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Zoroastrianism began with an ancient prophet called Zarathustra. Hey, his name is Zoroaster in Greek, get it? Zoroastrianism! He was an Iranian prophet who lived about 1500 B.C. He was born at a time when there was loads of evil in the world, lots of pagan gods. When he was thirty he had visions of the "one and supreme god" he called Ahura Mazda.
As opposed to some of the evil deities people were worshiping, the "one god" Ahura Mazda was all good and stood opposed to all the evil in the world, and it was Zarathustra's job to tell the people about Ahura Mazda. How did he do it? Songs. He wrote a lot of songs telling people all about how Ahura Mazda is the all-knowing, eternal god of creation. He was the "lord of wisdom." Through these songs, Zarathustra told everyone that they should worship Ahura Mazda because he was good. However, Ahura had an evil counterpart, Anghra Mainyu.
Zarathustra taught people that Ahura knew all about this bad guy, and that he knew that he would whoop up on him if he wanted. So, Ahura had this plain, create a world that would trap Anghra Mainyu. It was called the "Seven Creations." He knew that Anghra would be attracted to this world, and would fill it with all his evil. So what does that mean for man?
They're in the middle of this fight like kids whose parents are fighting for custody. Man has to decide which path he wants to follow, like a kid decides which parent he wants to live with. Zarathustra taught that people should choose Ahura Mazda and should fight against Anghra Mainyu. How? Through seven qualities known as the Amesha Spentas. Hang tight, we'll list these below.
If mankind would live these, Zarathustra believed that evil would be defeated. Here are basic beliefs: Man is on a personal quest to get rid of evil and promote the good spirit of Ahura Mazda. He's also on a quest to protect and respect the seven creations: Sky, water, earth, plants, cattle, man, and fire.
Fire is especially significant because it's considered the source of light, warmth, and life. Man should enjoy, without overdoing it, the gifts that are on the earth. Followers should lead a good, prosperous, and healthy life. A savior will be born a virgin, of the line of Zoroaster. This person will raise the dead and judge everyone.
Followers are called Zoroastrians. How does a Zoroastrian become a Zoroastrian? They can't convert; they've got to be born into the religion. Number of Zoroastrian followers: one-hundred and fifty thousand worldwide, and five thousand in North America.
What's the attraction? Living a goof life. Understanding the struggle between good and evil. Since you are born into the religion, your family and community share your beliefs. The goal is the furtherance of good, the opposition of anything evil, and the final defeat of evil when the world will be made perfect once again, undying and eternal. When you die, your soul is judged.
After that, it gets either a reward or punishment depending on how you lived on earth. If your soul is found righteous, it goes to the abode of joy and light. If it's found wicked, it goes to the abode of darkness and gloom, or hell. But, since there's no eternal damnation in Zoroastrianism, time in the gloomy place is temporary.
A series of saviors will come to redeem the lost. And, when Ahura Mazda comes and time ends, each soul will be judged again. Eventually everyone will spend eternity with Ahura Mazda. Their worldview is monotheistic. The only scared text is "The Avesta." Their worship services are held in a Fire Temple, however there are no idols. Those who want to live for Ahura Mazda must perfect themselves like the Amesha Spentas, also known as Bounteous Immortals.
The following seven ideals are: Goodness, the good mind, truth power, devotion, perfection, and immortality. They sum up these seven ideals into three, easily remembered ideals called the threefold path, which members are dedicated to do: "Good thoughts, good words, good deeds." Their geographic center is in India, but they're originally from Iran, ancient Persia, before the Arabs came there.
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