Equinox is the most important holiday in the Zoroastrian calendar � Symbolizes return of warmth and rebirth �Can worship in a temple or at home � No requirement to worship in a temple �No proselytizing � Religion should be unique to a given tribe

Zoroastrianism Today �Mostly practiced in India �Less than 200, 000 followers worldwide �Considered the most influential religion by many historians (especially it’s influence on the Abrahamic religions) �Followers are called Parsi today