6. Zoroastrianism

I. Founding of Zoroastrianism
    - sources: Gathas and Avesta

     A. Pre-Zoroastrian Persian Religion
         1. The Aryans

         2. Aryan Religious Beliefs
             a) Polytheistic
                 - Supreme Lord > Ahura Mazda (The Wise Lord)
                 - Higher gods > Mithra, giver and benefactor of

                     cattle, god of light, loyalty and obedience; Intar,

                     god of war, etc.
                 - Daevas > local gods associated with the sun,

                     moon, earth, fire and water
             b) Worship
                 - focused on local nature gods
                 - blood sacrifices offered on altars
                 - use of haoma
             c) Saoshyants
                 - prophets (reformers)

     B. Zoroaster (Zarathustra Spitama)
         1. Early life
             - born into the warrior clan between 1400-1000 B. C. E.
             - at age 16, put on the kusi, sacred string marking passage

                  into adulthood
             - became a priest (magus)
             - had 3 wives and 6 children

         2. Prophet
             - the religious truth was revealed to him over a period of

                 10 years by archangels who appeared to him

         3. Spread of Zoroastrianism
              - after 10 years, Zoroaster made his first convert, his cousin

                 Maidhyomah

             - turning point came with the conversion of Vishtaspa, King

                 of Bactria
             - after this the religion spread quickly helped by holy wars
             - Zoroaster at the age of 77 was killed while tending the

                 sacred flame during a raid on his city

II. Teachings of Zoroastrianism
     A. Nature of God
         1. there is only one god who is invisible and intangible

         2. he has revealed himself in six modes > Amesha-Spenta

             (Holy Immortals):
             Three Males > presided over male elements of fire, metals

                 and animals
             Three Females > preside over feminine elements: earth, water

                 and vegetation
             - the faithful pray that these Immortals will come into their

                 homes and bless them

         3. Yazata (Adorable Ones) > the host of angles that surround the

             throne of God
                 - those that receive the most attention:
                      > Sroasha - guardian of humanity who obeys God’s law
                      > Ashi Vanguhi - his sister and feminine counterpart, the

                           rewarder of good deeds
                      > Mithra – the strongest of the Yazata and ideal of soldiers

     B. The God of Evil
         1. Two spirits emanate from Ahura Mazda and have existed since

             time began
                 > Spenta Mainyu - the Good Spirit
                 > Angra Mainyu – the Evil Spirit (Shaitin or Satan) who is

                        surrounded by demons

         2. A cosmic struggle between good and evil is played out over

             the universe’s 12,000 year history

     C. Nature of Humankind
         - Humans have free will and can choose to follow the good spirit

              or the evil spirit and will be accountable for their decision
         - “Evil to Evil; Good to Good” > law of retribution
         - by choosing the path of righteousness, perfection in this life can

             be reached, so no need for reincarnation

     D. Zoroastrian Eschatology
         - after death Mithra judges the soul of the deceased
         - a preponderance of good deeds is rewarded with heaven;

             otherwise hell
         - at the end of time Ahura Mazda will be victorious over evil,

             souls in hell will be purified and brought up to heaven
         - a new cycle of time free of evil and death will begin

     E. Zoroastrian Ethics
         - Good Thought, Good Word, Good Deed
         - whatever violates or pollutes the sacredness of the earth, fire,

             water or air is wicked

     F. Zoroastrian Worship
          - prayer is offered to Ahura Mazda to request help in avoiding

             temptation and in pursuing a righteous life
         - rituals are performed to mark life passages such as the investiture

             into the religions in which the adolescent receives a sacred string

             (kusi) and sacred shirt (sadre)
         - burial in a Dakhma as to not pollute the earth, water or air

III. Historical Development of Zoroastrianism
     A. Establishment of the Persian Empire
         - Cyrus the Great (r. 558-530 B. C. E.)
         - freed the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity 538 B.C. E.

     B. Influence of Zoroastrianism
          - elements of Zoroastrianism eschatology appeared in Jewish

             writings after the Babylonian Captivity
         - they will be well established in the Jewish tradition by the time

             of Jesus and the writings of the New Testament
         - they will also be incorporated into Islam

     C. Decline of Zoroastrianism
         1. Conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great (336-323B.C.E.)
             - Seleucid Empire
             - influence of Hellenistic culture

         2. Roman Empire
             - Cult of Mithra > suppressed after Christianity became the state

                 religion at the end of the 4th century C. E.

     D. Revival of Zoroastrianism
         - Zoroastrian was supported by the Sassanid rulers (224-642 C. E.)

     E. Decline of Zoroastrianism
         - Muslim conquest of the Sassanid Empire 642 C.E.
         - initially Zoroastrianism was tolerated
         - by the 9th century religious persecution resulted in many converting

             to Islam or fleeing
         - Many fled to India and settled in Bombay where they became known

             as Parsis

     F. Zoroastrianism Today
         1. India > the community flourished during the British colonization of

             India as they were not part of the caste system and were well educated
                 > today about 100,000

         2. Iran > Zoroastrians are called gabars (infidels) and as all non-Muslims

             suffer persecution after the 1979 revolution and the establishment of

             the Islamist Republic

                 > today about 11,000

         3. Worldwide population is about 250,000 and not growing

 

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