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Zoroastrianism the ancient pre-Islamic religion of Iran that survives there in isolated areas and, more prosperously, in India, where the descendants of Zoroastrian Iranian (Persian) immigrants are known as Parsis, or Parsees. In India the religion is called Parsiism. Zoroastrianism the religion of the Persians was introduced by Zoroaster or Zarathushtra, who probably lived about 800 B.C. He was either a Mede or a Bactrian, and was evidently a man of extraordinary personality. He commenced teaching at the age of thirty, after many years spent in contemplation, and died at the age of seventy-seven. The religion he founded was the national religion of the Persians from about 550 B.C. to the middle of the seventh century A.D. At this time Persia was invaded by the Mohammedans, and the faithful followers of Zoroaster fled to India, and are now represented by the Parsis (q.v.).
In the anct. Gothic period Zoroastrianism was a monotheistic religion based on a philosophy of Dualism of good and evil spirits. The supreme Lord of the whole Universe was called by Zoroaster Ahuramazda, and the two spirits—spento-mainyush (good) and angro-mainyush (evil)—were merely tools in the hands of the Highest to work out His grand plan of the universe. Zoroastrianism was a practical, ethical doctrine inculcating active charity, kindness to animals, and moral conduct generally. The central feature of Zoroastrian ritual was fire worship, as with the Parsis, together with elaborate methods of preventing defilement. Each man, according to Zoroastrianism had a free will, conscience, and a soul, and a guardian spirit or prototype of himself who dwelt above, and was called a fravashi—being really his own character put into a spiritual body. Having the choice of good and evil, man naturally has to suffer the punishment of sin.
See M. N. Dhalla, Zoroastrian Civilisation, 1922; J. H. Moulton, Early Zoroastrianism, 1927; -A. V. W. Jackson, Zoroastrian Studies, 1928; J. D. C. Pavry, Zoroastrian Doctrine of Future Life, 1929; A. S. Wadia. The Message of Zoroaster, 1938.
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Zoroastrianism, as has been said was the religion of the Persians. One of the rulers over the Medes and Persions was King Darius about whom we read in the book of Danial in the Old Testament. He was the one who threw threw Daniel into the lions den. Daniel, who worshiped the same God as Jews and Christians came out of the ordeal unscathed causing King Darius to acknowledge the God of Daniel was the living and eternal God over and above all other gods including his own.
Danial chapter 6.
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of the lions. And the king said to Daniel: Thy God, whom thou always servest, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den: which the king sealed with his own ring, and with the ring of his nobles, that nothing should be done against Daniel. And the king went away to his house, and laid himself down without taking supper, and meat was not set before him, and even sleep departed from him. Then the king rising very early in the morning went in haste to the lions' den: and coming near to the den, cried with a lamentable voice to Daniel, and said to him: Daniel, servant of the living God, hath thy God, whom thou servest always, been able, thinkest thou, to deliver thee from the lions? And Daniel answering the king, said: O king, live for ever: My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut up the mouths of the lions, and they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him justice hath been found in me: yea, and before thee, O king, I have done no offence.
Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and he commanded that Daniel should be taken out of the den: and Daniel was taken out of the den, and no hurt was found in him, because he believed in his God.
And by the king's commandment, those men were brought that had accused Daniel: and they were cast into the lions' den, they and their children, and their wives: and they did not reach the bottom of the den, before the lions caught them, and broke all their bones in pieces. Then king Darius wrote to all people, tribes, and languages, dwelling in the whole earth: “PEACE be multiplied unto you. It is decreed by me, that in all my empire and my kingdom, all men dread and fear the God of Daniel. For he is the living and eternal God for ever: and his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his power shall be for ever. He is the deliverer, and saviour, doing signs and wonders in heaven, and in earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions' den.”
Zoroastrianism worships Ahura Mazda and his Holy Forces, the Ameshaspands and Yazatas (concept), and these include the elements created by God such as the Holy Fire, Wind, Water, Earth, and so on. This is not the God of the Jews or Christians.
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