Story by Richard Milner
Zoroastrianism is an ancient monotheistic religion that believes in One God. Historians believe that Zoroastrianism later influenced Judaism during the 6th-century B.C.E. Jewish Babylonian exile.
The basics of Zoroastrianism resemble other subsequent faiths. For example, there's one, big, good God called “Ahura Mazda” that created humans. Ahura Mazda means light and is associated with the sun, fire and purity. There are offerings and worship. There is talk of righteousness, wickedness and devils that seek to thwart people. Quotes from Zarathustra, include talk of light, stars and fire. The writings have a more expressive poetic sense than just a stringent doctrine.
An important prophet was named “Zarathustra”. It's all pretty familiar in its overall facets. Zoroastrianism took root in Iran, and spread to India and Pakistan. The Theosophical Society of America says that the ancient Greeks dated the life of Zoroastrianism's prophet Zarathustra, to 6,350 B.C.E.
If the name Zarathustra rings a bell, German composer Richard Strauss wrote the famous tone poem, "Also Sprach Zarathustra." You've heard it if you've seen Stanley Kubrick's film "2001: A Space Odyssey."
Zoroastrianism seems to have originated in tribes of polytheistic, nomadic herders traveling throughout the region. And shares a common heritage with Hinduism. There's some disagreement on the origins of Zoroastrianism's founder, Zarathustra. History says that he might have been born in Afghanistan or Iran. Hindus are more specific and place his potential birthplace outside of Tehran. Zarathustra was a member of a noble family.
Either way, we come to a familiar point in the development of religious institutions: divine visions. Ahura Mazda, the one true God, revealed truths to Zarathustra, who set about preaching to folks in the countryside. And for those thinking this sounds like the Jesus story, Zarathustra also did this at age 30—he was even later tempted by Angra Mainyu (Angry Spirit). And in order to not alienate the locals, Zarathustra didn't denounce their own gods. He just said that Ahura Mazda was the chief creator.
Zoroastrianism was the dominant religion of the Persian Empire founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 B.C.E. in modern-day Iran. Cyrus is the ruler who ended the Jewish Babylonian exile, which contributed to the cross-pollination between Zoroastrianism and Judaism, and then Christianity. Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire in 330 B.C.E., and his empire gave way to the Parthian (247 to 224 B.C.E.) and Sasanian (224 B.C.E. to 651 C.E.) dynasties. The Sasanian Empire fell to the prophet Mohamed during the 7th-century rise of Islam, which effectively killed off Zoroastrianism as a dominant world religion.
The Zoroastrian Educational Institute describes Asha as the law handed down by Ahura Mazda to humanity for the purpose of "self-realization and perfection." It entails adherence to precepts of right conduct, truth, justice, righteousness, etc., laid out by Ahura Mazda when he conceived of the universe and birthed it through his will.
Zarathustra concisely said, "Good thoughts, good words, and good deeds." Zoroastrianism also entails a separation between spirit and physical worlds. The two affect each other, however, and one's choices create one's fate. Honesty, compassion, charity, and making good on promises are the greatest virtues. Zoroastrianism doesn't discriminate based on gender, race, or ethnicity.
02/04/24