ZOROASTRIANISM

Zoroastrianism

Name of Writer

Name of InstitutionAbstract

The paper discusses one of the most ancient religions of the world Zoroastrianism. It features its history since the day of its inception. Moreover, it discusses the beliefs held by the people who believe in this religion. Furthermore, it enlists the practices that the followers of the religion partake. In the end it gives the present scenario of the religion and its followers.Table of Contents

Abstracti

Introduction3

Discussion3

History3

Zoroaster and the Spread of the Religion4

The Archaemenian Empire4

Alexander the Great, Seleucids, Arcasids5

The Sasanians5

The Islamic Conquest6

The Turk and the Mongol Invasions6

Beliefs6

Monotheistic Religion7

Zoroaster as the Prophet7

Dualism in the Religion7

Family and Social Beliefs8

Practices8

Worship9

Funerals9

Present Condition9

Conclusion10

References11

Zoroastrianism

Introduction

Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest living faiths of the world, dating as far back as the 2nd millennia B.C. It is rich in history, and was mostly followed by the people of Iran before the Islamic conquest of Iran in the Sixth century A.D. The people of Zoroastrian faith made a huge impact on the people of other faiths surrounding them such as Jews, Christians, Buddhists and others. It also had an impact on Islam along with all the other religions in its influential period.

Discussion

History

However, the origins of the religion, the early practices of the religion, and how it originated still remains an unanswerable due to the lack of historical information about the religion and the people of that time. The teachings of the religion are influenced by the prophet or founder of the religion Zoroaster. Although, the time of his existence not known; however, there are several opinions about his existence from 1200 to 600 B.C. Like all the major religions of the world, Zoroastrianism also has divine teachings in the form of a book called Gathas. It is believed to be a monotheistic religion, which praises a single deity Ahura Mazda (the Wise Lord). Moreover, Zoroaster taught his followers to despise idols, and to participate more within the community life. This became one of the most powerful religions of the world for more than 500 years, as the official religion of Persia (now Iran) (Boyce, 1975).

Zoroaster and the Spread of the Religion

It is believed by many that when Zoroaster was thirty had visions of God as the sole creator of the world, during a purification ritual. These visions transformed his ideals and views about the world, and he tried to teach the world bout his views. At first, Zoroaster's ideas were not taken off quickly; his first and foremost convert was one of his own cousins. While many other religious leaders and authorities did not like the ideals and viewpoints of Zoroaster, they felt threatened by the idea of worshipping one God, due to the teachings of Zoroaster. After twelve years of struggle he left his home in search of a place where his ideals would be accepted. He found just the right place in the country of King Vishtaspa in Bactria. The king and queen heard him debating against the religious leaders of the country and converted to his ideals and made Zoroastrianism the official religion of his ...