Zoroastrianism - World Religion

From 600BCE until 600CE, Zoroastrianism was approximately how large?

The world's largest religion

According to most historians, Zoroastrianism grew out of what religion?

Aryanism (like Hinduism)

Who was the founder of Zoroastrianism, and what nationality was he?

Zarathustra. Persian born in Iran

What are some miracles that took place in the life of Zarathustra (around the time of his birth or in his childhood)?

Priests prophesied he'd be a ruler so they tried to kill him but he miraculously survived

Though the date of Zarathustra's birth is technically unknown—and we described (in class) a few different theories as to when he might have been born—we pointed out that the most common and probable date for his birth was approximately when?

About 1000 bce based on form of Persian of canon

What was the "Terrible Conflict," how long did it last, and how many questions were posed by the Aryan priests during this "conflict"?

Asked 33 impossible questions and he was able to answer and ask better questions

Why is the traditional name for Zoroastrian priests (i.e., "magi") significant?

Magi in the Bible are priests from the east who came when Jesus was born, three wise men who were working off Zarathustra's prediction. Many Jesus parallels in this faith

How old was Zarathustra when he was ordained (by his father) to the Aryan priesthood?

15 years old

What was Zarathustra's concern about the religion of his childhood?

He wasn't getting the answers and understanding he wanted from his religion

What does the name "Ahura Mazda" mean?

God of wisdom, or Wise Lord

In an effort to not give the impression that they worship Zoroaster, many Zoroastrians prefer to refer to their religion why what name?

Mazdaism

When Zarathustra came up out of the river, he was met by a bright light, and in that light was what being?

Vohumana, meaning good thoughts or good mind

A major emphasis in Zoroastrianism is on nurturing what?

Good thoughts and mind

According to our in-class discussion, Zarathustra saw God with what?

His spiritual eyes, not his natural eyes

According to our in-class discussion, God (in Zoroastrian thought) is surrounded by how many "radiant beings" or "divine emanations"?

6 radiant beings, represent gods nature and what we're supposed to become

According to our in-class discussion, the Zoroastrian "divine emanations" or "radiant beings" function much like what in Christianity?

???

The specific names of the various Zoroastrian "divine emanations" or "radiant beings" represent what?

represent gods nature and what we're supposed to become

Zarathustra discovered that God and His "divine emanations" all radiated what?

Light

How was Zarathustra's teaching received during the first 10 years of his proselyting efforts?

It was not received well. He only converted one person

Whose conversion spawned a massive growth spurt in the Zoroastrian tradition? What caused this conversion?

He converted a king and his wife and family

Do Zoroastrians today look favorably on proselyting and conversions? Why or why not?

Don't proselytize because they fear it will dilute the religion and converts will bring baggage from their previous religion, also the Indian king made them promise not to proselytize amount the Hindus

What are Zoroastrians called in India, and what does that name mean?

Parsies, which means Persians

What details did we share about Zarathustra's marriage?

He was a polygamist and he had three wives with whom he had six kids

According to our in-class discussion, Zoroastrianism went through a significant change (in beliefs and praxis) beginning around when?

1800 CE

Where do we most often find the original version of Zoroastrianism? And where are Neo-Zoroastrians often found?

Neo are found in North America, Canada and the US. Original Zo are mostly in India

To what degree is theology the focus of Zoroastrianism? And why?

It's not dogmatic theologically. Focuses more on good behavior than good theology. You don't have to be Zo to go to the best heaven

According to our in-class discussion, can a non-Zoroastrian go to the highest of Zoroastrian

heavens (known as "Paradise")?

Yes if they are good

How old was Zarathustra when he died, and how did he die?

77 years old, stabbed by 19 year old soldier

What is a "misbaha" in Zoroastrianism?

The equivalent of a rosary

Zoroastrian scriptural texts talk about "gods" of the days, months, and years. So, are Zoroastrians Polytheists, Monotheists, Monists, Modalists, or Monolatrists?

Monotheistic. Scriptures have left overs from other faiths

According to Zoroastrian belief, who is the only "uncreated being"?

Ahura Mazda

Since God did not create anything evil, but only good things and good beings, where did evil come from (according to Zoroastrian thought)?

Angri is his good son with agency, and he chose to go wrong and be evil

Do Zoroastrians believe in mercy? Why or why not?

No. They believe that commandments have penalties

Who is Gayomard and what is he responsible for creating?

Mazda's son and he created the first humans

The first humans sprang up from the ground as what (prior to morphing into humans)?

Rhubarb which is a symbol of fidelity

Who tempted the first humans to eat? And what was the "forbidden" thing that they consumed?

Az, the demon of greed, tempts them and they partake of forbidden goats milk

Do Zoroastrians believe in one devil or many devils?

Many demons and one devil

According to Zoroastrian teachings, what did the first humans (Mashya and Mashyana) use to cover their nakedness once they partook of what God had forbidden them to consume? Why was the thing they covered themselves with significant?

They kill an ox and use the skin to dress. Ox are sacred so that was very offensive

According to our in-class discussion, what is the two-fold purpose of life in Zoroastrianism?

Everyday do Good deeds and good thoughts and good words

Also follow god's commands

Why did Zoroastrians originally call their religion the "Good Religion"?

Because they're about good thoughts words and deeds

According to Zoroastrianism, who judges us at the judgement day?

Your conscious

How important is agency in Zoroastrian thinking?

Use agency to choose heavenly reward, it's not so much god judging you

Zoroastrians believe in two judgements. What are they and which comes first?

Judgement of spirit and judgment of body

When you first die, what happens to your spirit (according to Zoroastrian thinking)?

You go through three days of waiting

At the "Bridge of Judgement" (AKA "Bridge of Separator," or "Chinvat Bridge") the righteous and the wicked are greeted by their conscience—but in what form does the conscience appear?

Bad people have an ugly conscious in a gross place. Good people have beautiful maid judgement that takes them to this beautiful place. If you've lived a beautiful life, your conscious would be beautiful

What determines the nature of the punishment the wicked experience in hell?

What bad things you do, you will experience

According to our in-class discussion, what did Zarathustra mean when he said, "heaven and hell are the products of the human mind"?

Your conscious is what punishes you

Since Zarathustra said, "heaven and hell are the products of the human mind," do traditional Zoroastrians not believe in an actual heaven or hell?

Only really levels of heaven and then outer darkness

What determines how the "Bath of Molten Metal" feels?

If you're bad, it hurts. If you're good it's nice. It sanctifies you. Both receive salvation

According to traditional Zoroastrian thought, who are the only beings who do not receive some degree of reward or glory in the next life?

Angry mainyu

Zoroastrians believe in four "ages" or "stages" of existence. What, according to our in-class discussion, are those four "ages" or "stages"?

1. The creation when all was perfect

2. Age where evil and corruption emter world

3. Age of conflict between good and evil, two constantly repeating

4. Coming age of separation, ... wrapping up when adversary and demons will be cast to outer darkness and good wins

According to our in-class discussion, what is the "Diffusion Theory"?

Many world religions are very similar so many there was an original revelation or story that has changed with splitting groups

According to our in-class discussion, what do we know about Saoshyant?

Born of a virgin. The savior or redeemer, born of the prophets seed by virgin mother. He'll come any day now

Though the Zoroastrian canon is large and complex, what is their "main scriptural text"? And what, according to our in-class discussion, do we know about it?

The Avesta is the main scriptural canon.

- Yasna: Zarathustra's Hymns for worshiping

- Visparad: hymns for praise and sacrific

- Yashts: sacrificial hymns which pre-date Zarathustra

- Vendidad: laws against he demons and ritual impurity.

The canon was initially approximately 4 times its current size

In class, I mentioned two events that led to the reduction of the size of the Zoroastrian canon. What were those two events?

Alexander the great conquering persia. Also tensions between Zoroatrians and Muslims

Neo-Zoroastrians typically only accept as canonical what small Zoroastrian text?

34 pages of it are accepted because they're certain Zerthustra wrote that portion of the Gothas

Do Zoroastrians have a Sabbath or a day on which they gather each week for corporate/communal worship? If so, on what day of the week do they gather?

They don't have a particular day. You can worship at home. There are certain festivals, celebration where you go to fire temples though

There is a prayer Zoroastrians use that emphasizes the focus of their lives. It states: "______ is best of all that is good, it is the radiant goal of life on earth. Light is attained when one lives____, and lives so for the sake of _ethics_ alone." What is the thing which this prayer says "is best of all that is good"?

ethics, ethically

How prescriptive is Zoroastrian worship—including its emphasis on rites or rituals?

Not very prescriptive. They just focus on good thoughts, good words, good deeds. They can pray when they wish

What kind of sacrifice do Zoroastrians engage in?

Liquid libation. They use the homa plant which are crushed, offered to the priest, which puts him in a state of ecstasy and he's full of God's spirit

What do Zoroastrians believe Haoma has the power to do?

Put priest in communion with God and held back evil spirits, also belief it would give health to babies

According to our in-class discussion about Zoroastrianism, what's their perspective on marriage?

They believe its a commandant and rite. If you can have kids, do.

Where, according to Zoroastrian tradition, can a Zoroastrian couple be married? If the "Fire Temple" is the place they believe one should (or must) be married, why is that place the right location for marriages to be performed?

They can be married. Doesn't have to be in a fire temple

Why do Zoroastrian brides and grooms throw rice at each other when they marry?

Rice symbolizes that God will shower them with blessings and needs

Why are a Zoroastrian bride and groom encircled with a rope or cord when they marry?

Like Hindus, symbolizes the permanence of the relationship, committed to life together, not planning divorce

In our in-class discussion, how did we define what the Navjote ceremony is?

Like a bar mitzvah, given sacred clothing

What does the term "sudreh" mean?

Means protection, fits like traditional undershirt, has a bag of righteousness with good thoughts good words good deeds

What does the term "kusti" mean?

Means boundary or divider. Separates your midsections so you suppress your base appetites

What are you supposed to do with the pocket in your sudreh?

You carry in it good thoughts, good words, good deeds

How many threads are used in making a kusti, and why that number?

72 threads, represent the 72 chapters of the Yasna

According to our in-class discussion, why do Zoroastrians wrap their kusti around their waist three times?

???

What does the smell of frankincense remind Zoroastrians of, and how are incense traditionally used in Zoroastrian homes?

It's the smell of God. you light it in the house in the morning to remind people to do good thoughts good words good deeds. Also light it at the end of the day to reflect

What do Zoroastrians call their places of worship, and why is that what they call them?

Fire temples. There's always a fire burning in it

Before you enter a Zoroastrian "house of worship" (though they do not use that specific phrase), what are you expected to do?

Take off your shoes, cover your head, wash your hands and face

What is the "most important act of worship" in Zoroastrianism?

Prayer, you wash your hands and face before

How many times a day do observant Zoroastrians pray?

Five times a day

When saying their prayers, Zoroastrians typically stand, facing what—and why do they do that?

Facing the burning fire, untie and tie their kusti five times. Recite memorized passages of scripture. Invites the second divine imitation to dwell inside you when you pray

Faithful Zoroastrians hope to die doing what?

Have a prayer on their lips when they die

What is the most powerful thing in fighting off the influence of the devil according to Zoroastrian thought?

Prayer keeps back Satan

Why do Zoroastrians not fast?

Athustra taught not to commit sin, and the only fasting they did was to fast from sin. Why go without food? Instead go without sin.

According to our in-class discussion, what is the central or most important symbol of Zoroastrianism?

Fire is a big symbol that represents the second of the divine imminations. Fire represents God. the clothing and the faravahar are also symbols. The faravahar is probably a symbol of the human soul

According to our in-class discussion, many Zoroastrians believe that by (1) meditating before the fire, and by (2) living righteously, you can provoke what?

Bring upon yourself the second divine imminations, righteousness

What was the explanation we gave about the various symbolic elements of the Faravahar, and what each represents?

What is the role of Zoroastrian priests?

Calling is not to preach or preside. They tend the fire

What do Zoroastrian priests wear when functioning as priests?

White robe, white sash, white cap

What is "Hamazor" in Zoroastrianism?

Ritual hand clasp when in fire temple. Interlock hands with neighbors in congregation. Symbolizes resolution to do good thoughts good words good deeds

How did Zarathustra pray?

???

What are Zoroastrian men traditionally allowed to do that Zoroastrian women are typically not allowed to do?

Women can't hold priesthood generally. They're just held to traditional roles

Traditional Zoroastrians believe that when a woman is menstruating, she is under attack by whom? Accordingly, what restrictions are placed upon her during her period?

She is under attack from the devil. So she sleeps in a separate room from her husband, has special clothes, doesn't using utitensils or dishware that can absorb you, don't go to fire temple

Who are the "twin sons" of Ahura Mazda, and what do we know about each of them?Who are the "twin sons" of Ahura Mazda, and what do we know about each of them?

Angra Mindu (myou) → the devil. Spenta Mainyu → good?

Do Zoroastrians believe in a pre-mortal existence where we existed before we were born into mortality?

Pretty similar to how story

According to traditional Zoroastrian thinking, what is heaven like (meaning what goes on there, what do we do, what is the weather like, do we eat, clothe, interact, etc.)? How much like earth life will it be?

Multiple degrees of heaven, sharp dividing lines between levels. The highest degree is where God dwells. Heaven will be a continuation of life in this world. Similar weather conditions, dressed in clothes, walk and talk and lean against cushions. Heaven is the best of mortality with all the bad stuff removed

What are the three "good creations" that Zoroastrians believe we should not allow to be contaminated?

The earth, the water, and the fire should not be contaminated

How do traditional Zoroastrians (particularly the Parsis living in India) dispose of the bodies of their deceased?

Burial at sea, cremation, and burial at ground was familiar. Bodies were put on tarp and cultures would consume the flesh until the bones dry out and they're removed and turned to dust

Prior to and after human intimacy, Zoroastrians are encouraged to do what?

Intimacy is sacred for reproduction. Before and after you do ritual washings and prayers

The primary purpose of human intimacy, according to traditional Zoroastrian belief, is what?

reproduction

How many official denominations of Zoroastrianism are there?

It's not really fractured. There's neo-Zorastrians but they're not different denominations. It's basically the same with different levels of practice

No more than 112000 today, 11,000 in the US