Zoroastrianism Essay

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is one of the worlds oldest monotheistic religions. It was founded by Zoroaster in 1600 B.C.E. (this date alternates between 1400 and 628 B.C.E.) While it is a fading religion now if it wasn’t for Zoroastrianism we wouldn’t have some of our religions that we have today. Zoroaster was born in northeast Iran or Southwest Afghanistan. They aren’t sure of his exact birthdate but it is sometime during the bronze age with a polytheistic religion, or the religion of worshiping many gods. What little known about Zoroaster is according to the Gathas who believed that as a child a demon tried to kill Zoroaster because they could tell he was a potential enemy. But that is about as much as we have about his childhood. Zoroaster later became a priest of his religion and had three wives and was the father to six children. They say that he created Zoroastrianism because one time he was walking the river banks trying to find answers to his religions questions when the angel Vohu Mana told him that there is really only one true god. And at that moment Zoroastrianism was created and it was the very first religions with only one god. This lead to Zoroastrianism spreading through out Iran (at the time ancient persia) with prophet Zoroaster teaching. These main beliefs include, a supreme and universal god, duality of existence, divinity of creation, polytheism, goodness of humanity, sanctity of the elements, the belief that you can sin, belief in the judgement day, and

In the Parsi community in India there are around 250,000 people who mostly live in Mumbai still practice the Zoroastrianism religion. While the numbers have diminished because of intermarriage with members of other faiths they regard it that they are on the road of extinction. Though their views are very similar to orthodox jews they still think it is likely that in a few decades Mumbai will be he only remaining viable Zoroastrian population