QUICK LOOK IN DEPTH RESOURCES/LINKS
- PRACTICED BY
Approximately 140,000 people
- MAJORITY OF FOLLOWERS IN
India
- FOLLOWERS CALLED
Zoroastrians
- DAY OF WORSHIP
No specific theological practice
- FOUNDER
Zarathustra
- DEITY/DEITIES
Ahura Mazda (God)
- SACRED TEXT(S)
The Avestan Zoroastrianism is one of the least often heard-of religions, but it is arguably the most important.
Scholars have traced Zoroastrianism to approximately 1500 BCE, but other estimates range from 6000 BCE to 600 BCE. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all have a basis in Zoroastrianism. When Zarathustra began promoting his monotheistic ideas, Persia was a land ruled by polytheists. The later religions all took his idea. Zoroastrianism also gave the world's religions such ideas as the existence of God and Satan, the soul, heaven and hell, a savior, resurrection, and final judgment. Zoroastrians also were the first to practice baptism, hold a communal meal and celebrate on December 25. Satan, paradise, and amen are all words derived from Zoroastrian heritage.
Zoroastrians believe in the existence of One Holy God, Ahura Mazda. They believe he is the God of Light, and keep eternal flames in their houses of worship to symbolize purity. Their central belief system relies on the existence of good and evil and the battle between them. They believe that twin sons were born to Ahura Mazda and each used his free will to become good or evil. Zoroastrians believe that the Earth was created to wage the war between the sons. Humans are believed to be able to help win the battle by following the divine attributes of their God-Good Words, Good Thoughts and Good Deeds. Ahriman is Ahura Mazda's foil, the Evil Spirit. He seeks to take humans away from Goodness through suffering. Zoroastrians believe that a Day of Judgment will take place and Good will triumph over Evil. On this Judgment Day, souls will either ascend to Heaven or descend to Hell.
http://www.religious tolerance.org/zoroastr.htm Author. B.A. Robinson, Copyright © 1996,1997, 2000 & 2001 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Latest update: 2001-OCT-25
Hicks, Johnnie. Ideas from class discussions and handouts, Multicultural Education, a Global Perspective.
Copyright ©2003, Jason Coleman
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