I've worked with two Zoroastrians since moving to Detroit, one an English teacher ('J') and the other a science teacher. The latter ("S") appears briefly in a recent New York Times article: “Zoroastrians Keep the Faith, and Keep Dwindling” (by Laurie Goodstein, 9/6/2006). You can see her in an accompanying photo in the paper edition, looking serious.
At one time, at the height of the Persian Empire, there may have been as many as fifty million Zoroastrians. Now, worldwide, there are perhaps 190,000, 11,000 of them in the USA. In India they are better known as Parsis.
The Zoroastrians predate Christianity and Islam but are, like them, monotheistic. Zarathustra / Zoroaster (ca. 628-551 B.C.E.) was the “founder,” equivalent to Taoism’s Lao Tsu, Buddhism’s The Buddha, Christianity’s Jesus, and Islam’s Muhammed / Mohammed.
Mazda is the supreme God, roughly equivalent to Allah or Jehovah.
Zoroastrians believe in forces of good and evil, each person constantly faced with existential choices. Mazda has Twins: Sepenta Mainya, the beneficient one, and Angra Mainyu, the hostile one. In Christian terms, imagine that Jesus and Lucifer are Twins – pretty cool idea, huh? Well, there’s Cain and Abel, at least.
Zoroastrians have a rich textual tradition, including the Vendidad, or Code Against Demons (very helpful in certain situations) . The Gathas, though, explain more about the Twins :
The two primordial Spirits, who are twins, revealed themselves in a dream. They have two ways of thinking, of acting: the good and the bad. . . And when these two spirits met, they established . . . life and nonlife, and the consequence, in the end, of the Worst Existence for evil, and the Best Thought for good . . .
Along with the Twins, there are various Daivas (gods) who seem a little more like certain Greek gods. Today, they must compete with pop divas to stay relevent. But back in their heyday, the Daivas “chose the Worst Thought, and then ran to join Wrath, and together with it they have afflicted the world and humanity.” So that explains things. . . . .
All pretty interesting. Frederich Nietzsche thought so, certainly, sufficiently to inspire him to write Also sprach Zarathustra / Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None (1891).
Zoroastrians don’t make a big deal about conversion, which contributes to their dwindling numbers. They are not exactly the Wal*Mart of today's religious landscape. Still, they have a 365-day solar calendar, fire temple, Festival of Fire, All Souls Festival, New Years, and festivals for Zarathustra’s birth and death day (cf. Christmas and Easter). Two of the biggest practitioners were the Persian emperors Darius I and Xerxes. Alexander the Great promoted a commingling of Zoroastrian ideas with his Macedonian/Greek ones when he conquered Persia.
Today’s Rune: Strength.
Be salâmat!
6 comments:
That is really interesting Erik. I've always found religion interesting... See I used to have all this blind faith.. then I hit high school advanced history and college history dating way back when. So many things predate Christianity... and a lot of the time some of the stuff that happens in God's name is bullshit. I did a paper on the crusades.... it seems a lot less holy when after they raid in God's name they rape the women and enslave them and the children, kill all the men and take all the money of the village and move on to the next village... not to mention holy men such as priests and such used to burn people at the stake... yeah.. real damn holy. I'm sure Jesus would have done the same thing.... NOT
Thanks for this.I've never even heard of this religion. When I got to college I decided to take a religion course. I was so woefully ignorant of any religion besides my own. I went to the professor during office hours and said, "Now, who is Paul again?"
Sara :)
I remember taking a college course on European Witchcraft. The professor lectured about certain rituals. I said, "Hey, wait a minute. Sounds like you're talking about Catholicism." He responded, "I am."
Thanks Sheila, Chief, and Jim, for your great comments and points and observations.
Cheers!
Wow! Now, just when you think you've heard it all. Large organized religions are wierd.
Hello Erik,
This was written as response to Christian discussions about the Two Ways (the Two Spirits), but I think it will give you some good insights on the symbolism in these Persian sources that directly matches other dualistic philosophies, such as seen in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Judaisms Two Inclinations. The key is understanding the symbolism and avoiding the trap of viewing such ancient wisdom texts too literally.
Two Ways, Paths, and the Narrow Gate
Be aware that what I say is intended to make people uncomfortable with the status quo so we can finally forge that long promised new path to the future. Here is the chance to truly understand the Creator's expectations. The truth will be a bitter pill to many, so remember that patience and humility are wise virtues and scoffing causes blindness.
Many Christians speak of the straight and narrow gates, doors, or paths without comprehending the true meaning of this symbolism. Thanks to historical and doctrinal errors resulting in confusing language in the New Testament and other sources, the true meaning of these verses and other philosophical discussions of dualism are so poorly and vaguely presented that people have been forced to rely on the interpretations of religious leaders, that have unfortunately been the primary sources and perpetuators of confusion.
Read more....
Doctrine of Two Spirits
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