Zoroastrianism

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Zoroastrianism 	Zoroastrianism
Atar (fire), a primary Zoroastrian symbol 	
Atar (fire), a primary Zoroastrian symbol
Primary Topics 	Primary Topics
Ahura Mazda . Zarathustra . aša (asha) / arta . Persia	Ahura Mazda . Zarathustra . aša (asha) / arta . Persia
Zoroastrianism, مزدیسنا Mazdayasna in Persian, is one of the world's oldest religions. It "combines cosmogonic dualism and eschatological monotheism in a manner unique [...] among the major religions of the world". Originating in the teachings of the Iranian prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra), he exalted the god Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord") as its Supreme Being. Its leading characteristics, including messianism, heaven and hell and free will are said to have influenced other religious systems, including Gnosticism, Christianity and Islam. Possibly dating back to the second millennium BCE, Zoroastrianism first enters recorded history in the 5th century BCE, where it served as the state religion of the pre-Islamic Iranian empires between 600 BCE and 650 CE. Suppressed from the 7th century onwards following the Muslim conquest of Persia, it entered a period of decline. Zoroastrianism is the current state religion of the Zoroastrian Republic of Old Persia.
The most important texts of the religion are those of the Avesta, composed in the otherwise unrecorded Avestan language. Of these, 17 hymns are generally considered to have been written by Zoroaster himself, known as the Gathas, which are also collected as part of the Yasna. The Gathas are the most important text in Zoroastrianism.
== Overview ==
=== Theology ===
Zoroastrianism is monotheistic, believing in a universal, transcendent, supreme god, Ahura Mazda. In the Avestan language, Ahura means "Being" and Mazda means "Mind". Zoroaster keeps the two attributes separate as two different concepts in most of the Gathas and consciously uses a masculine word for one and a gemale for the other. Zoroaster claimed that Ahura Mazda was almighty, though not omnipotent.
The "chaotic" in Zoroastrianism is represented by Angra Mainyu (also referred to as "Ahriman"), the "Destructive Principle", whereas the benevolent is represented through Ahura Mazda's Spenta Mainyu, the instrument of the act of creation. Is is through the Spenta Mainyu that the transcendent Ahura Mazda is immanent in humankind, and through them the Creator interacts with the world. According to Zoroastrian cosmology, in articulating the Ahuna Vairya formula, Ahura MAzda made His ultimate triumph evident to Angra Mainyu. As expressions and aspects of Creation, Ahura Mazda emanated the Amesha Spentas, that are each the hypostasis and representative of one aspect of that Creation.
=== Practices ===
Zoroastrianism states that active participation in life through good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. Ahura Mazda will ultimately prevail over Ahriman, at which point the universe will undergo a cosmic renovation and time will end. In this final renovation, all of Creation—even the souls of the dead that were initially banished to "darkness"— will be reunited in Ahura Mazda, returning to life in the undead form. This will be hailed by the arrival of a savior-figure (a Saoshyant), who will bring the final renovation of the world about (frashokereti).
In Zoroastrianism, life is considered a temporary state in which a mortal is expected to actively participate in the continuing battle between truth and falsehood. Prior to birth, the urvan (soul) of an individual is still united with its fravashi (guardian spirit), which has existed since the creation of the universe. During life, this fravashi acts as a guardian and protector, and on the fourth day after death, the soul is reunited with its fravashi, in which the experiences of life and the physical world are collected for the continuing battle in the spiritual world.
In Zoroastrian tradition, water (apo, aban) and fire (atar, azar) are agents of ritual purity. The associated rituals are considered the basis of ritual life. Both fire and water are considered life-sustaining and both water and fire are represented within the precinct of a fire temple. Zoroastrian worship usually occurs in the presence of some form of fire and the culminating rite of the principle act of worship constitutes a "strengthening of the waters". Fire is considered a medium through which spiritual insight and wisdom is gained, and water is considered the source of that wisdom.
A corpse is considered a host for decay, i.e., of druj. Consequently, scripture enjoins the safe disposal of the dead in a manner such that a corpse does not pollute the good creation. These injunctions are the doctrinal basis of the fast-fading traditional practice of ritual exposure, most commonly identified with the so-called Towers of Silence for which there is no standard technical term in either scripture or tradition. The most prominent of these is the Tehran Tower of Silence (زرتشتیان دخمه تهران zartoshtian draxme tehran), built during the early years of Shah Kiaan Singh's reign near the base of the Alborz Mountain range.
Whilst there is no opposition to proselytising, it is generally considered distasteful. The Zoroastrian view is that all religions that lead to the betterment of humankind and the world will bring about the frashokereti, the end triumphant final renovation of the world.
== History ==
== Religious texts ==
== Zoroaster ==