The Ultimate Zoroastrianism Quiz

Zoroastrianism: Key Facts and Figures

• Zoroastrianism is an Iranian religion based on the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster, with roots possibly dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE.

• Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest organized faiths and is based on monotheism, messianism, belief in free will and judgement after death, conception of heaven, hell, angels, and demons.

• Zoroastrianism exalts an uncreated and benevolent deity of wisdom known as Ahura Mazda as its supreme being.

• The religion served as the state religion of the ancient Iranian empires for more than a millennium, but declined from the 7th century CE onwards due to Arab-Muslim conquest and persecution.

• The current number of Zoroastrians in the world is estimated to be around 110,000–120,000, with the majority living in India, Iran, and North America.

• The most important texts of Zoroastrianism are contained within the Avesta, which includes the central writings thought to be composed by Zoroaster known as the Gathas.

• Zoroastrianism's theology includes the importance of following the Threefold Path of Asha revolving around Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds.

• Zoroastrianism practices active and ethical participation in life through good deeds formed from good thoughts and good words to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

• Water and fire are considered agents of ritual purity in Zoroastrianism, and both are represented within the precinct of a fire temple.

• A corpse is considered a host for decay and is therefore disposed of in a manner that does not pollute the good creation.

• The Zoroastrianism religion has not engaged in conversion since at least the 18th century, and conversion from Islam to Zoroastrianism is illegal under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

• Zoroastrianism is not entirely uniform in theological and philosophical thought, with individual and local beliefs, practices, values, and vocabulary having a significant impact.

• The roots of Zoroastrianism are thought to lie in a common prehistoric Indo-Iranian religious system dating back to the early 2nd millennium BCE, and the prophet Zoroaster himself is thought by many modern historians to have been a reformer of the polytheistic Iranian religion who lived in the 10th century BCE.A Brief History of Zoroastrianism

• Zoroastrianism enters recorded history in the mid-5th century BCE.

• The Magi were the sixth tribe of the Medes and wielded considerable influence at the courts of the Median emperors.

• Following the unification of the Median and Persian empires in 550 BCE, Cyrus the Great and later his son Cambyses II curtailed the powers of the Magi.

• Darius I and later Achaemenid emperors acknowledged their devotion to Ahura Mazda in inscriptions.

• Alexander's conquests largely displaced Zoroastrianism with Hellenistic beliefs.

• The Sassanids aggressively promoted the Zurvanite form of Zoroastrianism.

• Under Abbasid rule, Muslim Iranians in many instances showed severe disregard for and mistreated local Zoroastrians.

• Zoroastrianism remained strong in some regions, particularly in those furthest away from the Caliphate capital at Baghdad.

• Among migrations were those to cities in (or on the margins of) the great salt deserts, in particular to Yazd and Kerman.

• Crucial to the present-day survival of Zoroastrianism was a migration from the northeastern Iranian town of "Sanjan in south-western Khorasan", to Gujarat, in western India.

• Today Zoroastrianism can be divided into two main schools of thought: reformists and traditionalists.

• Traditionalists are mostly Parsis and accept, beside the Gathas and Avesta, also the Middle Persian literature.Zoroastrianism: History, Beliefs, and Influence

• Zoroastrianism is an ancient religion founded by Zoroaster in ancient Iran, which emphasizes the worship of one God, Ahura Mazda, and the practice of good deeds to achieve a good afterlife.

• Zoroastrianism has two main branches: traditionalists and reformists, with the former emphasizing the importance of ritual and lineage, and the latter advocating for a return to the Gathas and a focus on the faith as philosophy rather than religion.

• The Parsi community, which is largely based in India, has played a significant role in the economic development of the region, with several major business conglomerates run by Parsi-Zoroastrians.

• Zoroastrianism has had a significant influence on the culture and mythologies of the peoples of Greater Iran, with the epic Shāhnāme incorporating many figures and stories from the Avesta.

• The Avesta is a collection of the central religious texts of Zoroastrianism, written in the old Iranian dialect of Avestan, and is considered scripture by Zoroastrians.

• Zoroastrianism shares many similarities with Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism and Christianity, including a belief in good and evil, a final judgment, and a messianic figure.

• Zoroastrianism is often compared to Manichaeism, but the two religions have significant differences, such as Manichaeism's view of evil as matter and good as spirit.

• Zoroastrianism has had a significant influence on the development of the Vedic religion, and the two religions share many cognates and a common Proto-Indo-Iranian religion.

• Zoroaster is the founder of Zoroastrianism, and little is known about his life, except that he preached against animal sacrifice and the excessive use of intoxicants, and emphasized the worship of one God.

• The Cypress of Kashmar is a mythical cypress tree of legendary beauty in Zoroastrianism.Overview of Zoroastrianism

• Zoroastrianism is an ancient religion that originated in Persia/Iran and is still practiced by a small number of people today.

• The religion centers around the worship of Ahura Mazda, who is considered to be the creator of the universe and the source of all goodness.

• Zoroastrianism emphasizes moral choice and the importance of doing good deeds for their own sake.

• The religion also has a complex cosmology, which includes the creation of the universe and the ongoing struggle between good and evil.

• Zoroastrianism has a rich history of shrines and temples, which have been the focus of worship for adherents of the religion.

• The religion also has a strong eschatological tradition, which includes beliefs about the renovation of the world and individual judgment after death.

• The central ritual of Zoroastrianism is the Yasna, a recitation of the eponymous book of the Avesta and sacrificial ritual ceremony involving Haoma.

• Zoroastrianism has undergone significant changes over time, including a massive theological change in the 19th century due to contact with Western academics and missionaries.

• The religion has faced persecution and decline over the centuries, but has persisted to the present day.

• Zoroastrianism has influenced many other religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

• Important concepts in Zoroastrianism include the Threefold Path of Asha (Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds), the role of humans in the conflict between good and evil, and the importance of spiritual conscience and attributes (Daena).

• Zoroastrianism has its own form of monotheism, which combines elements of dualism and polytheism.

• The religion has a rich history of literature and poetry, including the Gathas, the most sacred texts of Zoroastrianism.