Zoroastrianism

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Zoroastrianism
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Cyrus

• Isaiah 451 Thus says the Lord to his anointed,
  to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to
  subdue nations before him and strip kings of
  their robes,

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Zoroaster

• Zoroaster was a prophet in the tradition of the
  Hebrew prophets and of Muhammad. He is a
  messenger from the one God to his people.

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The Gathas

• The original teachings of Zoroaster are contained
  in the Gathas, which are a part of the Avesta,
  the Zoroastrian Holy Scriptures.

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Ahura Mazda

• God was to be served not by ceremonies but by
  virtuous acts, not by sacrifices but by selfless
  love, not by rituals but by good mind.

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Asha The Will of God

• Ethics can be summed up by the phrase Good
  thoughts, good words, good deeds.

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Ethical Dualism

• Philosophically, ethical dualism means that evil
  is the price of freedom. But evil does not spring
  into reality until it is made present by human
  choice.

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Paradise

• Paradise comes from the Persian language and the
  Zoroastrian religion. Included in this term was
  the idea of immortality and a final judgment.

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Cosmic Dualism

• With a belief in cosmic dualism people tend to
  become more judgmental and Hell becomes a place
  of permanent, rather than temporary punishment.

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Summary

• Asha is the pivot of the cosmic as well as the
  social order. It regulates the movements of the
  planets, the structure of society, and the
  behaviors of individuals.