Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism was once the "official" religion of Sassanid (Sassanian) Persia, and played an important role in the Achaemenid as well as Parthian empires in Persia. The religion is also known as Mazdaism by some followers; and currently, as Zarathustrianism by others. Zoroastrian areas once stretched from Anatolia to the Persian Gulf, and its followers once numbered in the millions. Its followers today, located in South Asia, Iran, and throughout the diaspora, num ...

Including:

• Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs
• Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts
• Zoroastrianism - The Prophet
• Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations
• Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching
• Zoroastrianism - Holy Book
• Zoroastrianism - History
• Zoroastrianism - Historical importance
• Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism
• Zoroastrianism - Adherents
• Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians
• Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia - Zoroastrianism

Some major Zoroastrian concepts: Equality of sex. Men and women are equal in all manners within society. Cleanliness of the environment. Nature is central to the practice of Zoroastrianism and many important Zoroastrian annual festivals are in celebration of nature: new year on the first day of spring, the water festival in summer, the autumn festival at the end of the season, and the mid-winter fire festival. Hard work and charity. Laziness and sloth are frowned on. Zoroastrians are encouraged to part with a l ...

See also:

Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs, Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts, Zoroastrianism - The Prophet, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching, Zoroastrianism - Holy Book, Zoroastrianism - History, Zoroastrianism - Historical importance, Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Adherents, Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians, Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia II - Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism was the favored religion of the two great dynasties of ancient Persia, the Achaemenids and Sassanids. However, because we have few contemporary Persian sources, it is difficult to describe ancient Zoroastrianism in detail. Herodotus's description of Iranian religion includes recognizably Zoroastrian features, including exposure of the dead and divination. The Achaemenid emperors or shahs acknowledge their devotion to Ahura Mazda in inscriptions; however, they maintained local religions in Babylon and Egypt, and helped t ...

See also:

Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs, Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts, Zoroastrianism - The Prophet, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching, Zoroastrianism - Holy Book, Zoroastrianism - History, Zoroastrianism - Historical importance, Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Adherents, Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians, Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia II - Zoroastrianism - History

Zoroastrianism was the favored religion of the two great dynasties of ancient Persia, the Achaemenids and Sassanids. However, because we have few contemporary Persian sources, it is difficult to describe ancient Zoroastrianism in detail. Herodotus's description of Persian religion includes recognizably Zoroastrian features, including exposure of the dead and divination. The Achaemenid kings acknowledge their devotion to Ahura Mazda in inscriptions; however, they maintained local religions in Babylon and Egypt, and helped the Jews to r ...

See also:

Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs, Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts, Zoroastrianism - The Prophet, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching, Zoroastrianism - Holy Book, Zoroastrianism - History, Zoroastrianism - Historical importance, Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Adherents, Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians, Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia II - Zoroastrianism - History

Relatively little is known about the Prophet Zoroaster and even the period in which he lived is disputed. Usually he is placed roughly near 1200 BCE, though others give earlier estimates. Some have attempted to place him in the 6th century BCE, which would make him contemporary to the rise of the first Achaemenides in Iran, but this late date is not generally accepted. According to tradition, Zoroaster was the son of Pourushaspa' and Dugdhova, and was special since birth. Pliny the Elder relates that the prophet was born ...

See also:

Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs, Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts, Zoroastrianism - The Prophet, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching, Zoroastrianism - Holy Book, Zoroastrianism - History, Zoroastrianism - Historical importance, Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Adherents, Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians, Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia II - Zoroastrianism - The Prophet

The Holy Book of Zoroastrianism is called the Zend Avesta. The Zend is the commentary on the teaching and the Avesta is the original teaching in these sacred texts. Only a portion of the Avesta, known as the Gathas (The Hymns) are attributed to the Prophet Zoroaster himself. The Avesta was composed orally, and learned from memory for centuries until it was finally written down in Sassanian Times. Before the invasion of Alexander and the Islamic conquest of Persia there were a total of 21 Books followed by Zoroastrians called Nasks. On ...

See also:

Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs, Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts, Zoroastrianism - The Prophet, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching, Zoroastrianism - Holy Book, Zoroastrianism - History, Zoroastrianism - Historical importance, Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Adherents, Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians, Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia II - Zoroastrianism - Holy Book

Small but thriving Zoroastrian communities are found in India, Pakistan, Iran, as well as major urban areas in United States, Canada, England, Australia, and a worldwide diaspora. Zoroastrian communities in the diaspora comprise two main groups of people: those of Indian Zoroastrian background, who are known as Parsis (or Parsees), and those of Iranian background. Zoroastrian temples, as well as community centers (which are more common in the diaspora than temples, because of fire-consecration issues) are also found wherever Zoroastri ...

See also:

Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs, Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts, Zoroastrianism - The Prophet, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching, Zoroastrianism - Holy Book, Zoroastrianism - History, Zoroastrianism - Historical importance, Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Adherents, Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians, Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia II - Zoroastrianism - Adherents

Ahura Mazda is the beginning and the end, the creator of everything which can and cannot be seen, the Eternal, the Pure and the only Truth. Zoroastrian morality is summed up in the simple phrase, "Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds" ("Pendar-e Nik, Goftar-e Nik, Kerdar-e Nik" in the present day Persian) ["Homaato", "Hokhto", "Hovarasht", in the ancient language]. Daena (din in modern Persian) is the eternal Law, whose order was revealed to humanity through the Mathra-Spenta "Holy Words". Daena has been used to mean re ...

See also:

Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs, Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts, Zoroastrianism - The Prophet, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching, Zoroastrianism - Holy Book, Zoroastrianism - History, Zoroastrianism - Historical importance, Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Adherents, Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians, Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia II - Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs

Small but thriving Zoroastrian communities are found in India, Pakistan, Iran, as well as major urban areas in United States, Canada, England, Australia, and a worldwide diaspora. Zoroastrian communities in the diaspora comprise two main groups of people: those of Indian Zoroastrian background, who are known as Parsis (or Parsees), and those of Iranian background. Zoroastrian temples, as well as community centers (which are more common in the diaspora than temples, because of fire consecration issues) are also found wherever Zoroastri ...

See also:

Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs, Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts, Zoroastrianism - The Prophet, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching, Zoroastrianism - Holy Book, Zoroastrianism - History, Zoroastrianism - Historical importance, Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Adherents, Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians, Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia II - Zoroastrianism - Adherents

Relatively little is known about the Prophet Zoroaster and even the period he lived in is disputed. Usually he is placed roughly near 1000 BCE, though others give earlier estimates, while still others place him in the 6th century BCE, which would make him contemporary to the rise of the first Achaemenides. According to tradition, Zoroaster was the son of Pourushaspa' and Dugdhova, and was special since birth. Pliny the Elder relates that the prophet was born smiling. His head shook uncontrollably to the point where he wo ...

See also:

Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs, Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts, Zoroastrianism - The Prophet, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching, Zoroastrianism - Holy Book, Zoroastrianism - History, Zoroastrianism - Historical importance, Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Adherents, Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians, Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia II - Zoroastrianism - The Prophet

The Holy Book of Zoroastrianism is called the Zend Avesta. The Zend is the commentary on the teaching and the Avesta is the original teaching in these sacred texts. Only a portion of the Avesta, known as the Gathas (The Hymns) are attributed to the Prophet Zoroaster himself. The Avesta was composed orally, and learned from memory for centuries until it was finally written down in Sassanian Times. Before the invasion of Alexander and the Islamic conquest of Iran there were a total of 21 Books followed by Zoroastrians called Nasks. Only ...

See also:

Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs, Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts, Zoroastrianism - The Prophet, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching, Zoroastrianism - Holy Book, Zoroastrianism - History, Zoroastrianism - Historical importance, Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Adherents, Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians, Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia II - Zoroastrianism - Holy Book

Zoroastrianism teaches many of the concepts found in the major Abrahamic faiths such as Heaven, Hell, Day of judgement, the concept of Satan, the prophecy and the coming of the Messiah and the extensive teaching of Angels and Evil spirits. According to the Gathas humans are free and responsible beings. Predestination is rejected in Zoroastrian teaching. Humans bear responsibility for all situations they are in, and in the way they act to one another. Nothing in the Heavens and Earth has the power to force a being to do evil. Reward, p ...

See also:

Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs, Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts, Zoroastrianism - The Prophet, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching, Zoroastrianism - Holy Book, Zoroastrianism - History, Zoroastrianism - Historical importance, Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Adherents, Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians, Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia II - Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts

Famous Parsis include the founder of Indian Civil Aviation and legendary industrialist J. R. D. Tata, Phirozeshah Mehta, Dadabhai Naoroji, Bhikaiji Cama, symphonic conductor Zubin Mehta, nuclear scientist Homi J. Bhabha, the similarly-named philosopher Homi K. Bhabha, the first and only field marshall of India Sam Manekshaw, screenwiter Sooni Taraporevala (of the films Salaam Bombay and Mississippi Masala, both directed by Mira Nair, as well as author of a photography book on the Parsi community entitled Parsis: The Zoroastr ...

See also:

Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs, Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts, Zoroastrianism - The Prophet, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations, Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching, Zoroastrianism - Holy Book, Zoroastrianism - History, Zoroastrianism - Historical importance, Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism - Adherents, Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians, Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia II - Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians