Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest world religions—it arose in ancient Persia (present-day Iran) around 3,500 years ago. At that time the prophet Zarathustra—Zoroaster, as the Greeks called him—began preaching his message. Zarathustra, thought to be a priest of the existing Iranian religion of his time, was a highly original thinker and a bold reformer. His teachings may seem straightforward today, but in his time they were truly revolutionary.

Zarathustra rejected many of the beliefs and practices of the existing religion. In a time of many gods he preached about one great and supreme God, Ahura Mazda. In a time when most people believed that worship consisted mainly of elaborate rituals to satisfy angry deities, he preached a religion of personal ethics in which people’s actions in life were more important than ritual and sacrifice. Zarathustra’s preaching formed the basis of one of the most influential and long-lasting religions the world has ever known. His message is preserved in the Avesta, the Zoroastrian scripture...

CONTENTS

Preface / 6
CHAPTER 1 Introduction: The Good Religion of Zarathustra / 8
CHAPTER 2 Zarathustra, Father of Zoroastrianism / 24
CHAPTER 3 Zoroastrianism Through History / 38
CHAPTER 4 Zoroastrianism in India: The Parsis / 56
CHAPTER 5 The Avesta: The Zoroastrian Scripture / 70
CHAPTER 6 Philosophy and Ethics in Zoroastrianism / 88
CHAPTER 7 Rituals and Rites of Passage / 100
CHAPTER 8 Zoroastrianism: Facing the Future / 122

Fact File and Bibliography / 138
Further Reading and Web Sites / 139
Glossary / 140
Index / 142
About the Author and Series Editors / 144
Picture Credits / 144

Preface

Almost from the start of civilization, more than 10,000 years ago, religion has shaped human history. Today more than half the world’s population practice a major religion or indigenous spiritual tradition. In many 21st-century societies, including the United States, religion still shapes people’s lives and plays a key role in politics and culture. And in societies throughout the world increasing ethnic and cultural diversity has led to a variety of religions being practiced side by side. This makes it vital that we understand as much as we can about the world’s religions.

The World Religions series, of which this book is a part, sets out to achieve this aim. It is written and designed to appeal to both students and general readers. The books offer clear, accessible overviews of the major religious traditions and institutions of our time. Each volume in the series describes where a particular religion is practiced, its origins and history, its central beliefs and important rituals, and its contributions to world civilization. Carefully chosen photographs complement the text, and sidebars, a map, fact file, glossary, bibliography, and index are included to help readers gain a more complete understanding of the subject at hand.

These books will help clarify what religion is all about and reveal both the similarities and differences in the great spiritual traditions practiced around the world today.

WORLD RELIGIONS
ZOROASTRIANISM
THIRD EDITION
by
Paula R. Hartz

Series Editors: Joanne O’Brien and Martin Palmer

Zoroastrianism, Third Edition
Copyright © 2009, 2004, 1999 by Infobase Publishing

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hartz, Paula.
Zoroastrianism / by Paula R. Hartz. – 3rd ed.
p. cm. — (World religions)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-60413-116-1
1. Zoroastrianism—Juvenile literature. I. Title. II. Series.
BL1572.H37 2009
295—dc22                  2008035811

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