Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-08-28
For the Democrat.
THE TEN GREAT RELIGIONS.
No. v.

Zoroaster, the founder Of the Persian
Religion, Aourished many centuries be.
fore the Christian Era. Some place him
four thousand years, others ten or twelve
hundred years prior to the birth of Christ.
Rollins, the ancient historian, says there
were two Persians bearing the name Of
Zoroaster the former appearing at an
early day and introducing the system,
which was more fully defined by the lat
ter, about 600 years b. C. The sacred
books, the Zend Avesta. by some author
tiles considered as old as the days Of
Moses. are said TO be a revelation from
heaven.
1t is collection of hymns, prayers,
invocstions and thanksgiving to several
Deities, among whom, Ormazd was con-
sidered the Supreme Creator, and the rest
were bis servants. Ahreman the destroy
er. and Mythra the mediator, though some
what dissimilar, bear striking analogy
to the Chistian Trinity-and by skeptics
is thought to be the origin of that be-
lief.
1t was prevailing custom among the
Persians to adore the sun and TO worship
fire as the purest emblem Of Deity. They
pretended it came down from heaven and
was placed under the protection Of the
magi or priests who kept it continually
burning. This practice Of preserving the
sacred fire was carried to Rome, and ves-
tai virgins were appointed to guard it
night and day in the Temple of Vests;
for its extinguishment was considered
great calamity to the nation. The wor.
ship of the sun probably had its origin
long before the days Of Zorosster. When
our primitive ancestors beheld this re-
splendent orb of heaven, they ascribed to
it creative power, and through ignorant
fear idolized it as the Supreme Author Of
the universe.
The worship Of the sun was formerly
the prevailing religion among the ancient
nations of the earth, for we find the ruins
of temples once dedicated to the sun,
scattered over almost the entire world.
Sir John Lubbock refers them to the
bronze age, while other .rcheologists con-
tend they were built. from ten, to fifty
thousand years ago. Squier, in his trav-
els in South America, discovered numer-
Gus ruined temples, apparently erected BY
race Of people long before that country
was inhabited BY the Incas. After ages
had rolled away, mankind had improved,
it became apparent the sun was composed
of matter, therefore general belief pre-
vailed that, far beyond the bounds of
creation, existed Divinity, the maker Of
all things. At the present day, nearly
all the most degraded tribes of the earth
have well defined ideas Of an Overriding
Power. r nj
Zoroaster taught that there were Gre
ated two Angels, one of Light and one
Of Darkness. At the end Of the world
there would be day Of Judgment. when
all shall receive a just retribution accord
ing to their works. The Angel Of Dark
ness and his disciples shall suffer ever
lasting punishment, but the Angel of
Light and his disciples will receive the
eternal rewards of virtuous life on
earth. According to the Persian myth
ology, Ormazd created man and woman
who were innocent and fitted for heaven
to worship their Creator. Altman
brought fruit and tempted them, of which
they ate and Loot 2 hundred psrts Of their
happiness Via !i,4BQ Oh