what do you know about Zoroastrianism ??

Answer 1

Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathushtra, Zartosht). Mazdaism is the religion that acknowledges the divine authority of Ahura Mazda, proclaimed by Zoroaster to be the one uncreated Creator of all (God).

As demonstrated by Zoroastrian creed and articles of faith, the two terms are effectively synonymous. In a declaration of the creed — the Fravarānē — the adherent states: "…I profess myself a devotee of Mazda, a follower of Zarathustra." (Yasna 12.2, 12.8)

The term "Zoroastrianism" is a modern construct, which was first attested by the Oxford English Dictionary in 1874 in Archibald Sayce's Principles of Comparative Philology. The first surviving reference to Zoroaster in Western scholarship is attributed to Thomas Browne (1605-1682), who briefly refers to the prophet in his 1643 Religio Medici. The OED records 1743 (Warburton, Pope's Essay) as the earliest reference to Zoroaster.

The term 'Mazdaism' (IPA: /'mæz.də.ɪz.m̩/) probably derives from Mazdayasna, a compound expression from the Avesta that combines the last element of the name Ahura Mazda and the Avestan language word yasna meaning 'worship, devotion' (cognate with Sanskrit yajña, Middle Persian yasn). The English word is a typical 19th Century construct, taking "Mazda" and adding the suffix "ism" to suggest a belief-system. The March 2001 draft edition of the OED notes that an alternate form, 'Mazdeism', perhaps derived from the french Mazdéisme, appeared in 1871.

In the English language, adherents of the faith refer to themselves as 'Zoroastrians' or, less commonly, 'Zarathustrians'. Equivalents in other languages include Zartoshti and Mazdayasni. Additionally, the expression Behdini ("followers of Daena", for which "Good Religion" is one translation) is prevalent in Central Asia and the Caucasus, though in Zoroastrian tradition, Behdin is the title of an individual who is not of the hereditary occupational class of the priesthood.

for more click here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism#Basic_Beliefs_Include

Answer 2

Zoroastrianism is a small religion with about 140,000 members. Yet its importance to humanity is much greater than its current numbers might suggest, because:

Their theology has had a great impact on Judaism, Christianity and other later religions, in the beliefs surrounding God and Satan, the soul, heaven and hell, savior, resurrection, final judgment, etc.
It is one of the oldest religions still in existence,
It may have been the first monotheistic religion.

The religion was founded by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster in Greek; Zarthosht in India and Persia). Conservative Zoroastrians assign a date of 6000 BCE to the founding of the religion; other followers estimate 600 BCE. Historians and religious scholars generally date his life sometime between 1500 and 1000 BCE on the basis of his style of writing.

He lived in Persia, modern day Iran. Legends say that his birth was predicted and that attempts were made by the forces of evil to kill him as a child. He preached a monotheism in a land which followed an aboriginal polytheistic religion. He was attacked for his teaching, but finally won the support of the king. Zoroastrianism became the state religion of various Persian empires, until the 7th Century CE.

When Muslim Arabs invaded Persia in 650 CE, a small number of Zoroastrians fled to India where most are concentrated today. Those who remained behind have survived centuries of persecution, systematic slaughter, forced conversion, heavy taxes, etc. They now number only about 18,000 and reside chiefly in Yazd, Kernan and Tehran in what is now Iran. The 1991 census counted 3,190 Zoroastrians in Canada. The actual number is believed to be much higher.

Answer 3

i only have known one person from this faith...what i remember is that they believe in the garden of eden, they are waiting for a messiah,I think, the Sun is god, and when i went to a website, the picture they had of their god looked like jesus.

Answer 4

http://www.religioustolerance.org/zoroastr.htm

http://www.zoroastrianism.com/