Zoroastrianisms influence on judaism, christianity, islam. Until recently, most modern scholars accepted a date of around 600 b. This reference book is a good starting point for a young person just venturing out in their study of religion. Zoroastrianism definition in the cambridge english dictionary. But where there is so much smoke, there must have been at least a small fire, and probably a big one, for zoroastrianism became the official religion of persia. Zoroastrianism is the ancient, preislamic religion of persia modernday iran. Zoroastrianism is a religion, one of the oldest according to tradition, it was founded by zoroaster after he received a vision in which he was introduced to ahura mazda, and told of the great god and his adversary. This book is useful for the later history of the zoroastrians. Vendidad videvdad or laws against the demons avesta the sacred books of zoroastrianism, book 3.
Definition, beliefs and history have you ever wondered when popular religions started to develop. The latter represent the basic source of the religion. May, 2019 zoroastrianism is also known as mazdayasna. Apr 23, 2019 zoroastrianism is arguably the worlds oldest monotheistic religion. Zoroastrianism definition and meaning bible dictionary. Ascribed to the teachings of the iranianspeaking spiritual leader zoroaster also known. According to tradition, it was founded by zoroaster after he received a vision in which he was introduced to ahura mazda, and told of the great god and his adversary. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago. The founder of zoroastrianism was zoroaster, who lived in eastern ancient iran around bc. Arguably the worlds first monotheistic faith, its one of the oldest religions still in. Many western religions such as christianity, islam, and judaism believe in the concept of gods servant and that as humans we are indebted to, or owe god. The basic beliefs and history of a religion is often found in its sacred or revered texts. The religious system founded by zoroaster and set forth in the avesta, teaching the worship of ahura mazda in the context of a.
Still, the faravahar clearly continues a symbolic paradigm already longestablished which represented divinity linked to royalty and so most likely did. It contains entries on all the major and many minor religions, including christianity, judaism, buddhism, hinduism, islam, jainism, shinto, sikhism, and taoism. Zoroastrianism is the monotheistic faith established by the persian. Zoroastrianism now has an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 worshipers worldwide. Apr 10, 2015 zoroastrian texts the zoroastrian sacred text is the avesta book of the law, a fragmentary collection of sacred writings. Zoroastrianism definition of zoroastrianism by the free. Zoroastrianism, in fact, is the first monotheistic faith to advance the concepts of individual responsibility for salvation, judgment after death, a messiah, an endtime, and a heaven and hell, and should rightly be regarded as the precursor to the later religions which claim an original vision which was actually established centuries before by zoroaster and was so. Oct 02, 2016 what is the worlds most peaceful religion.
Zoroastrianism teaches us that our life in this world is a blessing and also a duty and struggle. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Answers vary according to which religion or creed you cleave to. Zendavesta literally means interpretation of the avesta. Zoroastrianism religion, spiritualism, and occult about five centuries before the common era, the worlds first true monotheistic religion began. Even the zoroastrian fire temple house of worship was unadorned. This estimate then reappeared in the 9th to 12thcentury arabic and pahlavi texts of zoroastrian tradition, like the 10th century almasudi who cited a prophecy from a lost avestan book in which zoroaster foretold the empires destruction in three hundred years, but the religion would last for a thousand years. Iranian prophet and religious reformer zarathustra flourished before the 6th century bce more widely known outside iran as zoroaster, the greek form of his nameis traditionally regarded as the founder of the religion. List of books and articles about zoroastrianism online. The ancient greeks saw in zoroastrianism the archetype of the dualistic view of the world and of human destiny. But for most of us, linguistically speaking, it is an animal. This book was really innovative and thoughtprovoking at the time since it was written in the form of ritual poems.
Compiled over many centuries, the avesta was not completed until persias sassanid dynasty 226641 ce. For moulton, zoroastrianism interested him by its unique connection with the judeochristian worldview, especially its heritage as an ancient monotheism. One of the most interesting things about zoroastrianism was the teachings of zoraster, the prophet, which was all gathered in a book named gathas. Zoroastrianism definition in the cambridge english. Zoroastrian definition and meaning collins english. Avesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of. The religion founded by zoroaster was the first major world religion and has had significant influence on other religious and philosophical systems, including christianity, judaism, islam, buddhism, the bahai faith, gnosticism and greek philosophy. The description of zoroastrianism reflects the authors personal beliefs and should be read with a critical mind and a large dose of sound skepticism.
Concise oxford dictionary of world religions oxford. Zoroastrianism contains both monotheistic and dualistic features. Marjan measured bahars unpredictable temperament according to the ancient and treasured zoroastrian practice of gastronomic balancing, which pitted light and against dark, good against evil, hot against cold. So, what are the holy books of the five major world religions. The religious system founded by zoroaster and set forth in the avesta, teaching the worship of ahura mazda in the context of a universal struggle between. A dakhma remains in operation near mumbai, india, for example. It had a major influence on other religions and is still. We provide the complete text of the extant avesta, the most ancient scriptures of zoroastrianism, as well as many pahlavi scriptures. Zoroastrian definition and meaning collins english dictionary.
Zoroastrian religion article about zoroastrian religion. All of the following are part of the four books except for. For others it might be the buzz after a gym session. The religion is also among the oldest religions in the world as its origin can be traced back to the 2nd millennium bce. The description of zoroastrianism reflects the authors personal. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have originated as. Hinnells is a decent reference book that gives adequate and basic definitions on various religious topics. The holy book of zoroastrianism is known as the avesta. Faravahar symbol of ancient persia and zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism definition and meaning collins english. For example, theism is any religion that contains gods, and polytheism is a form of theism. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century bce in persia iran. Holy text, beliefs and practices religious tolerance. As noted, both the early iranian religion and zoroastrianism resisted depictions of the divine in artistic representations.
It is a multitendency faith centered on a dualistic cosmology of good and evil and an eschatology predicting the ultimate conquest of evil with theological elements of henotheism, monotheismmonism, and polytheism. It was founded by the prophet zoroaster in ancient iran approximately 3500 years ago. Zoroastrianism article about zoroastrianism by the free. Most of the texts in these archives are extremely rare. Although this is known, the actual beginnings of the religion are hard to pinpoint. The penguin dictionary of religions second edition by john r. However, in zoroastrianism the concept is more along the lines of gods helper and that as humans it is our duty to help god ahura mazda to maintain. It is simply impossible to list all varieties of religion 1 as we as a species have created an almost infinite variety of religious and transcendental ideas.
This book is priceless as it contains 11 chapters of invaluable information and resources needed to study or comprehend this obscure but important world religion. The religion still exists, even though persia fell to islamic invaders who reduced zoroastrianism to a very small minority sect by 651 ce. A brief introduction to zoroastrianism commisceo global. During those centuries it influenced hellenistic, jewish, christian, and muslim beliefs through contact between. Other names for zoroastrianism are mazdaism and parsiism. Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet zoroaster also known as zarathustra, in avestan.
Eirciv 102a, spring 2006 vi february 7, 2006 basic bibliography some useful literature boyce, m. Moulton would eventually come to conclude that zoroastrianism had the very foundation as its western counterparts, and much of its doctrinal infrastructure. Zoroastrianism, the worlds oldest monotheistic religion. Zoroastrianism was the dominant world religion from 559 bce to 651 ce, and was thus the most powerful world religion at the time of jesus. Parseeism, parsiism the faith of a zoroastrian sect in india type of. Buddhism 376 million followers tripitaka pali canon 5. Translated by james darmesteter from sacred books of the east, american edition, 1898. Items in lower case italics are classes of religion and not actual religions. Zarathustra was supposed to have instructed pythagoras in babylon and to have inspired the chaldean doctrines of astrology and magic. The holy books of world religions sacred texts in world. With zoroastrianism on the decline, there is a chance the ancient religion may eventually disappear. May 27, 2005 i have not read that book it is in two volumes i believe, so i cannot judge its arguments, but from a purely historical point of view, if zoroastrianism really said all the aforementioned material before jesus was around and then it traveled to babylon, it does seem like a good argument against christianity. Ad 226 under ardashir i, who established the sassanid dynasty and fostered a general revival of achaemenian culture. It likely influenced the other major western religions judaism, christianity, and islam.
Zoroastrianism was the state religion of three persian dynasties, until the muslim conquest of persia in the seventh century a. Zoroastrianism definition is a persian religion founded in the sixth century b. Zoroastrianism or mazdayasna is one of the worlds oldest continuously practiced religions. Information about zoroastrianism in the dictionary, synonyms and antonyms. It also includes information about the avestan language, and other useful information for students of zoroastrian religion. The iranian prophet and religious reformer zarathustra flourished before the 6th century bcemore widely known outside iran as zoroaster, the greek form of his nameis traditionally regarded as the founder of the religion. Proper usage and audio pronunciation of the word zoroastrianism. The most important texts of the religion are those of the avesta, which includes as central the writings of zoroaster known as the gathas, enigmatic. Comparisons between zoroastrianism and christianity. The zoroastrian sacred text is the avesta book of the law, a fragmentary. Zoroastrianism noun the noun zoroastrianism has 1 sense 1. Abridged from the acclaimed oxford dictionary of world religions, this concise version is written by an expert team of 80 international and multifaith contributors.
Zoroastrianism was a major religion before christianity and islam were founded. Persian prophet whose visions are the basis of zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism is one of the worlds oldest monotheistic religions but many people know little about the faith. The 7 dimensions of zoroastrianism by abby perrault on prezi. It is a blessing, because god has given us the wonderful body with physical, mental. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
The zoroastrian book of holy scriptures is called the avesta. It is likely that zoroastrianism influenced the development of judaism and the birth of christianity. The dualistic religious system founded by the persian prophet zarathustra zoroaster in greek and set forth in the avesta in the late 7th or early 6th centuries bce, teaching the worship of ahura mazda in the context of a universal struggle between the forces of light and of darkness. Zoroastrianism was an active, missionary religion that has exerted a profound influence on the worlds thought, all the more because in the west at any rate ahura mazda was not at all a jealous god, and mazdeism was always quite ready to enter into syncretism with other systems. Major religions, like christianity and islam, have been popular since ancient times, but what religion was popular before these belief systems developed. Zoroastrianism believes in the purity and goodness of all of gods creations and thus they are very careful not to pollute and destroy river and trees.
Since this book is by the world renowned zoroastrianism expert mary boyce, this book is sure to be accurate and filled with indisputable and expert information. Zoroastrian refugees, called parsis, escaped muslim persecution in iran by emigrating to india. Sep 22, 2009 zoroastrianism is one of the worlds oldest monotheistic religions. The founder of the religion was a man named zoroaster, who is viewed as a prophetic figure by adherents. Zoroastrian synonyms, zoroastrian pronunciation, zoroastrian translation, english dictionary definition of zoroastrian. Apr 04, 2017 long before christianity or islam existed, zoroastrianism, one of the worlds oldest monotheistic faiths, was one of the most dominant religions on earth for about 1,000 years. Zoroastrianism definition of zoroastrianism by merriam.
What are the top ten religions and what is the holy book. Zoroastrian definition of zoroastrian by the free dictionary. Zoroastrianism, ancient preislamic religion of iran that likely influenced the. Zarathustra, iranian religious reformer and prophet, traditionally regarded as the founder of zoroastrianism. We will use the name zoroastrianism in these pages since it is the common english language name for the religion. Zoroastrianism definition of zoroastrianism by merriamwebster. Vendidad videvdad or laws against the demons avesta. What are some interesting facts about zoroastrianism religion. Zoroastrianism synonyms, zoroastrianism pronunciation, zoroastrianism translation, english dictionary definition of zoroastrianism. It centers on the words of the prophet zarathushtra, called zoroaster by the ancient greeks, and focuses worship upon ahura mazda, the lord of wisdom.
Zoroastrianism is arguably the worlds oldest monotheistic religion. Avesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathushtra. Zoroastrianism, the ancient preislamic religion of iran that survives there in isolated areas and, more prosperously, in india, where the descendants of zoroastrian iranian persian immigrants are known as parsis, or parsees. He has been a major figure in the history of world religions, in large part because of his apparent monotheism, his purported dualism, and the possible influence of his teachings on middle eastern religions. The extant avesta is all that remains of a much larger body of scripture, apparently zoroasters transformation of a very ancient tradition. Oct 02, 2016 what is the ancient religion zoroastrianism. Have you ever wondered when popular religions started to develop. Textual sources for the study of zoroastrianism textual. Although the teachings of prophet zarathushtra were primarily spiritual, and substantially devoid of mythological and ritualistic beliefs, zoroastrianism, the religion that was based on his teachings incorporated many aspects of prezarathushtra traditions as well as novel and creative approaches to ritualism. This lesson explores the beliefs of zoroastrians, one of the earliest forms of organized religion. Zoroastrians worship communally in a fire temple or agiary. For four centuries zoroastrianism was the state religion of the sassanids, and it successfully met the challenge of nascent christianity and, later, of heretical manichaeism. This includes the original words of their founder zarathushtra, preserved in a series of five hymns, called the gathas.