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Home , Ahura, Zoroastrianism

World , Wk 19 – Comparing Full Gospel to beliefs

WELCOME! Coffee, donuts and snacks are available in the Lobby! Their Symbols Zoroastrianism History - I

• A monotheistic pre-Islamic of ancient Persia founded by in the BC. • Zoroastrianism is an ancient Persian religion that may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago. • Arguably the world’s first monotheistic , it’s one of the oldest religions still in . • Zoroastrianism was the of three Persian dynasties, until the Muslim conquest of Persia in the seventh century A.D. • Zoroastrian refugees, called , escaped Muslim in by emigrating to . • Zoroastrianism now has an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 worshipers worldwide, and is practiced today as a in parts of Iran History - II

• The Zoroaster (Zarathrustra in ancient Persian) is regarded as the founder of Zoroastrianism, which is arguably the world’s oldest monotheistic faith. • Most of what is known about Zoroaster comes from the —a collection of Zoroastrian religious scriptures. It’s unclear exactly when Zoroaster may have lived. • Some scholars believe he was a contemporary of , a king of the Persian Empire in the sixth century B.C., though most linguistic and archaeological evidence points to an earlier date—sometime between 1500 and 1200 B.C. • Zoroaster is thought to have been born in what is now northeastern Iran or southwestern . He may have lived in a tribe that followed an ancient religion with many (). This religion was likely similar to early forms of . History - III

• Zoroaster had a divine vision of a supreme while partaking in a pagan purification rite at age 30. Zoroaster began teaching followers to a single called Mazda. • Zoroastrianism shaped the mighty Persia Empire. It was the state religion of three major Persian dynasties. • Cyrus the Great, devout Zoroastrian, but he allowed his non-Iranian subjects to practice their own religions. • He ruled by the Zoroastrian law of ( and ) but didn’t impose Zoroastrianism on the people of Persia’s conquered territories. History - IV

• Some scholars say that tenets of Zoroastrianism helped to shape the major including , and — through the influence of the Persian Empire. • Zoroastrian concepts, including the idea of a single god, , and a day of judgment, may have been first introduced to the Jewish community of , where people from the Kingdom of Judea had been living in captivity for decades. (CHECK THIS OUT!) History -V

• Parsi are followers of Zoroastrianism who live in India. • According to Parsi tradition, a group of Iranian Zoroastrians emigrated from Persia to escape by the Muslim majority after the Arab conquest. • Experts speculate that the group sailed across the Arabian Sea and landed in , a state in , sometime between 785 and 936 A.D. • The Parsi are an ethnic minority in India and . Today there are about 60,000 Parsi in India and 1,400 in Pakistan. The Three Kings (aka “”)

• Almost everyone knows about the magi, the "wise men from the East" who herald the birth of with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. • But few realize that these three kings of Orient are not Christians or Jews, but Zoroastrians -- members of an ancient faith that survives to this day. Beliefs – I (Cosmic Dualism) Angra Mainyu • Omniscient (knows everything) • The ongoing battle between • ( and within the Omnipotent (all powerful) universe. • Omnipresent (is everywhere) • The destructive energy that • Impossible for humans to opposes God's creative energy. conceive. • Continually attack God’s creative • Unchanging. energy, making it impure. • The Creator of life. • Aging, sickness, famine, natural • The Source of all goodness and disasters, death and so on are . attributed to him. Beliefs – II (7 Attributes of..) Ahura Mazda (God) Angra Mainyu () 1. God of light & 1. Prince of darkness 2. Right, 2. Falsehood 3. Good mind, thoughts 3. Evil mind 4. Power, strength 4. Cowardice 5. Piety, love, faith 5. Misery 6. Health & perfection 6. Annihilation 7. Beliefs - III

• Zoroasterianism teaches the existence of , and saviors, ideas that can also be found in Christianity, Judaism and Islam. • Zoroastrians use the Avesta as their sacred text. • The Avesta contains hymns, and spells against demons. • Zoroastrians traditionally pray several times a day. Some wear a cord knotted three times, to remind them of the maxim, 'Good Words, Good Thoughts, Good Deeds' • are said facing the sun, fire or other source of light representing Ahura Mazda's and energy. Their

• Zoroastrian’s place of worship is a fire • As of 2019, there were 167 fire temples in the world, of which 45 in , 105 in the rest of India, and 17 in other countries. (One fire urn has been burning for 1,500 years) Zoroastrian Fire Temples Biblical Evaluation - I

• Zoroastrianism and Islam, as reflections of the religion of natural man, are works-oriented religions. • The of these religions offer no saving grace and accordingly give no assurance that a person achieve heaven or . • But, historic Christianity is distinct in being a faith of grace that the triune God gives to repentant sinners, who by their own efforts could never earn heaven. Biblical Evaluation – II (Boa)

• Zoroasterian’s God (Ahura Mazda) is closer to Christianity’s God than other . But… • Their spirit of evil (Angra Mainyu) is just as powerful as Ahura Mazda • Ahura Mazda is not a person god like the God of our Bible. • Worship is centered around forms • Their salvation is achieved by works, not by Faith • Man’s sinfulness is not addressed. • In actual practice, they are superstitious and occult. They worship sacred fire and a white bull in their temples. Biblical Evaluation – III (Boa)

• Four centuries after Christ’s birth, Zoroastrianism began claiming a birth of their founder Zoraster. • Zorasterianism teaches that a savior will come – someday • There is a deadness to this religion • No personal relationship with God • No Jesus as intercessor • No as comforter, teacher, discerner • No guardian angels •This it for today! •Have a great Sunday, week, and year! ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism References: • Boa, Kenneth, Cults, , and the Occult (Pages 44-50) Victor Books, SP Publications, 1990 • History of Zorastrianism, Updated 10-08-19, retrieved 11-05-19 from https://www.history.com/topics/religion/zoroastrianism • Followers of Zoraster, retrieved 11-05-19 from https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Followers-of-Zoroaster-share- faith-of-3-wise-men-2661663.php