Zoroastrianism
Clay Parnell, WHAP 2nd period
Dualism
Zoroastrianism in simple terms is the separation of Good and Evil. this important aspect of the religion is the recognition of the moral and physical interconnection
Everyday life
The people of this faith live by the creed, 'Good Words, Good Thoughts, and Good Deeds'. They are initiated at the age of seven, after that they perform a ritual with prayers several times a day.
Amesha Spentas
Amesha Spentas translates as 'Holy Immortals'. They helped God fashion the world and each is associated with a particular aspect of creation.
One God
Zoroastrians believe in one God, called Ahura Mazda. He is the compassionate creator of the universe.
Ahura Mazda is:
- Omniscient (knows everything)
- Omnipotent (all powerful)
- Omnipresent (is everywhere)
- Impossible for humans to conceive
- Unchanging
- The Creator of life
- The Source of all goodness and happiness
Zoroaster
Zoroastrianism was founded by the Prophet Zoroaster in Iran. When Zoroaster was thirty years old he had a vision of God and his Amesha Spentas during a ritual purification rite. This vision drastically changed his view of the world, and he tried to teach this view to others.
Purification
Purification is used a lot in Zoroastrian rituals. Zoroastrians focus on keeping their minds, bodies and environments pure in the quest to defeat the evil side of Zoroastrianism, Angra Mainyu. Fire is viewed as the supreme symbol of purity, and sacred fires are maintained in Fire Temples which are called Agiaries . The fires represent the light of their God, Ahura Mazda, and are never extinguished. No Zoroastrian ritual or ceremony is performed without a sacred fire.