Midterm: Zoroastrianism

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

the largest religion on the planet

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

arianism

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

Zarathustra

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

Mother was a virgin

Comes out of the womb laughing

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?

Born in 8,000 BCE: because it has to come before all the other religions since this was the mother of religion

Most believe it was 1,000 BCE based on the number of events

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

Aryan priests pestered Zarathustra with 33 questions over 33 days

when they cant beat him they plant incriminating evidence on him

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

magi are also in the bible as the wise men

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

15

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

it can't answer the questions of life

What does the name "Ahura Mazda" mean?

God, wise lord or lord of wisdom

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?

Vohu Manah, good thoughts, good mind

A major emphasis in Zoroastrianism is on nurturing what?

nurturing good thoughts and good mind

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

the eyes of his spirit not the eyes of his body

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

6

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

the light of christ: they radiate of manifest God's presence in the world.

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

God's nature, characteristics and what we are supposed to become

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

radiated light

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

Not well, the priests lied about him and put him in prison

he converts only his cousin

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

the conversion of the king of Persia: he heals the king's horse leg by leg and made the king make a promise for each leg healed

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

No- because they think it will dilute their religion. They are worried that you bring parts of your other religion with you.

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

parsis, persians

What details did we share about Zarathustra's marriage?

3 sons, 3 daughters, one wife (at a time)

prob was a polygamist

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

1800 CE- neo-zoroastrianism

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

Originals zoroastrians found in India

Neo-Zoroastrians found in taran, canada, parts of the us

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

Judgment is about how you lived your life and not what theology you believed

According to our in-class discussion, can a non-Zoroastrian go to the highest of Zoroastrian heavens (known as "Paradise")?

Yes because everyone can do good works, thoughts, and deeds

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

he was 77, an army invades and Zarathustra is praying in a fire temple, a young soldier comes in and stabs him then Zarathustra throws Misbaha, beads, at him and guy drops dead while Zarathustra bleeds out

What is a "misbaha" in Zoroastrianism?

rosary beads

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

monotheists

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)?

Agency

Do Zoroastrians believe in mercy? Why or why not?

no grace or mercy, there is a perfect law

Who is Gayomard and what is he responsible for creating?

creating the first humans, mashyane and mashye

son of Ahura Mazda

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

rhubarb

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

the evil demon of greed, Az

goat's milk

Do Zoroastrians believe in one devil or many devils?

many devils (one main devil is Az)

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?

an Ox, in persia it represented a divine being

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

1. Do the best you can at obeying God's commandments

2. do good to other people through thoughts and deeds

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

they are fixated on doing good thoughts, words, deeds

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

you judge yourself

How important is agency in Zoroastrian thinking?

very important, it determines judgment

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

1. judgment of the spirit

2. judgment of the body

spirit first

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

Sticks around for 3 days

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?

Old hag (unrighteous)- bridge gets narrowed until you fall off

Beautiful maiden (righteous)

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

how you treated people in mortality

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

it's your conscience doing it to you, your mind knows what you deserve

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

absolutely

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

How righteous you were

Righteous: like warm milk

Unrighteous: excruciatingly painful

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

Angra Mainyu and the people that follow him

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

1. The age of creation, when all was perfect

2. The age when evil and corruption entered the world

3. The age of conflict between good and evil- where the two are constantly competing with each other

4. Coming age of preparation, where good will defeat evil and the world will return to its primordial state of perfection, because evil will have been cast into permanent oblivion

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

All religions trace back to some earlier religion or vision

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

The redeemer or savior born of the prophet's seed by a virgin mother

Will come to resurrect, make the world flat

Mirrors Jesus

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?

Avesta: hymns and rituals about purity, used more for worship

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

4 BC: Alexander the great conquered persia

7 CE: islam took over persia

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

The Gothas (35 pages of what Zarathustra wrote)

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?

no sabbath day

7 annual festivals to gather all together

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 attainedwhen one lives_ethically__________, and lives so for the sake of ____________ alone." Wha tis the thing which this prayer says "is best of all that is good"?

ETHICS

Life is good for the sake of living good because it is the right thing not for desire of praise or fear.

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

Not very- just focused on good deeds

What kind of sacrifice do Zoroastrians engage in?

Liquid libation: hallucinogens that put in fire and then the priest drinks it

What do Zoroastrians believe Haoma has the power to do?

To stop Satan, gives good health

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

Yes you should marry - marry in the faith

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

Performed anywhere

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

Symbolizes blessings, may God shower you with blessings

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

the finished knot symbolizes their future, and how their love and marriage will continue to be strong throughout infinity

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

Coming of age ceremony to become accountable (like baptism for our church)

What does the term "sudreh" mean?

protection

What does the term "kusti" mean?

boundary

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

Fill it with righteousness- good thought, good words, good deeds metaphorically

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

72- each thread represents a chapter of scripture

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

thoughts, words, deeds

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

Smell of God

Have it around to wake up with invitation to think about how they are going to have good thoughts, good words, good deeds.

Go to bed before by having the smell again.

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

Fire temples: flame that burns 24/7 represents God's presence

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

Take off shoes, cover head, wash face

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

Prayer: keeps Satan at bay

How many times a day do observant Zoroastrians pray?

5 times

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

standing facing the fire or sun or lamp

Untie belt three times

Reciting passages

Faithful Zoroastrians hope to die doing what?

Prayer on their lips

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

PRAYER- if you're talking to God, Satan doesn't have your ear

Why do Zoroastrians not fast?

They fast from committing sin

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

Fire: God, righteousness

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?

One of the 6 divine emanations to live within you

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

Center figure: God

Hand ring: non-changing, eternal

Wings: good thoughts, good words, good deeds. Except for the ones below the belt which are the bad deeds/ words/ thoughts

Facing forward: face the faithful son

Ribbon in front: faithful son, spenta mainya

Ribbon behind: unfaithful son, angra mainya

What is the role of Zoroastrian priests?

Protect the fire so it doesn't get corrupted, and doesn't burn out

What do Zoroastrian priests wear when functioning as priests?

All white, masks to respect fire

What is "Hamazor" in Zoroastrianism?

Hand clasp: personal differences are forgotten and brotherhood is achieved

How did Zarathustra pray?

Hands above the head

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

Men hold priesthood

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?

The devil : angra mainyu

Use metal utensils, no contact with priest or fire at the temple

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

Angra mainyu: evil (seeks to prevent people reaching God)

Spenta mainyu: good

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

Yes: believe we were created as spirits

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 glory with distinct lines between them

Highest: people that accept good and reject evil

Weather like earth

Dressed in clothes

Interact with family members

The perfect mortal existence with all the bad stuff gone (still eating and drinking)

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

earth, fire, water

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

Lie pits

No earth burial, not sea burial, no cremation (except for solar furnaces)

Tower of silence: Bring the dead body to the top of the tower with nothing but a tarp. Do ceremony and then the body is eaten by vultures. After, you bring the bones to a bone pit and expose the bones to elements.

Use led lined coffins today

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

Go through ritual washing and prayer before, washing and prayer at the end

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

procreation

How many official denominations of Zoroastrianism are there?

only one