ZoroastrianismZoroastrianismOne of the World’s Oldest One of the World’s Oldest

Monotheistic ReligionsMonotheistic Religions

Founder - ZarathustraFounder - Zarathustra Zarathustra –Persian ProphetZarathustra –Persian Prophet Unclear dating on his birth – Some Unclear dating on his birth – Some

Zoroastrians claim 6000 BCE! Others think Zoroastrians claim 6000 BCE! Others think 600 BCE; modern historians date it to 600 BCE; modern historians date it to between 1500-1000 BCEbetween 1500-1000 BCE

Belief that his birth was predicted and evil Belief that his birth was predicted and evil forces tried to kill him as a childforces tried to kill him as a child

His message eventually won over the His message eventually won over the Persian king and it became the official Persian king and it became the official religion of the Persian Empire until the 7religion of the Persian Empire until the 7thth century CE (Islam replaced it)century CE (Islam replaced it)

Zarathustra - ZoroasterZarathustra - Zoroaster In the west, he is known as ZoroasterIn the west, he is known as Zoroaster In the east – Zarathustra or ZaroshteIn the east – Zarathustra or Zaroshte

Ptolemy & Ptolemy & ZoroasterZoroaster

Ptolemy and Zoroaster in Raphael’s School of Athens – A collection of the greatest minds of all times painted for a Christian pope’s library

Persian Empire at its peakPersian Empire at its peak

Modern-day Iran was once called PersiaModern-day Iran was once called Persia

Faravahar – Zoroastrian SymbolFaravahar – Zoroastrian Symbol

Ahura Mazda?Ahura Mazda? God is supposed God is supposed

to not have form; to not have form; transcendenttranscendent

Fravashi – The Fravashi – The good part of the good part of the human soul given human soul given by Ahura Mazda by Ahura Mazda at birth.at birth.

Faravahar – Zoroastrian SymbolFaravahar – Zoroastrian Symbol One hand upwards – striving One hand upwards – striving

for constant spiritual for constant spiritual improvementimprovement

Ring in hand – loyalty and Ring in hand – loyalty and faithfulnessfaithfulness

Circle – immortality of the soul; Circle – immortality of the soul; repercussions of our actionsrepercussions of our actions

Three rows of wing feathers – Three rows of wing feathers – good thoughts, words, and good thoughts, words, and deedsdeeds

Three sections tail feathers – Three sections tail feathers – the oppositethe opposite

Two streamers – Spenta Two streamers – Spenta Mainyu and Angra Mainyu – Mainyu and Angra Mainyu – spirits of good and evil – Figure spirits of good and evil – Figure faces one and turns from the faces one and turns from the otherother

Holy ScripturesHoly Scriptures AvestaAvesta – Holy Book; includes the original – Holy Book; includes the original

words of their founder Zarathushtra, preserved words of their founder Zarathushtra, preserved in a series of five hymns, called the Gathas. in a series of five hymns, called the Gathas.

The The GathasGathas are the basic source of the are the basic source of the religion.religion.

The Gathas are abstract sacred poetry, The Gathas are abstract sacred poetry, directed towards:directed towards:

1.1. worship of the One God, worship of the One God,

2.2. understanding of righteousness and cosmic understanding of righteousness and cosmic order,order,

3.3. promotion of social justicepromotion of social justice

4.4. and individual choice between good and evil.and individual choice between good and evil.

Ahura Mazda – The Only GodAhura Mazda – The Only God

A single god Ahura Mazda who is supreme. A single god Ahura Mazda who is supreme. Communication between Himself and humans is Communication between Himself and humans is

by a number of Attributes, called Amesha Spentas by a number of Attributes, called Amesha Spentas or Bounteous Immortals. or Bounteous Immortals.

Within the Gathas, the original Zoroastrian sacred Within the Gathas, the original Zoroastrian sacred text, these Immortals are sometimes described as text, these Immortals are sometimes described as concepts, and are sometimes personified.concepts, and are sometimes personified.

Cosmic DualismCosmic Dualism All powerful God Ahura Mazda who is the only deity All powerful God Ahura Mazda who is the only deity

worthy of being worshipped, andworthy of being worshipped, and An evil spirit of violence and death, Angra Mainyu, who An evil spirit of violence and death, Angra Mainyu, who

opposes Ahura Mazda.opposes Ahura Mazda.

The resulting cosmic conflict involves the entire universe, The resulting cosmic conflict involves the entire universe, including humanity who is required to choose which to including humanity who is required to choose which to follow. follow.

Evil, and the Spirit of Evil, will be completely destroyed at Evil, and the Spirit of Evil, will be completely destroyed at the end of time. Dualism will come to an end and the end of time. Dualism will come to an end and Goodness will be all in all. Another school of thought Goodness will be all in all. Another school of thought perceives the battle between Good and Evil as an ethical perceives the battle between Good and Evil as an ethical dualism, set within the human consciousness.dualism, set within the human consciousness.

Zoroastrian CreedZoroastrian Creed

I curse the Daevas. I curse the Daevas. I declare myself a Mazda-worshipper, a supporter I declare myself a Mazda-worshipper, a supporter

of Zarathushtra, hostile to the Daevas, fond of of Zarathushtra, hostile to the Daevas, fond of Ahura's teaching, a praiser of the Amesha Ahura's teaching, a praiser of the Amesha Spentas, a worshipper of the Amesha Spentas. I Spentas, a worshipper of the Amesha Spentas. I ascribe all good to Ahura Mazda, 'and all the best,' ascribe all good to Ahura Mazda, 'and all the best,' the Asha-owning one, splendid, xwarena-owning, the Asha-owning one, splendid, xwarena-owning, whose is the cow, whose is Asha, whose is the whose is the cow, whose is Asha, whose is the light, 'may whose blissful areas be filled with light'. light, 'may whose blissful areas be filled with light'.

Zoroastrian CreedZoroastrian Creed

I choose the good Spenta Armaiti (Holy I choose the good Spenta Armaiti (Holy Spirit) for myself; let her be mine. I renounce Spirit) for myself; let her be mine. I renounce the theft and robbery of the cow, and the the theft and robbery of the cow, and the damaging and plundering of the damaging and plundering of the Mazdayasnian settlements. Mazdayasnian settlements.

Zoroastrian Prayer ContinuedZoroastrian Prayer Continued

I reject the authority of the Daevas, the wicked, I reject the authority of the Daevas, the wicked, no-good, lawless, evil-knowing, the most druj-like no-good, lawless, evil-knowing, the most druj-like of beings, the foulest of beings, the most of beings, the foulest of beings, the most damaging of beings. I reject the Daevas and their damaging of beings. I reject the Daevas and their comrades, I reject the demons (yatu) and their comrades, I reject the demons (yatu) and their comrades; I reject any who harm beings. I reject comrades; I reject any who harm beings. I reject them with my thoughts, words, and deeds. I reject them with my thoughts, words, and deeds. I reject them publicly. Even as I reject the head them publicly. Even as I reject the head (authorities), so too do I reject the hostile followers (authorities), so too do I reject the hostile followers of the druj. of the druj.

After death, a person's urvan (soul) is allowed three days to After death, a person's urvan (soul) is allowed three days to meditate on his/her past life. meditate on his/her past life.

The soul is then judged by a troika Mithra, Sraosha and The soul is then judged by a troika Mithra, Sraosha and Rashnu. Rashnu.

If the good thoughts, words and deeds outweigh the bad, then 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 soul is taken into Heaven. Otherwise, the soul is led to Hell.

The universe will go through a total of three eras:The universe will go through a total of three eras: 1. Creation; 1. Creation; 2. The present world where good and evil are mixed. People's 2. The present world where good and evil are mixed. People's good works are seen as gradually transforming the world good works are seen as gradually transforming the world towards its heavenly ideal;towards its heavenly ideal; 3. A final state after this renovation when good and evil will be 3. A final state after this renovation when good and evil will be separated.separated.

Eventually, everything will be purified. Even the occupants of Eventually, everything will be purified. Even the occupants of hell will be released. hell will be released.

Zoroastrian SaviorZoroastrian Savior

A A SaoshyantSaoshyant (savior) will be born of a (savior) will be born of a virgin, but of the lineage of the Prophet virgin, but of the lineage of the Prophet Zoroaster who will raise the dead and judge Zoroaster who will raise the dead and judge everyone in a final judgment.everyone in a final judgment.

Sound familiar?Sound familiar?

Laurie Goodstein in NYT ArticleLaurie Goodstein in NYT Article

"While Zoroastrians once dominated an area "While Zoroastrians once dominated an area stretching from what is now Rome and Greece to stretching from what is now Rome and Greece to India and Russia, their global population has India and Russia, their global population has dwindled to 190,000 at most, and perhaps as few dwindled to 190,000 at most, and perhaps as few as 124,000, according to a survey in 2004 by the as 124,000, according to a survey in 2004 by the Fezana JournalFezana Journal The number is imprecise because The number is imprecise because of wildly diverging counts in Iran, once known as of wildly diverging counts in Iran, once known as Persia -- the incubator of the faith."Persia -- the incubator of the faith."

Modern ZoroastrianismModern Zoroastrianism Less than 200,000Less than 200,000 Do not attempt to evangelize/convert Do not attempt to evangelize/convert

others but do try to keep their religion alive others but do try to keep their religion alive Parsis in India – Zoroastrians whose Parsis in India – Zoroastrians whose

ancestors fled Persia (Iran) when Islam ancestors fled Persia (Iran) when Islam became official religionbecame official religion

Modern Zoroastrians believe that all Modern Zoroastrians believe that all religions converge on the same god and religions converge on the same god and as long as they are good and loyal to their as long as they are good and loyal to their god, they will go to heavengod, they will go to heaven

"The Zoroastrians' mobility and adaptability "The Zoroastrians' mobility and adaptability has contributed to their demographic crisis. has contributed to their demographic crisis. They assimilate and intermarry, virtually They assimilate and intermarry, virtually disappearing into their adopted cultures. disappearing into their adopted cultures. And since the faith encourages opportunities And since the faith encourages opportunities for women, many Zoroastrian women are for women, many Zoroastrian women are working professionals who, like many other working professionals who, like many other professional women, have few children or professional women, have few children or none." none." 11

'' 'Survival has become a community '' 'Survival has become a community obsession,' said Dina McIntyre, an Indian-obsession,' said Dina McIntyre, an Indian-American lawyer in Chesapeake, Va., who American lawyer in Chesapeake, Va., who has written and lectured widely on her has written and lectured widely on her religion." religion."

Connections with Other Monotheistic Connections with Other Monotheistic ReligionsReligions

JudaismJudaism ChristianityChristianity IslamIslam All with one god, good vs. evil, light vs. dark, All with one god, good vs. evil, light vs. dark,

messiah of virgin birth, final judgment in messiah of virgin birth, final judgment in which good triumphswhich good triumphs

Zoroastrianism began with an ancient prophet called Zoroastrianism began with an ancient prophet called Zarathustra. Hey, his name is Zoroaster in Greek, get?! Zarathustra. Hey, his name is Zoroaster in Greek, get?! Zoroastrianism! He was an Iranian prophet who lived about Zoroastrianism! He was an Iranian prophet who lived about 1500 B.C. The Jews have been around a long time, more 1500 B.C. The Jews have been around a long time, more than three thousand years in fact. "The argument that than three thousand years in fact. "The argument that Judaism borrowed from Zoroastrianism is, as yet, unproven. Judaism borrowed from Zoroastrianism is, as yet, unproven. In fact, if any borrowing was done, it was quite possibly the In fact, if any borrowing was done, it was quite possibly the other way around. In the first place, the evidence actually other way around. In the first place, the evidence actually indicates that Zoroaster wasn't even born until about the indicates that Zoroaster wasn't even born until about the time of the Babylonian Captivity. Kenneth Boa states that time of the Babylonian Captivity. Kenneth Boa states that his dates are sometimes given as between his dates are sometimes given as between 628 to 551 B.C.628 to 551 B.C. If these dates are even relatively accurate then it is quite If these dates are even relatively accurate then it is quite possible that Judaism did not borrow from Zoroastrianism. possible that Judaism did not borrow from Zoroastrianism. Rather, it may actually have been Zoroaster who borrowed Rather, it may actually have been Zoroaster who borrowed from the religion of the Jewish captives in Babylon. It is from the religion of the Jewish captives in Babylon. It is certainly true that Zoroaster spoke of such things as the certainly true that Zoroaster spoke of such things as the coming of a savior and the resurrection of the body and so coming of a savior and the resurrection of the body and so on. But he may have borrowed these ideas from the Jewish on. But he may have borrowed these ideas from the Jewish captives in Babylon. Indeed, it appears that all of these captives in Babylon. Indeed, it appears that all of these ideas can be found in the Jewish Scriptures prior to the ideas can be found in the Jewish Scriptures prior to the Babylonian Captivity."Babylonian Captivity."