Zoroastrianism Flashcards
(31 cards)
overview: what are the 5 religions arising from the Middle East from oldest to newest
- zoroastrianism
- Judaism
- christianity
- islam
- Bahai
what do the 5 religions arising from the Middle East have in common
- middle eastern
- monotheistic
how many Zoroastrians? where do they live?
200,000 adherents
- most live in India, where they are called Parsi
- the rest live in Iran
why study Zoroastrianism?
- oldest continuously practiced religion
- has influence on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Persia is present day
Iran
BEFORE zoroastrianism, Persia was inhabited by ….
- what were the basic beliefs
Aryans
- polytheistic : Mithra = giver of cattle; god of light + loyalty; Ahura Mazda = the wise Lord (highest God)
a prophet arises: sources for this prophet
- hymns he wrote called Gathas
- greek and roman writers like Plato talked about him
a prophet arises: dates range between _______________, contemporary with _____
1400 and 1200 BCE; Moses
name of this prophet
Zarathustra Spitama = possessor of camels
- simplified name = Zoroaster
what was Zoroater’s occupation
priest, he was a poor evangelist
zoroasters vision and essential message
an angel comes while he is praying and says:
“there is only ONE God and His name is Ahura Mazda and you are his prophet”
Zoroaster’s turning point
sick horse of a king –> he healed it and the king became a believer and helped spread it
Zoroaster died at ____ years old while…
77; tending holy fire
the central teachings of Zoroaster focused on the nature of God:
- only 1 God = Ahura Mazda
- all others are false gods
- God gives immortality to humans
- God reveals through 6 attributes called Amesha Spenta which are a balance of male and female
- there are many angels (Mithra is most important)
what are the 6 attributes God reveals through (Amesha Spenta)
male: law, love, service
female: piety, perfection, immortality
original belief was that 2 spirits emanate from Ahura Mazda:
Spenta Mainyu = Holy Spirit
angra mainyu = evil spirit
over time, Angra Mainyu becomes ____ and independent from Ahura Mazda and is a close equivalent to ____
separate; satan
zoroastrians believe that there is a great ____ taking place- a cosmic ____ between ___ and _____
controversy
conflict
good and evil
Zoroastrianism: nature of humans
- born innocent and sinless
- have full freedom to choose side in Great Controversy
- ethical conduct determines eternal destiny: at death u get what u deserve
Zoroastrianism has a detailed outline of eschatology:
if evil: Chinvat bridge will be razor sharp and an old lady pesters you as you try to cross; you fall into hell/torment
if good: chinvat bridge is broad and easy and ethical deeds come to help you and heaven is at the end of the bridge
at the end of time. Ahura Mazda will…
end all evil, and those in hell will be free, and Angra Mainyu will be destroyed
zoroastrian ethics is captured in the phrase
Good thoughts, good words, good deeds
focus on preserving the purity of
- earth
- fire
- water
- air
- anything that polutes these elements is evil
zoroastrian worship
- no blood sacrifices; instead, prayers to Ahura Mazda for help in living ethically
- fire sacrifices brought to Fire Temples where sacred fire is kept burning
