1. Zoroastrianism

2. Origins Began in Azerbaijan, Iran Founded in 600 B.C by Zarathushtra
Practiced mostly in Iran

3. Founder Zarathushtra Lived in Azerbaijan in Iran
Religious reformer in Persia
(modern day Iran)
Known as Zoroaster
Spent life teaching and preaching

4. Key Figures Ahura Mazda Angra Mainyu
Supreme deity, Creator, Lord of the Universe
Leader of the Amesha Spentas
Battles to rid world of evil and darkness
Angra Mainyu
Rival of Ahura Mazda
Evil spirit of death and violence

5. Key Figures Cont’d Amesha Spentas (Beneficent Immortals)
Seven divine beings belonging to Ahura Mazda
Messengers/connection between God and man
Help God and man fight Angra Mainyu for peace and justice

6. Key Beliefs Purpose: to help God make the world a better place to live
There are two deities:
- Ahura Mazda represents pure goodness
- Angra Mainya represents pure evilness
Deities are rivals
Goodness is more powerful and prevalent but cannot abolish evilness.

7. Key Beliefs Cont’d
Gathas: any of 17 poems attributed to Zoroaster and are the most ancient texts
Have free will
Those who do good can be peaceful and happy
Belief system
- Parallels good and evil tendencies within every person
- Provides an answer to: If God is good, why is there evil in the world?

8. Key Ceremonies Jashan Ceremony
Thanksgiving ceremony reenacts moment of creation (world in harmony)
Nirang-din Ceremony
Creates the Holy Nirang
Nirang is foundation of other
sacred rituals
Good in the world increases,
evil decreases

9. Key Ceremonies Cont’d Coming of Age Ceremony
Parsis initiated at age 7 in India, age 10 in Persia
Receive Sadre and Kusti
Yasna Ceremony
Haoma (sacred liquor), milk, bread, meat, animal fat offered to Ahura Mazda
Ritual purification
Priests recite the Avesta (the sacred writing)

10. Symbol - Fire Most important symbol
Places of worship called Fire Temples
Represents the divine
Is forever burning in Fire Temple
Three types of fires:
- Royal fire in only four temples
- Adaran fire in most temples
- Dadgah fire in the home

11. Symbol – Symbolic Garments
Two types are worn:
Sudre (the armor of God)
- white cotton garment
- worn at all times except when
bathing
Kusti (the swordbelt of faith)
- 72 threads composed of lamb's wool
- made by priest's wife and blessed

12. Symbol - Faravahar 2nd most common symbol
Unsure of its meaning and representation
Ancient theory:
- Represents the King's Authority in terms of its divine origins.
Today:
- Reminds people of purpose in life (to create a union with God)

13. Key Rituals Purification Ritual
Keeps mind, body and environment pure to defeat evil
3 types of purification:
- Padyab (ablution)
- Nahn (bath)
- Bareshnum (dog’s left ear is touched by the followers, dog's gaze casts evil spirits away)

14. Key Practices Burial of the Dead
Bodies of the dead given back to nature (sunlight and vultures dispose of corpse)
Brought to a Dakhma for Dakhma-nashini
Rich and poor died in same manner = people equal in the eyes of God.

15. Key Practices Cont’d Worship Takes place at fire temple
5 daily prayers or hymns said before fire

16. Timeline 600 B.C.: Zoroastrianism spreads in Iran
640 B.C: The Arab Invasion
1000 B.C.: Aryans arrive in Iran from central Asia
1600 B.C.: Zarathushtra is born

17. Timeline Cont’d 936: Zoroastrians immigrated to Gujarat in India
1381:Mongol Ruler Timur Lenk invaded Iran killing thousands of Zoroastrians  
1719: Afghan invaders massacre thousands of Zoroastrians in Kerman
1878:The first fire Temple is built in America

18. Timeline Cont’d
1882: Jaziye (a kind of tax for non-Muslims) is abolished in Iran 
1960: First World Zoroastrian Congress held in Tehran
1979: Religious freedom granted to Zoroastrians
1990: The Zarathushtrian Assembly is established in the United States

19. # of Adherents in the World
World population of Zoroastrians is 150,000
- 100,000 in India
- 17,000 in Iran
- 12,000 in North America
- 20,000 outside of Persia and India  

20. Influence in the 21st Century
Contributed to major Western religions
- Christianity
- Judaism
- Islam   (Some of it’s tenets were adopted
by Monotheists)
Important concepts
- redemption, final judgment, life after death, Satan as God's enemy, resurrection, souls, heaven and hell  

21. Influence in the 21st Century Cont’d
Jewish theory influenced by the post-Babylonian period in exile  
Small, noticeable religious community offers religious education classes, ceremonies, and receptions

22. Key Terms/Definitions
Persian: 
- a group of people that mostly live in Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Monotheistic:
- A religion in which only one God is worshipped
Jaziye:
- A kind of tax for non-Muslims
Parsis:
- Indian community of practicing Zoroastrians
Gabars:
-Iranian community of practicing Zoroastrians

23. Interesting Facts First monotheistic religion
Pray at a Fire Temple and believe fire is the symbol of God, but they never pray to fire
Parts of its tenets were later adopted by monotheistic religions - Islam, Judaism, Christianity
Themes such as good and evil, hell, and a messiah originated from Zoroastrianism
World's oldest continuing non-judgmental religion