Zoroastrianism Research Paper

Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism is a pre-Islamic religion of Persia, what is known today as Iran, and is now practiced primarily in India as the descendants of Iran immigrated to India. They are known as Parsees. The history of Zoroastrianism started when “Zarathustra (in Greek, Zoroaster) a Persian prophet who at the age of 30 believed he had seen visions of God, whom is Ahura Mazda, the creator of all that is good and who alone is worthy of worship.” (Religion Facts, 2016) During this journey, Zarathustra realized there is cosmic dualism: Ahura the god of good and wisdom and Aura Mainyu is the spirit of evil. Ahura gave humans the freedom of choice which allows them to choose to be good or bad in their life.

The afterlife is determined

Those who did more evil than good go to hell (which has several levels corresponding to degrees of wickedness).” (Religious Facts, 2016) Given free will to live your life either good or bad and making the decision to do good would assure your place in heaven but for those whose bad outweigh the good, they still have a chance to change their destination by confessing their bad deeds and through prayers.

Death and the Afterlife

There are three steps in preparing for death: “First, to be serene and at peace with oneself - armaiti. The second, is to conclude preparations for the soul's afterlife. The third, is one's legacy - a passing of the spiritual flame, and where

In Zoroastrianism there is good and evil and Ahura Mazada is omniscient, omnipresent, personal, and just as with Christianity God is omniscient, omnipresent, and is the creator of life and the universe. The difference is that there is cosmic dualism in Zoroastrianism the good spirt Ahura Mazda and the evil spirt Aura Mainyu whereas, in Christianity God has no counter. Evil is present but Lucifer was made good and by freewill turned to evil. It was choice and God has no counter spirit that will defeat him. There is more difference in the judgement of sin. In Zoroastrianism, your good deeds and thoughts are weighed against your malevolent actions in life however, “If a sinner turns his evil way and does what is just and right, he shall save his soul alive-if he can crowd into the rest of his life merit enough to outweigh his sin.” (Jones, 2006) In Christianity we are given God’s laws to obey and sin is a transgression of the laws established by God. We are left at God’s discretion of if in his eyes we are truly deserving and if we are righteous in his view then, we are forgiven our sin. When our soul has passed in Zoroastrianism our life is reflected with the three angels at the Chivant Bridge and it is determined if we pass to heaven or hell. In Christianity God views the soul two ways: “those who’s sins are pardoned and justified on behalf of Christ, and those