Zoroastrianism

Origins Began in Azerbaijan, Iran Founded in 600 B.C by Zarathushtra Practiced mostly in Iran

Founder Zarathushtra Lived in Azerbaijan in Iran Religious reformer in Persia (modern day Iran) Known as Zoroaster Spent life teaching and preaching

Key Figures Ahura Mazda Angra Mainyu Supreme deity, Creator, Lord of the Universe Leader of the Amesha Spentas Battles to rid world of evil and darkness Angra Mainyu Rival of Ahura Mazda Evil spirit of death and violence

Key Figures Cont’d Amesha Spentas (Beneficent Immortals) Seven divine beings belonging to Ahura Mazda Messengers/connection between God and man Help God and man fight Angra Mainyu for peace and justice

Key Beliefs Purpose: to help God make the world a better place to live There are two deities: - Ahura Mazda represents pure goodness - Angra Mainya represents pure evilness Deities are rivals Goodness is more powerful and prevalent but cannot abolish evilness.

Key Beliefs Cont’d Gathas: any of 17 poems attributed to Zoroaster and are the most ancient texts Have free will Those who do good can be peaceful and happy Belief system - Parallels good and evil tendencies within every person - Provides an answer to: If God is good, why is there evil in the world?

Key Ceremonies Jashan Ceremony Thanksgiving ceremony reenacts moment of creation (world in harmony) Nirang-din Ceremony Creates the Holy Nirang Nirang is foundation of other sacred rituals Good in the world increases, evil decreases

Key Ceremonies Cont’d Coming of Age Ceremony Parsis initiated at age 7 in India, age 10 in Persia Receive Sadre and Kusti Yasna Ceremony Haoma (sacred liquor), milk, bread, meat, animal fat offered to Ahura Mazda Ritual purification Priests recite the Avesta (the sacred writing)

Symbol - Fire Most important symbol Places of worship called Fire Temples Represents the divine Is forever burning in Fire Temple Three types of fires: - Royal fire in only four temples - Adaran fire in most temples - Dadgah fire in the home

Symbol – Symbolic Garments Two types are worn: Sudre (the armor of God) - white cotton garment - worn at all times except when bathing Kusti (the swordbelt of faith) - 72 threads composed of lamb's wool - made by priest's wife and blessed

Symbol - Faravahar 2nd most common symbol Unsure of its meaning and representation Ancient theory: - Represents the King's Authority in terms of its divine origins. Today: - Reminds people of purpose in life (to create a union with God)

Key Rituals Purification Ritual Keeps mind, body and environment pure to defeat evil 3 types of purification: - Padyab (ablution) - Nahn (bath) - Bareshnum (dog’s left ear is touched by the followers, dog's gaze casts evil spirits away)

Key Practices Burial of the Dead Bodies of the dead given back to nature (sunlight and vultures dispose of corpse) Brought to a Dakhma for Dakhma-nashini Rich and poor died in same manner = people equal in the eyes of God.

Key Practices Cont’d Worship Takes place at fire temple 5 daily prayers or hymns said before fire

Timeline 600 B.C.: Zoroastrianism spreads in Iran 640 B.C: The Arab Invasion 1000 B.C.: Aryans arrive in Iran from central Asia 1600 B.C.: Zarathushtra is born

Timeline Cont’d 936: Zoroastrians immigrated to Gujarat in India 1381:Mongol Ruler Timur Lenk invaded Iran killing thousands of Zoroastrians   1719: Afghan invaders massacre thousands of Zoroastrians in Kerman 1878:The first fire Temple is built in America

Timeline Cont’d 1882: Jaziye (a kind of tax for non-Muslims) is abolished in Iran  1960: First World Zoroastrian Congress held in Tehran 1979: Religious freedom granted to Zoroastrians 1990: The Zarathushtrian Assembly is established in the United States

# of Adherents in the World World population of Zoroastrians is 150,000 - 100,000 in India - 17,000 in Iran - 12,000 in North America - 20,000 outside of Persia and India  

Influence in the 21st Century Contributed to major Western religions - Christianity - Judaism - Islam   (Some of it’s tenets were adopted by Monotheists) Important concepts - redemption, final judgment, life after death, Satan as God's enemy, resurrection, souls, heaven and hell  

Influence in the 21st Century Cont’d Jewish theory influenced by the post-Babylonian period in exile   Small, noticeable religious community offers religious education classes, ceremonies, and receptions

Key Terms/Definitions Persian:  - a group of people that mostly live in Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan Monotheistic: - A religion in which only one God is worshipped Jaziye: - A kind of tax for non-Muslims Parsis: - Indian community of practicing Zoroastrians Gabars: -Iranian community of practicing Zoroastrians

Interesting Facts First monotheistic religion Pray at a Fire Temple and believe fire is the symbol of God, but they never pray to fire Parts of its tenets were later adopted by monotheistic religions - Islam, Judaism, Christianity Themes such as good and evil, hell, and a messiah originated from Zoroastrianism World's oldest continuing non-judgmental religion