Zoroastrianism

One of the oldest religions of ancient Persia, with a focus on good vs. evil, the worship of the God Ahura Mazda, and the importance of ethical behavior.

Who is the founder of Zoroastrianism and when did it enter recorded history?

"Zoroastrianism enters recorded history around the middle of the 6th century BCE."

What is the main principle of Zoroastrianism's cosmology?

"It has a dualistic cosmology of good and evil within the framework of a monotheistic ontology."

What is the name of the supreme being in Zoroastrianism?

"Zoroastrianism exalts an uncreated and benevolent deity of wisdom known as Ahura Mazda (lit. 'Lord of Wisdom') as its supreme being."

How did Zoroastrianism influence other religious and philosophical systems?

"Zoroastrianism, such as its monotheism, messianism, belief in free will and judgement after death, conception of heaven, hell, angels, and demons, among other concepts, may have influenced other religious and philosophical systems."

Why did Zoroastrianism decline from the 7th century CE onwards?

"It declined from the 7th century CE onwards as a direct result of the Arab-Muslim conquest of Persia."

How many Zoroastrians are estimated to be in the world currently?

"Recent estimates place the current number of Zoroastrians in the world at around 110,000–120,000 at most."

Where are the majority of Zoroastrians located?

"The majority of this figure living in India, Iran, and North America."

What are the central writings of Zoroastrianism called?

"The most important texts of Zoroastrianism are those contained within the Avesta."

Who did Zoroaster consider worthy of worship among the early Iranian gods?

"The early Iranian gods of the Proto-Indo-Iranian tradition into emanations of the natural world as ahuras."

Who is considered the main adversarial force in Zoroastrianism?

"Angra Mainyu (destructive spirit/mentality), whose forces are born from Aka Manah (evil thought), is considered to be the main adversarial force of the religion."

What is the opposing force to Asha, the life force from Ahura Mazda?

"Asha (truth, cosmic order), stands in opposition to Druj (falsehood, deceit)."

What are the realms through which Ahura Mazda works?

"Ahura Mazda works in gētīg (the visible material realm) and mēnōg (the invisible spiritual and mental realm)."

When did Zoroastrianism serve as the state religion of ancient Iranian empires?

"It served as the state religion of the ancient Iranian empires for more than a millennium (approximately from 600 BCE to 650 CE)."

Which religion poses the main adversarial force against Ahura Mazda?

"Angra Mainyu, advancing him to be the direct adversary to Ahura Mazda."

How is Ahura Mazda described in terms of goodness and evil?

"Though Ahura Mazda has no equal contesting force, Angra Mainyu, whose forces are born from Aka Manah (evil thought), is considered to be the main adversarial force of the religion."

What are the estimated numbers of Zoroastrians declining or rising?

"However, further studies are needed to confirm this, as numbers have also been rising in some areas."

What are the beliefs about the afterlife in Zoroastrianism?

"Belief in judgment after death."

Which religious and philosophical systems were potentially influenced by Zoroastrianism?

"Influenced other religious and philosophical systems, including the Abrahamic religions and Gnosticism, Northern Buddhism, and Greek philosophy."

What attributes are associated with Ahura Mazda?

"Ahura Mazda is considered to be all-good with no evil emanating from the deity."

What are the two realms through which Ahura Mazda works?

"Ahura Mazda works in gētīg (the visible material realm) and mēnōg (the invisible spiritual and mental realm)."