U8 L7 Zoroastrianism Flashcards
What region does Zoroastrianism come from?
West
How many people follow Zoroastrianism? Where do a majority of them live in?
less than 200,000 people, Bombay, India
What are Indian Zoroaster followers called? What does it mean?
Parsis, Persians
Where does Zoroastrianism have its roots in?
ancient Persia
What Greek name is Zarathustra later called?
Zoroaster
What is Zoroaster’s other name?
Zarathustra
Who is Zoroaster the son of?
- Porushaspa Spitama
- Dukhdav
When was Zoroaster born?
600 yrs before Christian era
At what age did Zoroaster claim to recieve visions/revelations from God?
30
Zoroaster, in his visions, stood before the throne in heaven of who?
the King of kings
What do the Parsis call the god of Zoroaster?
Ahura Mazda
What does Ahura Mazda mean?
God the Eternal Light
What does animism mean?
belief that souls exist in:
- trees
- stones
- stars
- other inanimate obj
Why was Zoroaster unsuccessful when he first preached?
too animistic and foreign to philosophy of his day
Who was Zoroaster’s first convert?
cousin, Maidhynimaonha
maid- hini- mawn- ha
Who was the Aryan prince who became Zoroaster’s convert?
- Vishtaspa
- his entire court also converted
At what age did Zoroaster die?
77
The religion of Zoroaster was an ethical ()
monotheism
Most scholars agree that Zoroaster’s concept of one god was derived from who? Who did they worhsip?
- Aryans of India
- worshiped god Varuna
What did Mazda create?
- dark and light
- evil and good
Zoroaster conceived that Ahura Mazda accomplished his works through a Holy Spirit called what?
- Spenta Mainya
- Amesha Spentas
What are the Amesha Spentas?
- Immortal Holy Ones
- 1/7 persons of Zoroastrian godhead/ Sacred 7
Zoroaster explained evil and good existing are essential to the () given to man by Mazda
free will
The good spirit Ahura Mazda was met by which evil spirit?
Ahriman
According to Zoroaster, redemption from evil comes by what?
good:
- deeds
- thoughts
- words
Zoroastrianism teachings went out form Persia into sacred writings known as what?
avesta
What does the Avesta contain and speak of?
- instructions for people in phases of living
- final judgment
Zoroastrian priests have a responsibility of keeping the () burning in the temple
sacred fires
Do Zoroastrianism believe a corpse is unclean?
yes
What are the dakhmas?
Towers of Silence where corpses are laid
How many bearers carry the corpse to the dakhmas?
six
Does Christianity disclaim redemption through good works?
yes
What nature of God does Christianity teach?
three fold nature
What is the Christian view of the origin of evil?
- man is responsible for evil
- God allows evil but is not creator
Did Zoroaster believe in God manifesting Himself in any human form?
no