What can I include into my paper about Zoroastrianism? (Paper attached)?
Zoroastrianism: Grandfather of Modern Religions
In ancient Persia, sometime around 6000 B.C., a young prince named Zarathustra left his duties as prince in search of enlightenment. A great person named ?Ahura Mazda? taught him about the theory of monotheism. Zarathustra started preaching this new theory, but his message did not get far, as Persia was going through harsh times. The people of Persia had more important things to worry about, such as food, and herding animals, and staying alive, so therefore, did?t have time to listen to one?s beliefs. A new religion was just not at the top of their list of important things to think about. They did however practice their current, (or what was current at the time), religion. They worshiped their Gods, and sacrificed animals.
No one knows much about Zarathustra himself, as history from that time was hard to uncover, and not well documented. But many historians place his birth around modern-day Tehran, Iran. This is in north-west Iran; one of the holiest cities in the country. Others say that he was born in eastern Iran, based on the language he used in many famous writings. Also, his date of birth has remained relatively unknown for thousands of years.
Zarathustra first envisioned God through Vohu Manah, or "Good Mind, (Thought)." He had visions of messages from God on subjects including religious purity and social justice. Zarathustra used this knowledge to take down corrupt priests and potentates. Little absolute truths exist about the history on Zoroastrianism and its leaders, but holy writings display many things that historians have been able to translate, interpret, and understand since then. The scripture of Zoroastrianism is known as the Avesta. It is written in the ancient language of Avestan, a language that was very commonly spoken in Persia before they developed their own native language of Parsi, (mistranslated nowadays to Farsi). The most sacred part of the Avesta was the Gathas. The Gathas stresses the three main points that Zoroastrianism focuses on in life; truth, good mind, and spirit of righteousness. These often are translated as good deeds, good thoughts, and good actions.
Also in the Gathas, are numerous stories about Zarathustra. It tells the story about how he was forced to leave his home and wander the hot, arid, Iranian desert with his followers and their animals. After months of wandering, Zarathustra and his people found King Vishtaspa, a sympathetic friend who was the father of King Darius, (not the famous King that brought prosperity to Persia, but another one of the same name and less historical significance.) This was said to have taken place in either east Iran, or West Afghanistan. While he was there, he won the King?s companionship, and became a court prophet. Zarathustra married into the king's court when he married the daughter of King Vishtaspa's prime minister. Zarathustra spent 30 years here, until he died at 77. Some say he died of natural causes, while others think he was murdered in the storming of Balkh by the Turanians.
After the death of Zarathustra, many of his followers that wandered with him in the desert continued teaching the ways of Zarathustra. Zoroastrians believe that physical death is the temporary triumph of evil.
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Throughout history, and still today, (especially considering the Zoroastrians? small population), Zoroastrianism has fallen victim to hatred, harassment, and persecution. Many people consider the Zoroastrians as najis, or those of an impure faith and have forced them to convert, in order to survive among their society. This is the case
with many Muslim groups worldwide, especially in Iran, (oddly enough, the starting point of Zoroastrianism). Despite its very heavy influence on many modern religions including Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, Zoroastrianism has been ridiculed by these religions to the point where it is now one of the world?s smallest religions, on the basis of population.
In contrast, other groups still in Iran and in America, Britain, and India accept them happily among their population. Zoroastrianism is actually the predominant religion in Azerbaijan, a small country bordering Russia and Georgia to the South, Armenia to the East and West, and Iran to the North. After the fall of the Sassanid Empire, (Empire lasting from 226 AD to 651 AD, encompassing mostly Iraq, Iran, Southwest Russia, Egypt, Oman, Yemen, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and others) in 651 AD, many Zoroastrians migrated to Western India. These Zoroastrians have called this, along with just a select few places around the world, home ever since.
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