Zoroastrianism, or more natively Mazdayasna, is one of the world's oldest extant religions, "combining a cosmogonic dualism and eschatological monotheism in a manner unique [...] among the major religions of the world". Ascribed to the teachings of the Iranian prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra), it exalts a deity of wisdom, Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord"), as its Supreme Being. Major features of Zoroastrianism, such as messianism, heaven and hell, and free will have, some believe, influenced other religious systems, including Second Temple Judaism, Gnosticism, Christianity, and Islam.

With possible roots dating back to the second millennium BCE, Zoroastrianism enters recorded history in the 5th-century BCE, and along with a Mithraic Median prototype and a Zurvanist Sassanid successor it served as the state religion of the pre-Islamic Iranian empires from around 600 BCE to 650 CE. Zoroastrianism was suppressed from the 7th century onwards following the Muslim conquest of Persia of 633654. Recent estimates place the current number of Zoroastrians at around 190000, with most living in India and in Iran and their number is declining. Besides the Zoroastrian diaspora, the older Mithraic faith Yazdanism is still practised amongst Kurds.

The most important texts of the religion are those of the Avesta, which includes the writings of Zoroaster known as the Gathas, enigmatic poems that define the religion's precepts, and the Yasna, the scripture. The full name by which Zoroaster addressed the deity is: Ahura, The Lord Creator, and Mazda, Supremely Wise. The religious philosophy of Zoroaster divided the early Iranian gods of Proto-Indo-Iranian tradition, but focused on responsibility, and did not create a devil per-se. Zoroaster proclaimed that there is only one God, the singularly creative and sustaining force of the Universe, and that human beings are given a right of choice, and because of cause and effect are also responsible for the consequences of their choices. The contesting force to Ahura Mazda was called Angra Mainyu, or angry spirit. Post-Zoroastrian scripture introduced the concept of Ahriman, the Devil, which was effectively a personification of Angra Mainyu.

1. What does Zoroastrianism combine?
2. What are the most important texts of the religion called?
3. who's writings does it include?
4. When do it's roots possibly date to?
5. to which Iranian prophet does it's teachings ascribe to?
6. When did it serve as the state religion of the pre-Islamic Iranian empires?
7. When was it suppressed?
8. What diety does it exalt?
9. What is the current number of Zoroastrians estamated?
10. How many gods does Zoroastrianism beleive in?
11. What is the contesting force to Ahura Mazda called?
12. Are there any major features of Zoroastrianism?
13. Like what?
14. What are some religion sytems beleived to be influenced by these?
1. It combines a cosmogonic dualism and eschatological monotheism in a manner unique [...] among the major religions of the world"
2. Avesta
3. the writings of Zoroaster known as the Gathas
4. the second millennium BCE
5. Zoroaster (or Zarathustra)
6. from around 600 BCE to 650 CE
7. the 7th century onwards
8. Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord")
9. around 190000
10. one
11. Angra Mainyu
12. yes
13. messianism, heaven and hell, and free will have
14. Second Temple Judaism, Gnosticism, Christianity, and Islam.