ZOROASTRIANISM

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam belong to one family, whose father, Abraham, descended from an inhabitant of Ur, in Mesopotamia. Elements derived through Zoroastrian belief, including world view, ethics, creation and judgement, are present in all three religions.

In Mesopotamian religions there are stories of fertility gods, and goddesses, sacred hills built in pyramid form (ziggurats), and elaborate rituals, sometimes involving animal sacrifice. The religion was an evolving polytheism; beginning around 4000 B.C.E., it named forces of nature. Early cities had their own gods. As city-states formed, the deities were sometimes combined into families. The political union of Sumer and Akkad brought about the unity of their gods as Sin, the moon god, Shamash, the sun god, and Ishtar, the morning and evening star, Venus. Ishtar, as a fertility goddess, was the most popular and her worship, under other names, spread to other cultures. By 2000 B.C.E., gods were given roles as parents and worshipped as objects of devotion by individuals. The Gilgamesh epic also developed during this period.

Hammurabi of Bablyon (1800 B.C.E.) issued a code of laws said to come from Shamash. He invited the oppressed to come to him to receive justice. Centuries later, Nebuchadnezzar made a home for exiles, including exiles from Jerusalem.

The ancient religions offered no idea of immortality, but did stress moral behavior. Life must be lived justly under the laws of the gods. As the king, also, must answer for his conduct, the concept tended to support powerful, unified kingdoms. Known for laws, cities, irrigation, astrology, astronomy, and geometry, Mesopotamia was also home to the Hebrews.

History and Holy History

Zoroaster was born between 660 and 628 B.C.E. according to several sources. Some sources date the Gathas between 1400 and 1000 B.C. E., but the early texts may be from sources which predate Zoroaster's birth. His father was Pourushaspa, of the warrior clan Spitama, his mother Dughdhova, of a noble family. Demons attempted to kill him as an infant, as they recognized him as a potential enemy. He grew up in a religion which shared some deities and concepts with the Aryans (Rig-Veda). At 15 he received the sacred thread, the kusti, at 20 left his parents and the wife chosen for him. He was trained as a priest or magus, but rejected animal sacrifice as evil. At 30, while wandering about seeking answers to religious questions, he received a revelation from Ahura Mazda.

The angel Vohu Mana came to him as he stood on a river bank. Leaving his body, Zoroaster responded to a command to come to the court of heaven. In heaven, Ahura Mazda revealed to him that immortality would be given to the followers of Zoroaster. The true God, Ahura Mazda, Wise Lord, was the same lord who had been worshiped by cattle owners and farm people. He was opposed by Angra Mainyu, the spirit of evil, worshiped by cattle rustlers. Zoroaster was told that the struggle between the two could be aided by humans deciding to live moral lives. At the end of time, each human would be judged according to his/her deeds and sent to heaven or hell.

Over a period of ten years, Zoroaster had six other visions containing angels, messengers of Ahura Mazda. He had limited success spreading his message until he converted King Vishtaspa of Bactria. His religion spread, to an extent, through wars and conquest. He was killed by an invading soldier as he attended (defended ) the sacred flame in a temple. He was 77.

Teachings of Zoroaster

Scriptures

Written over several centuries, the Avesta, or book of the law, contains Gathas, hymns, in its oldest part, the Yasna. It also contains the Vieperad, used to honor the lords, the Yashts or hymns of praise, and the Vindevdat, or rituals against demons. Of 21 books, only the Videvadt remains intact.

Principles

A monotheist, Zoroaster taught his converts to worship only Ahura Mazda. Ahura Mazda is served by six Amesha Spentas or higher spirits. These are modes of divine being that bear the names of ethical virtues, such as "Good Thought." They bridge the gap between the holiness of God and human beings. They fight against Angra Mainyu and his daevas, or evil forces. Zoroaster elevated the Wise Lord and made him the father of other members of the hierarchy. He is Father of Right, Father of Good Mind, Father of the Holy Spirit, a kind of precursor to the trinity of Christianity.

Humans have free choice between the ways (lies) of Angra Mainyu and the ways of good activity exemplified by the Amesha Spentas. Evil was not created by Ahura Mazda, nor did Angra Mainyu fall as did Satan. He was present from the beginning. However, the question is, how can this answer fail to suggest dualism as opposed to monotheism? This is the problem for any religion that claims both an all-powerful God and an opposing personality representing evil.

According to some sources, the resolution is through ascribing a dual nature to Ahura Mazda through his emanations, Spenta Mainyu and Angra Mainyu.

At death, every person will be judged and assigned to either Ahura Mazda or Angra Mainyu. The soul of the person has to cross the Chinvat Bridge, which is an instrument of judgement.

Whatever pollutes the sacred elements of earth, fire, water or air is wicked. The only form of sacrifice that is appropriate is the offering of sandalwood to sacred flames in the fire temples. Priests are determined by birth, as is membership in the religion.

There are, of course, rites of passage and holidays, but the most distinctive ritual of Zoroastrianism is dakhma burial, or burial in the tower of silence. Upon a person's death, the body is washed, and placed on a hard surface. The area is marked by a circle drawn with an iron bar or nail, segregating the dead from the living. Then a dog with a black spot over each eye is brought in to determine if the individual is actually dead. A vase of fire burns fragrant wood and sacred texts are read. Finally, the corpse is carried to the dakhma and corpse-bearers expose it to vultures. When the bones are picked clean and dry, they are placed in the central pit. In the deceased's home, priests pray to the guardian of souls after death. On the third day, there is a ceremony in which charitable contributions on behalf of the dead are announced. On the dawn after the third night, the soul is prepared to cross the Chinvat Bridge.

After Zoroaster

Cyrus (558-530 B.C.E.) hailed by Isaiah as the Lord's anointed one, may have been Zoroastrian as were Darius and Xerxes. Some Biblical scholars think that belief in angels, heaven and hell, and the resurrection of the dead came to Judaism from Persian influences as Biblical books prior to 586 B.C.E. have no Satan figure and books written after the exile do.

By the third century C.E., Zoroaster's monotheism was replaced with dualism in some areas. Manichaeism developed from the teachings of Mani, who taught that the flesh is evil and the spirit is good. He advocated denying the flesh to free the spirit and had an influence on early Christian saints.

Zoroastrianism is still a minor religion in the world. The Pharisees of India are actually Zoroastrian. However, as the religion forbids intermarriage and does not believe in conversion, its potential for growth is limited.

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