Zoroastrianism is the oldest surviving religion in the world. Predating Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Zoroaster’s teachings arose in the late second millennium B.C.E. and are based on a dualistic cosmology of good and evil. A monotheistic theology concerned with death, judgment, and the ultimate destiny of the soul and humankind. Zoroaster’s guidance predicts the ultimate conquest of evil by good. Through the influence of the Persian Empire, Zoroastrianism influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds.
Zoroastrians worshiped God as supreme and believed everything He created was pure and to be treated with love and respect. Zoroastrians traditionally do not pollute the rivers, land, or atmosphere. This has caused some to call Zoroastrianism ‘the first ecological religion.’
At thirty, Zoroaster had a divine vision whilst bathing in a river during a pagan purification rite. On the bank of the river, he saw a ‘Shining Being’ made of light who revealed himself as Vohu Manah (‘Good Mind’). Zoroastrians believe people can know God through his Divine Attributes.
Vohu Manah led Zoroaster to the presence of Ahura Mazda (God) and five other radiant beings, which are called the Amesha Spentas (Holy Immortals). This was the first of severa, visions in which Zoroaster saw Ahura Mazda and his Amesha Spentas; during each vision, he asked many questions. The answers given to Zoroaster are the foundations of the Zoroastrian religion.
Amesha Spentas translates as ‘Holy Immortals.’ Just as light rays are emanated from the sun but are not the sun, so the Amesha Spentas are emanated by God but are not God. These emanations are the divine attributes of God. They helped God fashion the world, and each is associated with a particular aspect of creation.
Western scholars have likened the Amesha Spentas to the Archangels in Christianity. This is not strictly correct, as they also represent spiritual attainments. Amesha Spentas are the everlasting bestowers of good, worshipped separately, and through their connection with creation, descend on sunrays to govern the world.
Each has a special month, festival, and flower and presides over an element in the world order. In later Zoroastrianism, each opposes a specific archfiend.
The six Amesha Spentas are:
Vohu Manah – Good mind and good purpose.
Asha Vahishta – Truth and righteousness.
Spenta Ameraiti – Holy devotion, serenity and loving kindness.
Khashathra Vairya – Power and just rule.
Hauravatat – Wholeness and health.
Ameretat – Long life and immortality.
Zoroastrians believe that after life on Earth, God judges the immortal human soul and whether it did more good deeds than evil during its lifetime.
By thinking good thoughts, we move to speak good words, leading to good deeds.
The world’s 20 largest religions:
Christianity – 2.4 billion
Islam – 1.9 billion
Atheism – 1.1 billion
Hinduism – 1.1 billion
Chinese traditional religion – 0.4 billion
Buddhism – 0.38 billion
Primal-indigenous – 0.3 billion
African traditional – 0.1 billion
Sikhism – 23 million
Juche – 19 million
Spiritism – 15 million
Judaism – 14 million
Bahai – 7 million
Jainism – 4.2 million
Shinto – 4 million
Cao Dai – 4 million
Zoroastrianism – 2.6 million
Tenrikyo – 2 million
Neo-Paganism – 1 million
Unitarian-Universalism – 800 thousand
WE&P by: EZorrillaMc.
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