Alexander the great1
Some time in the history of the universe, no one is quite sure when, there was born a man. This man would eventually be the first to found a monotheistic religion. The name of this man is Zoroaster; the name is actually a corruption of Zarathushtra. Zoroaster's birth date, along with whether his religion is actually monotheistic, is a subject of great debate. The opinions concerning his birth, and consequently about the beginning of this great religion, range from as early as 6000 years before Plato to as late as 500 BC. In any case he was born somewhere in Iran, although whether in the East or West is also arguable. In the early writings the people belonging to this religion are called Zarathustris; the system he taught is called Mazdaism. The present day followers are called Parsees. Zoroaster removed the multiplicity of deities from religion and created a faith in which there were two, or perhaps, one God. All other higher beings were regarded as demons, or evil spirits. No one knows for sure the different stages of popularity that Zoroastrianism experienced. We do know that at the time of Darius I, 558? -486 B.C., it was protected by royalty. Later, however, Zoroastrians were continuall
From around 550-330 BC. The Iranian tribes left the steppes where they had been previously living and conquered and moved into modern-day Iran. The eastern Iranians brought the Zoroastrian faith to the western Iranians, the Mead's, and the Persians. It became the religion of the Achaemenian Empire. The Avestan writings, however, remained in the eastern dialect. Alexander slaughtered many of the Zoroastrian priests thereby also harming the transmission of the texts. The Vendidad were written in the late younger Avestan period. They included laws on purity and on fighting evil. The Visperad is an extension of the Yasna and the Vendidad. They dealt with the seven holy days of faith. The Nayesh and Goh were prayers recited, on the average, eight times a day. They were for priests as well as lay persons. Some were directed at certain forces of nature and were said less frequently. The Khorda, or Little Avesta, is a book of common prayers. Each Khorda had the same prayers but in different orders. They were previously memorized and only said by priests, but now, because they are printed, are said by everyone. The Great Avesta is grouped The Zoroastrian religion is based on the fundamental concept of a constant battle of good against evil. Ahura Mazda represents the good while Ahriman represents the bad. Ahura Mazda created this world as a trap for Ahriman. Human beings draw Ahriman into this world; he will jump at any chance to cause others to do evil. He will then be entering Ahura Mazda's world, and when people choose good over evil voluntarily this will weaken Ahriman to the point where he can be destroyed. It is hard to reconcile the two opposing views on the dieties in the Zoroastrian religion. The claim is made that the religion is monotheistic; it is also alleged that two equal gods represent the opposing forces in the world, good and evil. Modern day Parsees resolve the contradiction by explaining that Ahura Mazda has always and will always stand above all. Anra Mainyu, or Ahriman, was only created due to an evil thought that once entered Ahura Mazda's head. The real opponent of Ahriman is Spenta Mainyu, the good spirit. The world is divided into three sections. The upper world is bathed in light, the earth is divided into seven sections, and the underworld is a dark place. The forces of good and evil will do battle for the twelve thousand years of the world's total existence. In the beginning, as Ahriman attempts to kill Ahura Mazda, he is stopped and pulled away. Both of the Gods agree to a period of peace that wills last 9,000 years. During the first three thousand years Ahura Mazda creates angels, good spirits, and Frava his. These Fravashis are the original heavenly images of men living in the upper world. During the next three thousand years the Fravashis come down to earth. There they lead a perfect sinless life. Anra Mainyu is angry because of the advantage he sees the Ahura Mazda has gained over him in preparation for the final battle. He tries to bring evil to the world, but he is rendered powerless by the sacred Ahunavairya formula that Ahura Mazda utters. In the next three thousand years Anra Mainyu invades the world. He kills the early man and animal and disperses demons throughout the world. However a human couple arises from the seed of the early man and a cow from the seed of early animal. These beings
Some common words found in the essay are:
Ahura Mazda, Chinvat Peretu, Death Cadavers, Avesta Zand, Persian Rivayats, Due Iranians, CE Zoroastrianism, Little Avesta, Ahura Mazda's, Anra Mainyu, ahura mazda, zoroastrian religion, anra mainyu, world final, ahura mazda's, resurrection dead, battle evil, called parsees, beginning religion, 500 bc,
Approximate Word count = 2999
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page double spaced)
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