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Zoroastrianism The Ancient Religion of Persia

Zoroastrianism The Ancient Religion of Persia. Basic Facts about Zoroastrianism. Founded in Persia (Modern Iran) in 600 BC when Persia was a great power in the middle east . Islam displaced Zoroastrianism by 800 AD. Basic Facts about Zoroastrianism.

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Zoroastrianism The Ancient Religion of Persia

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  1. ZoroastrianismThe Ancient Religion of Persia

  2. Basic Facts about Zoroastrianism • Founded in Persia (Modern Iran) in 600 BC when Persia was a great power in the middle east . • Islam displaced Zoroastrianism by 800 AD.

  3. Basic Facts about Zoroastrianism • Founder: Zoroaster a.k.a. Zarathustra (prophet) • First long-standing monotheismsponsored by a powerful state.

  4. Basic Facts about Zoroastrianism • Influenced & strengthened the Jewish concept of monotheism when Jews were captive in Babylon (587-538 BC;eventually released by Cyrus). Some of its religious ideas at the roots of what became the Western religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

  5. Basic Facts about Zoroastrianism • There are about 250,000 Zoroastrians practicing the religion today; 3000 in the U.S./Canada. In India they are called Parsi.

  6. Basic teachings of Zoroastrianism There is one God, Ahura Mazda. He is……. ….. eternal …..the Creator of all good things ….the Lord of Wisdom

  7. Basic teachings of Zoroastrianism • There is a cosmic battle going on between good and evil. • vs. • People have to take sides. You have to choose either good or evil. Your daily actions are ethical. Ahura Mazda Aigra Mainyu Lies Darkness Light Truth dualism

  8. Basic teachings of Zoroastrianism • Good will triumph over evil, and history will come to an end (eschatology*) • Both the living and the dead will be judged. The bad go to hell. The good go to a paradise on earth. • The just will be resurrected from the dead. *”eschatology” is the study of “last things” (death and the belief that the world and time will come to an end some day (history is linear, not cyclical).

  9. 6 AmeshasSpentas: lesser good spirits that help Ahura Mazda There also are some evil minions of AigraMainyu called devas.

  10. Zoroastrian Symbols • Fire (LIGHT)is sacred. Prayers are done 5 times a day in the presence of fire. • Coin of the Sassanian dynasty with Zoroastrian fire altar. • The winged Acheamenidis a form in which Ahura Mazda sometimes may appear. • The Tower of Silence for decomposing the dead by exposing them to vultures. Priesthood: mobeds (called magi by the West)

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