1. Zoroastrianism
Worship of Ahura Mazda

2. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
Aryan migration from Europe to India and Persia around 1500 B.C. (Source of Hinduism)
The Achaemenid Period ( B.C.)
Greek Period (330-A.D. 226)

3. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
Aryan Period (1500 B.C.)
Animal sacrifices
Fire had a sacred aspect
Devas (Indian) or Daevas (Iranian) being that were worshipped
Root word “Div” to shine; Divas – the shining ones (English Divinities or Dieties)
Two types of spiritual beings
Devas
Asuras (Indian); Ahuras (Iranian)
Lesser gods

4. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
Worshipped divas: Mithra – a god of truth and light (Indian Mitra); Intar (Verethragna) – a god of war and power (Indian Indra), etc.
Monotheism behind the polytheism
Devas was originally for a single God known in Indian sources as Dyaus Pitar “father god”
In Persia (Iran) he is Uruwana or Ahura Mazda – literally “Wise Lord”
Professional priesthood – knew the secret formulas and proper methods
Magi
Karpans

5. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
The Achaemenid (Persian) Period ( B.C.)
Degenerated toward increased ritual and magic as usually the case when leadership is lacking
Achaemenid Kings like Cyrus, Xerxes, Artaxerxes, and Darius probably recognized Ahura Mazda as a leading god among many

6. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
The Achaemenid (Persian) Period ( B.C.)
Custodians of Zoroastrianism were the Magi but incorporated it into pantheon of gods
Little information on Magi
Removed sacrificial system
Kept use of haoma drink

7. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
The Achaemenid (Persian) Period ( B.C.)
The evil spirit (Angra Mainyu)
Opposes Ahura Mazda
Seeks to divert people from following the commands Ahura Mazda
Some have said this is a dualistic religion with an all good verse and all evil with the conflict decided by the believer’s choice.
Dualism – two spirits are of equal stature and power and the outcome of the cosmic struggle is in doubt.

8. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
The Achaemenid (Persian) Period ( B.C.)
In Zoroastrianism Angra Mainyu is inferior to Ahura Mazda.
Angra Mainyu derived from God
Later description said to be offspring
Fits role of Satan in Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Ahura Mazda will win the war but the outcome for a particular person may be in doubt

9. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
Greek Period (330-B.C. – A.D. 226)
Persia conquered in 330 B.C. only existed by practice of common people
Cult of Mithra seems to hold some of the ideas of Ahura Mazda
Mithra popular with Roman soldiers
Supreme god that all other gods worship, even Ahura Mazda
Symbolized by the “invincible sun”

10. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
Sassanid Dynasty (A.D )
New dynasty of Persian kingdom in A.D. 226 until the Muslim conquest in 637.
Reinstated Zoroastrianism

11. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
Sassanid Dynasty (A.D )
Zoroastrianism at its prime
Collection of scriptures completed
Worst polytheistic parts removed
Ahura Mazda, called Ohrmazd is supreme
Other deities recognized: Mithra, Asha, Vayu and Verethragna
Lesser spirits were acknowledged, angels, evil daevas

12. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
Sassanid Dynasty (A.D )
Tendency toward dualism
Angra Mainyu, now called Ahriman
More power and able to create and created a counter creation
Ahriman has own Amesha Spentas with daevas
Ritual purity more important the moral purity
Warding off daevas main concern by ritual and magic

13. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
Sassanid Dynasty (A.D )
Those aligned with Ahura Mazda will be rewarded on earth and in heaven those who do not will be punished
Those on side of Truth (Asha) rewarded
Those on side of Lie (Druj) punished
Free to choose
Opposed the sacrificial system as he associated it with the worship of evil Daevas but was not abolished

14. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
Sassanid Dynasty (A.D )
Opposed the use of Haoma as corrupt
Drink use by priests for mystical experience and thought to confer immortality and later deified itself
Kept the centrality of fire as representing truth and purity
of Ahura Mazda
Fire ritual as an act of worship

15. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
Muslim conquest dispersion
Muslim conquered Iran in 7th century
They were theoretically to be protected as “People of the Book”
But it was oppressed in practice and called infidels and unbelievers
Called themselves Zardushtins or Iranis
Many moved to Bombay, became known as Parsis

16. Zoroastrianism Historical Development
Contemporary Zoroastrianism
200,000 outside of Iran
18,000 in Iran but under persecution by Shi’ite regime
Name - Parsis religion today
House of worship
Parsis temples in Nairobi, Toronto, and Chicago
Mainly limited to one ethnic group and not evangelistic
Parsis ethnic group
Converts would contaminate the faith

17. Zoroastrianism & the Bible
Located in ancient Persia (Iran and Iraq)
Connection to the Bible - Not mentioned by name
Kings who were Zoroastrians possibly but probably not totally monotheistic:
2 Chronicles 36:22-23 – Cyrus
Ezra 1:1; 8:1 – Cyrus and Artaxerxes
Nehemiah 2:1; Esther 1:2; 10:2 – Artaxerxes, Ahasuerus
Isaiah 44:28; 45:1 – Cyrus
Daniel 9:1; 10:1; 11:1 – Darius, Cyrus, Darius the Mede
Haggai 1:1; Zechariah 1:1 - Darius
Magi visited the Christ child

18. Zoroastrianism & the Bible
Out of all the religions connected to the Old and New Testaments only Zoroastrianism remains alive.
Cyrus is called by God “His Messiah” or anointed (Is. 45:1). Cyrus is called by God “my shepherd” (Is. 44:28).
Doctrinal influence on Judaism seen by some.
Source of evil Satan instead of God
Angels
Demons
Savior
Final resurrection and judgment
Paradise and future life

19. Zoroastrianism & the Bible
Zoroastrianism was not highly accepted by Persians of the exile so not likely an influence on Judaism
Persia did not become Zoroastrian until after the exile
Judaism could have influenced Zoroastrianism

20. Founding Zoroastrianism
Zoroaster – (628 to 551 B.C.)
Contemporary of Jeremiah and Daniel
Became of priest
Known for meditation and officiating at sacrifices
Age 30 had first vision from God and ascended to heaven out of body and stood before Ahura Mazda and was instructed to teach what he was told from that time forward.
Six more visions in the next eight years

21. Founding Zoroastrianism
Opposed by the priests as his teaching undercut their livelihood
Thrown in prison
Finally defended by King Hystapes after healing his horse.
Not all of Persia converted but he had a significant following