Zoroastrianism is a religion founded by Zoroaster, but with many later accretions.
In its origins Zoroastrianism appears to have been the religious expression of the peaceful, sedentary communities of N Iran as opposed to the animistic polytheism of their enemies, the nomadic horsemen. Zoroaster consistently contrasts these two peoples as the People of Righteousness (Aisha) and the People of the Lie (Dru). The religion was concerned with increasing the harvest and with protecting and treating kindly the domestic animals whose labors accomplished the production of food.
Gradually certain practices that Zoroaster appears to have deplored, such as the use of Ham (a narcotic intoxicant) in prayer and the sacrifice of bulls in connection with the cult of the god Mithra (a lesser god in Zoroastrianism), became features of the religion. It is not surprising, however, that former customs should be thus revived, because Zoroaster appears to have incorporated in his religion the old Persian pantheon, although very much refined. Instead of tolerating the worship of all the deities, however, he divided them into those who were beneficent and truthful and those whose malevolence and falseness made them abhorrent
The religion's priests, successors to the Prue-Zoroastrian Magi, acquired great power by their command of the techniques of purification. The priests also had great influence on the government in the first period of Zoroastrianism, that under the Achaemenids, when it was for a time the state religion. Alexander's conquest of Persia and the collapse of the Achaemenids destroyed the privileged position of Zoroastrianism. Little is known of the religion for the next 500 years, except that an offshoot, Mithraism (stemming from the worship of Mithra), was taking hold farther west. Zoroastrianism reemerged (c. 226) under Ardashir I, who established the Sassanian dynasty and fostered a general revival of Achaemenian culture. For four centuries Zoroastrianism was the state religion of the Sassanids, and it successfully met the challenge of nascent Christianity and, later, of heretical Manichaeism. In the mid-7th cent. Persia fell to Islam, and Zoroastrianism virtually disappeared. Aside from the Parsis of India, fewer than 10,000 persons (concentrated in Yazd and Kerman, Iran) practice the religion today. Zoroastrianism affected Judaism (particularly during the time of the Captivity) and, through Gnosticism, Christianity.
Sadly not much even though my father is Zoroastrian. My mother is Prodestant so I never really had a religion growing up and sadly know very little about my father's religion. As a little girl I used to look through my father's prayer books but since I have never spoken Farsi fluently I didn't understand a word they said. Thank you very much for asking this, I learned quite a bit about my heritage.
Zoroastrians worship Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, and believe that there is a cosmic battle between Ahura Mazda and Ahriman (kind of like the Devil). There is a battle in which humans must side with either Ahura Mazda or Ahriman. Ahura Mazda will win out.
Zoroastrianism began in ancient Persia, being founded by a Prophet Zoroaster or Zarathushtra. The Avesta is their holy Scripture, and it bears a striking resemblance to the Vedas of Hinduism.
Some scholars believe that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam were all influenced by Zoroastrian ideas. When the Jews were under Persian rule, Persia was officially Zoroastrian. In fact, Cyrus in the Bible was a Zoroastrian, more than likely. It may be that it is from Zoroastrianism that Jews and Christians developed their ideas about Satan, and the Messiah.
The Magi were Zoroastrians, and they would have anticipated their messiah, or Saoshyant, and that is why the New Testament records these wise men from the east bringing gifts to the baby Jesus.
There are still Zoroastrians today, though few in number. They live mostly in India and are called Parsis or Parsees there. (I think this derives from Persia). They were run out of Persia by the Muslims. There are a few Zoroastrians still in Iran.
They have fire temples, because Ahura Mazda is represented by the fire and light. They have stringent rules about purity and cleanliness, and are generally well-educated people.
What do you know about Zoroastrianism?
