Brief History:

• Founded by Zarathustra, 1500 - 600 BCE (date unclear) in Persia (Iran)
• A prophet, receiving revelation from God like prophets of other Near Eastern religions
• The sacred text is called the Avesta, the most important part of which is the Gathas - the words and hymns of Zarathustra himself. Gathas are to the Avesta as the Gospels are to the New Testament or the Torah to the Hebrew Bible.
• Teaching and converting others from the polytheistic tradition of ancient Persia to this first true monotheism
• Conversion of King Vishtaspa marked the success of this new religion
• From 6th cent. BCE to 7th cent. CE, Zoroastrianism was the major religious influence in Persia (until Islam came on the scene)
• By 900 CE migrated to India (Bombay area) to escape Muslim domination
• Today hardly 100,000 Zoroastrians remain, mostly in India where they are called Parsees (for "Persians")

• Monotheistic belief, belief in angels and Satan, Holy Books, revelation, prophets, belief in human freewill, heaven and hell, coming Judgment Day and resurrection of the dead. (read from gray brochure)
• Possible influence on developing Judaism during 6th cent. BCE Jewish Babylonian exile in Persia
• Beliefs incorporated into Judaism subsequently transferred to Christianity and Islam
• The Magi who visited Jesus at his birth were Zoroastrian priest-astronomers who looked to the stars for signs from God

Spiritual powers:

• One God, Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord"), revealing himself through a prophet ("divine revelation")
• Amesh Spentas ("Good Spirits"): attributes of God, divine powers: natural forces and abstract concepts later personified as angels - servants of God
• Six primary Amesh Spentas: Good Mind, Divine Law or order (Asha), Power, Benevolence of Purity and devotion (Love?), Perfection, Immortality
• Countless minor spirits
• Duality of Good vs. Evil:
• Zoroastrianism is sometimes misunderstood as a dualistic system. However, it is likely that the original teaching held that both good and evil originate in the one Ahura Mazda
• In Zoroastrianism, Good and Evil are not just moral concepts, they are virtual substances, sometimes even personified
• Spenta Mainyu (goodness) and Angra ("angry") Mainyu (evil) are both "subdivisions" or creations of God
• So it is not God vs. Satan but two lesser powers in battle against each other.
• In the end, good will win out over evil
• Micro- macro- cosmic parallel: this world and history is the battlefield between the powers of good and evil with the final battle culminating in the Final Judgment. What happens in this world influences what happens on a cosmic scale.

• Human beings have freewill to do good or to do evil
• It is human duty and responsibility to fight on the side of Good so as to help achieve the ultimate destiny of the universe wherein Evil is vanquished by Goodness
• What we do has direct results not just in our lives but for the entire cosmos
• Thus the moral dictate: "Good thoughts, Good words, Good deeds" is also a cosmic responsibility
• People are to work toward self-purification by participation in the Good. Purity = righteousness. Good wins out over evil because righteousness is on the side of the Good. It is humanity who can bring righteousness into the world. When we do good we are doing a lot more than just acting good. In being good we bring Goodness into the world.
• Good people have the duty to uplift others toward the life of goodness, to encourage and help others to also work for the Good.
• Man is unique among creatures as God’s agent on Earth. Man is mind, mind is from God. Improving ourselves, our minds, is of great importance. Zoroastrianism sees humanity with dignity. The power to improve - to grow - comes from within and from above (from God)
• Man has the power to change himself and his world with the aid of God. Man is thus an agent in his own salvation.

• Concern for purity extends beyond humanity to nature itself. As evidenced by the treatment of the dead, the natural elements are considered pure and ought not be defiled.
• Remains of the dead are ordinarily not buried nor cremated for this would defile the natural elements of earth and fire. Rather, the dead are placed in a "Tower of Silence" where scavenger birds will pick the carcass clean and the bones will rot away to dust.
• Upon death, there is a personal judgment of the soul. One will go to heaven or to hell depending upon the degree to which one participated in goodness in life (read "Teachings..." p. 4).
• But hell is not eternal (neither is heaven). At the final Judgment, once Goodness has won the final battle against Evil, all the dead will be resurrected to live in the world of good.

• Of all the natural elements, fire is the most important.
• Fire is a symbol of Ahura Mazda (The Aryans, who originated in the area near Persia, used fire in their ritual activities. For them fire - ["ignite"] - was a god).
• The most important sacred places for Zoroastrians are the Fire Temples where priests chant prayers, hymns and blessings around the clock.
• Zoroastrians will go there whenever they feel the need - for personal spiritual upliftment, for special personal or family occasions or at times of community holy days.
• Each temple has a central fire tended day and night by the priests. When a new Temple is dedicated, the fire is brought from the main temple in Bombay. That fire has been burning from the time it was brought there from Persia some 1200 years ago.

• Although most Zoroastrians remain near Bombay and in smaller numbers in Iran, some have migrated to many places in the world (e.g., DC and Raleigh NC).
• They try to maintain their faith by encouraging marriage within the faith.
• They also do not seek converts (a concession to being aloud sanctuary in India)
• However, they have an unproportional influence upon society through business, industry, philanthropic endeavors and the promotion of education.
• In Zoroastrianism, it is worldly pursuits rather than ascetic practices that are the spiritual ideal. This religion does not withdraw from the world but seeks to improve it (as does Judaism). It is world affirming.
• These worldly pursuits are in direct relationship to their beliefs:
• The world progresses through service which leads to happiness
• Industry for progress is the form that service takes
• This progression is the evolution of the world to higher and better stages wherein Goodness will prevail
• The goal of life is happiness through self-sacrifice to others. Man is seen as a servant in service to all elements of nature and the world
• Personal values lie in hope in the future life and charity in this world to the negation of personal, mundane desires
• Each man is to serve each other man, thus are we both servant and the served
• Righteousness is the key virtue for fulfilling our role in this progress of cosmic evolution
• Faith, knowledge and love must work together in a person for his or her best progress.