Zoroastrianism - World cult and religion
Ancient Persian and monotheistic religion
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Introduction
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Date of origin: 1500 BC
Founder: Zarathustra (Zoroaster)
Holy Book: Avesta (Collection of writings)
Number of followers: More than 300,000
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History
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- One of the oldest religions
- In India, Zoroastrians are called Parsis (Persians)
- 100,000 Parsis live in India.
- Parsis have the highest literacy rate in India
- Zoroastrianism is known as good religion
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Motto
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- Zoroastrianism has this motto : Good thoughts, Good words, and good deeds
- Quotation : "Taking the first step with a good thought, second with a good word, and the third with a good deed, I entered Paradise"
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Founder
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- This religion was founded by Zoroaster
- Zoroaster was a Persian prophet
- Zoroaster had a vision of shiny being called Vohu Manah who took him to the creator God called Ahura Mazda
- Ahura Mazda was the single, eternal, and moral creator God
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History
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- The teachings of Zoroaster grew throughout Persia
- In 559 BC Cyrus became king of Persia
- In 550 BC Cyrus beBeliefsuperor of Babylon and brought with him the religion of Zoroaster
- When Alexander the Great conquered Persia, Zoroastrianism was neglected
- At the time of Jesus, Zoroastrianism was a powerful religion
- In 7th century, a small group set out from Persia to India to have freedom of faith
- They settled on the west coast of India and were known as Parsis (Persians)
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Beliefs
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- The holy book called Avesta contains collection of texts compiled in different stages
- The text contains Yasna which means sacrifice
- Yasna has 72 sections
- Yasna is recited during religious gatherings
- Yasna contains hymns called Gathas
- They sacrifice to water, plants, trees, land, fire, heaven, stars, sun, moon, cattle, aquatic beasts, and to the beasts that roam in the plains
- Believe that Mazda has created everything
- Sacrifice to the lofty Lord called Ahura Mazda
- Human beings are good
- Death is caused by the devil
- Demons are present
- Dead bodies cannot be cremated since fire is divinely created
- Dead bodies cannot be buried since earth is holy and good
- So, dead bodies have to be allowed to be eaten by vultures and crows since they were thought to be created for this purpose
- Round structures called dakhma are created to throw dead bodies and are called "towers of silence"
- After some time, the remaining bones will be lowered into deep wells with charcoal to dissolve bones
- In the end times, the dead will be raised and judged by Ahura Mazda
- The wicked will go to hell
- The good go to kingdom of everlasting light and joy
- Those whose good actions outweigh the bad pass into heaven
- The bad ones go to hell. After correction and punishment, the people will be restored to life of bliss
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Comparison with Christianity
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Zorostrianism |
Christianity |
There is one creator called Ahura Mazda |
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
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All humans are good created for good |
Romans 3:23-24 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
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There is no concept of mediator between God and men |
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; |
There is no need for the redeemer to make atonement for our sins |
Christ paid for our sins:Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. |
There is no concept Immanuel |
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
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Reflection
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- Can we sacrifice to all created things?
- Can humans reach God without Jesus who became the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins?
- Can good works take one to heaven?
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Prayer
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May the Lord lead us to eternal truth. Jesus is the truth.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
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