Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is quite a fascinating religion. It was founded by a man named Zoroaster who was from Persia and is also known by his Persian name, Zarathusra (Corduan, 2012; Morgan, 2012). Zoroastrianism is a reasonably small religion with perhaps has a maximum of two million members, and one can only be born into this religion since they do not accept converts from outside faiths (Corduan, 2012). What is unique about this religion though is that it was founded by a priest; Zoroaster is the only founder of a world religion that ever served as one (Morgan, 2012). Like most world religions, this religion begins with Zoroaster having a vision of an Angel whom told Zoroaster that there was only one true God and that God wanted him to be His prophet (Morgan, 2012).

Zoroastrianism top 7 beliefs

  1. People who subscribe to Zoroastrianism believe in the sacred writings of the Avesta. Within it, it contains Zoroaster's Hymns, the Gathas, Yasna, Pahlavi Scriptures, and the Videvdat (Corduan, 2012). The Avesta is like the Bible in that its scriptures are comprised of many different books that span many years of writing (Corduan, 2012).
  2.  Zoroastrianism believes in one God consisting of six Amesha Spentas. Ahura Mazda is the supreme truth and the only God of worship [later would be known as Ohrmazd] but has holy immortals or Angels that do Ahura Mazda's bidding (Corduan, 2012). These six immortals combined with Ahura Mazda make a Heptad which in Zoroastrianism literature is known as the Seven Amesha-Spenta (Corduan, 2012).
  3. Zoroastrianism believes in an evil spirit called Angra Mainyu "who seeks to divert creatures from following the commands of Ahura Mazda" (Corduan, 2012, p. 190).
  4. Zoroastrianism believes in ritual practices with prayer and fire but not with animal sacrifices since Zoroaster perhaps thought the cows were sacred or too valuable for economics (Corduan, 2012; Ferguson & Packer, 2000).
  5. Zoroastrianism believes that once a person dies their deeds are weighed by the scales. If one's evil deeds outweigh their good then they are cast into hell (Corduan, 2012).
  6. Zoroastrianism teaches that there will be three future prophets [Aushetar, Aushetarmah, and Saoshyant] who will appear and the end of the world will come (Corduan, 2012). The end of the world culminates with a cosmic flood of hot molten metal. “To righteous people it will feel like a bath of warm milk. But evil people, on earth and in hell, will feel all the agony and torture the image implies. In the end all will be brought back to purity” (Corduan, 2012, p. 195). What is interesting is in the end everyone is cleansed of all evil which paints a picture of universalism.
  7. Zoroastrianism believes that one can be defiled by handling a dead body. To this day they do not practice burials but instead mount corpses that scavengers can dispose of them (Corduan, 2012).

According to Corduan, Zoroastrianism does not meet up to the criteria of being the religion to influence Judaism. Zoroastrianism was not an established religion during those times, rather it only became established after the Babylonian exile (Corduan, 2012). Secondly, there was not sufficient opportunity for the Jews to absorb it since it was not wide spread and King Cyrus sent the Jews back home to rebuild and worship their own God. In addition, even though there are some slight similarities between the two religions, the differences far outweigh the similarities (Corduan, 2012).

In summary, Zoroastrianism can be summed up by saying,

Man, who is naturally good, must choose between Angra Mainyu and Ahura Mazda. By choosing the side of truth instead of the lie, man can aid in the eventual triumph of Ahura Mazda. Man is saved according to his deeds. At the day of judgment, he must cross the Cinvat Bridge, which expands for the righteous to pass into paradise but contracts to a razor's edge for the wicked, who plunge into hell (Ferguson & Packer, 2000, p. 735).

References

Corduan W. (2012). Neighboring faiths: A Christian introduction to world religions (2nd ed.). Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic.

Ferguson, S. B., & Packer, J. I. (2000). In new dictionary of theology (electronic ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Morgan, G. R. (2012). Understanding world religions in 15 minutes a day. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.