1. Zoroastrianism

2. Cyrus Isaiah 45:1 “Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, …

3. Zoroaster Zoroaster was a prophet in the tradition of the Hebrew prophets and of Muhammad. He is a messenger from the one God to his people.

4. The Gathas The original teachings of Zoroaster are contained in the Gathas, which are a part of the Avesta, the Zoroastrian Holy Scriptures.

5. Ahura Mazda God was to be served not by ceremonies but by virtuous acts, not by sacrifices but by selfless love, not by rituals but by good mind.

6. Asha: The Will of God Ethics can be summed up by the phrase: “Good thoughts, good words, good deeds.”

7. Ethical Dualism Philosophically, ethical dualism means that evil is the price of freedom. But evil does not spring into reality until it is made present by human choice.

8. Paradise Paradise comes from the Persian language and the Zoroastrian religion. Included in this term was the idea of immortality and a final judgment.

9. Cosmic Dualism With a belief in cosmic dualism people tend to become more judgmental and Hell becomes a place of permanent, rather than temporary punishment.

10. Summary Asha is the pivot of the cosmic as well as the social order. It regulates the movements of the planets, the structure of society, and the behaviors of individuals.